Be Smart in Scrounging for Yield

Big Issues

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  Do We Need Subsidies for Solar, Wind Power?

  Yes, subsidies are needed for a few more years to allow renewable technologies to develop, supporters say. No, the subsidies are too costly, according to opponents, and the benefits of wind and solar are overstated.

  • Read the complete report.
  • Vote: What should happen to green subsidies?
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  Should the Medicare Eligibility Age Be Raised?

  Supporters of the idea say it's a fair way to cut soaring costs. Opponents say the price is too high.

  • Vote: Should the age be raised?
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  Should Tenure for Professors Be Ended?

  At some point, discussions about the quality of higher education in the U.S. come around to the subject of tenure. And the disagreement could hardly be more stark.

  • Read the complete report.
  • Vote: Should tenure be abolished?
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  Is Now the Time to Buy Your First House?

  Yes, says RBC Global's Eric Lascelles, who believes homes are more affordable than they've been in quite a while. No, says economic consultant A. Gary Shilling, who contends that home prices have 20% or more to drop before they hit bottom.

  • Vote: Is now the time to buy it?
  • Read the complete report.
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  Should the SBA Be Abolished?

  Yes, says Veronique de Rugy, because the Small Business Administration helps big banks more than small firms and distorts economic activity. No, says Barbara Kasoff, because small businesses need help more than ever these days.

  • Read the complete report.
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  Should Everyone Be Required to Have Health Insurance?

  Yes, says Karen Davenport of George Washington University, because it's the key to making health care more affordable and accessible. No, says Michael F. Cannon from the Cato Institute, because it will make health care more costly and scarce.

  • Read the complete report.
  • Vote: Should insurance be required?

• Small Business

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  Why Washington Has It Wrong on Small Business

  In an era when political battles are nastier than ever, small business is the American dream we can all agree on. Yet we're not doing all we can to support small firms—because we're treating them all exactly the same.

  • Vote: How can government can help small business?
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  The Backers Who Made It Big

  When friends and family lend money to an entrepreneur, they can not only lose their cash but also the relationship. Here's a look at three of the rare cases that paid off spectacularly for the backers—Starbucks, Guitar Hero and Daily Candy.

  • Do's and Don'ts of Asking Friends for Money
  • Read the complete report.
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  And the Most Innovative Entrepreneur Is...

  The winner of the Journal's Small Business, Big Innovation competition thrived during the downturn. Its story can be a model for small firms facing similar struggles.

  • Read the complete report. | Video
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  Finding the Right Employees

  Why can't companies find the employees they need? The real problem may be that so many companies don't do training anymore or allow people any time to grow into a job.

  • Author Peter Cappelli Follows Up
  • Read the complete report.
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  Hot Places for Start-Ups

  Across the U.S., new industry hubs are drawing entrepreneurs and investors -- and offering start-ups support in a turbulent economy.

  • These Industry Hubs Came -- and Went
  • Read the full report.
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  After the One-Hit Wonder

  We tracked down four people who introduced some of the most popular fad items of the past few decades to find out how they handled their sudden prosperity—and rapid exit from the limelight. Some were relaxing and enjoying their spoils. Others were trying to capture lightning in a bottle one more time.

  • Read the full report.
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  Dreams Do Come True. Or Not.

  Opening a restaurant is a common entrepreneurial fantasy. But what's it like to actually do it? For some, it's everything they hoped. For others, the reality can be a nightmare.

  • Read the full report.

• Wealth Management Journal

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  How to Invest in Fun Stuff

  With stocks and bonds prone to big swings, many investors are devoting a portion of their portfolios to art, antiques and other collectibles. Here's what to keep in mind when investing in things like motorcycles, guitars and watches.

  • Video: Investing in Collectibles
  • Vote: Do you collect as an investment?

• Wealth Adviser

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  How Not to Blow It With Financial Aid

  Colleges are tightening their criteria for aid. Here are ways to increase your chances of getting help with college costs.

  • Live Chat Recap
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  Hiding Money From a Spouse Gets Harder

  Troubled couples often try to hide money from each other, whether to spend it on extramarital mischief or keep from sharing it in a divorce. But electronic discovery is making it a lot easier to uncover all that covert activity.

  • Read the complete report.
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  Why Stocks Are Riskier Than You Think

  Despite the assurances of the financial industry, stocks are always a risky investment, and the longer you hold them, the better your chances of getting blindsided by a downturn. But when you're aiming to meet your aspirational goals, there is a way to limit your downside risk.

  • Read the complete report.
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  How to Pay Your Financial Adviser

  There are lots of different pricing plans, so it's more important than ever to know the advantages—and disadvantages—of each one.

  • Read the complete Wealth Adviser report.
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  Get Smart About College

  Parents and students like to think they're rational when it comes to picking a college and paying for it. They aren't.

  • Read the full report.
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  Has Your Housing Market Hit Bottom?

  Some cities around the U.S. haven't had a property crash, or it's been fairly limited. A look at how these communities have gotten by—and the clues to watch out for to see if your own market is on the rebound.

  • Video: Three New Rules for Buyers & Sellers
  • Read the full report.

• WSJ Europe Reports

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  How Much Do Airplanes Cost?

  The amount airlines pay is a guarded secret. But occasionally numbers slip out.

  • Full Coverage: Farnborough Airshow
  • Read the complete report.
• 

  Greece's Offshore Assets

  Is now the time to buy a Greek island? Those considering a chunk of Arcadia should be careful what they wish for.

  • The Legends of Skorpios
  • Read the complete report.
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  The Changing Face of Watchmaking

  A new wave of watchmakers is reviving the intricate skills and craftsmanship of past horological generations. Their creations hark back to a golden age in watch craft, nearly wiped out by the quartz revolution of the 1970s. Watch connoisseurs are of one voice: "Vive les auteurs."

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  London's Olympic Property Legacy

  A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to regenerate a deprived part of the city, or a gargantuan white elephant looming over the U.K. capital?

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  Portfolio Pick-Me-Up

  Investment professionals give their opinions on where to invest in 2012.

  • Full Wealth Adviser Report
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  Land of Opportunity?

  With developed markets in the doldrums, Africa offers the intrepid investor an ideal diversification play. But be prepared for a bumpy road.

  • Read the full report.

• Technology Reports

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  2012 Technology Innovation Awards

  This year's winners tackled big problems—and came up with solutions that could make a real difference in people's lives.

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  Finding Shopping Deals

  Bargain hunters have never had it better. A wealth of mobile apps are helping shoppers find the merchandise they want at the lowest prices available, find fleeting special deals and collect coupons.

  • Video: Get the Best Shopping Deals With Apps
  • Read the full report.
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  Keep What Works—and Change Everything Else

  The key dynamic in the tech industry may not be old vs. new -- think old plus new.

  • Read the complete report.
  • Complete Coverage: AllThingsD.com
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  Big Names Embrace Innovation

  Breakthroughs aren't just for start-ups: Some of the world's biggest companies are among the winners of this year's Technology Innovation Awards.

  • Video: Award Winners
  • Gold: Making Heart Cells—Billions of Them
  • Silver: A Faster Path to Biofuels
  • Bronze: The Magic of Q&A
  • Read the complete report.
• 

  Excitement and Innovation at All Things Digital Conference

  The ninth annual D: All Things Digital Conference was packed with insight, innovation and, most of all, optimism and excitement.

  • Read the full report.
  • Read complete coverage at AllThingsD.com.
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  2010 Technology Innovation Awards

  Among the winners: computer screens that can bend, adjustable eyeglasses, a low-cost genetic test, an online marketplace for receivables and a new way to battle malware.

  • The Winners, Category by Category
  • Read the full report | Video

• Leadership

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  When Employees Are Their Own Brands

  Mixing social media and job duties can be a win-win—or not. Companies that fail to make room for professionals who cultivate their own online identity risk alienating or losing their best employees, or confusing or even burning their corporate brand.

  • Read the complete report.
  • Vote: Describe your at-work social activity
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  CFOs Have Long-Term Dreams, Short-Term Despair

  Chief financial officers are torn between what they want to do—and what they feel they can do in this economy.

  • Read the complete report.
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  The XX Factor: What's Holding Women Back?

  A Wall Street Journal task force of business, government and academic leaders set out to confront obstacles that keep women from participating fully in the economy. Here are their recommendations.

  • Study: Unlocking Potential of Women at Work
  • Live Chat:: Recap
  • Vote: Will women reach CEO parity?
  • Read the complete report.
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  How to Fix Executive Compensation

  For starters, don't link pay packages just to stock. Tie them to the company's debt as well. That will help ensure that CEOs reap big rewards for long-term success, not just a short-lived bump in the stock price.

  • Read the complete report.
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  Advice From the Top: Fix Taxes, Education

  The Wall Street Journal's CEO Council is looking beyond the short-term challenges facing the global economy, and instead putting priority on taxes, immigration and education.

  • Read the complete report.
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  CFOs in Search of Certainty

  At a Wall Street Journal meeting of chief financial officers, the message to policy makers and politicians was clear: Break the logjam.

  • Read the full report.

• Executive M.B.A. Rankings

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  Best Executive M.B.A. Programs 2010

  Wharton and Olin come out on top as more students look to change careers, not just get a promotion.

  • Sortable chart: The Top 25 Programs
  • Slideshow: Alums Who Break the Mold
  • Video: Making Executives Out of Boarders
  • Columbia Offering E.M.B.A. Saturday Program
  • How to Get Support for an E.M.B.A. Degree
  • Complete Coverage: Executive M.B.A.
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  Top M.B.A. Programs if You're in a Hurry

  Many workers in these tough times are turning to M.B.A. programs that let them earn a degree in half the time, often at a fraction of the cost. (See the full report)