About the Author Julian Hooks


hollywood
BusinessEducationNews

Harvard Professor Focuses on the Business of Movies

When it comes to trying to make a business plan, Hollywood studios should focus more on a handful of movies that have a mass audience rather than a wider range of feature films that serve niche audiences, according to a Harvard professor.

Professor Anita Elberse told Bloomberg BusinessWeek that the recent failure of some big blockbuster movies – such as “Lone Ranger” – does not sway her opinion.

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college degree better pay
BusinessEducationNews

A College Degree Leads to Better Pay, Report Says

The College Board recently released a report defending its findings that a higher education leads to more pay for American workers.

As a supplement to its 2013 Education Pays report, the College Board – a not-for-profit membership for colleges and universities across the country – addresses criticism that its reports may over-state the benefits of a college education.

The 2013 report finds that those who earn a bachelor’s degree will make 65% more in salary than those with just a high school education.

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ism chicago
BusinessGovernment & PoliticsNews

Good Economic News in Midwest As Jobless Claims Decline Nationwide

The U.S. Midwest experienced a surge in business activity in October, with new manufacturing orders hitting the highest level since 2004.

In other economic news, the number of weekly jobless claims fell by 10,000 to about 340,000, according to the United States Department of Labor. The jobless numbers indicate that the government shutdown is no longer affecting the economy as federal workers and government contractors return to work.

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pay increases
BusinessNews

Some Workers to See Significant Pay Increases in 2014, Report Finds

Workers with specialized talents in specific fields – including business systems analysts – could see pay increases in the coming year, according to a new report.

The report, by staffing company Robert Half International, bolsters the theory that specializing in a specific area and becoming an expert in that area can lead to better chances for improved pay and promotion.

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baby boomer happy working
BusinessNewsResearch

Baby Boomers More Stressed, More Satisfied Than Other Generations

A new study has found that Baby Boomers are happier in their jobs – but also more stressed out.

The study, from PayScale, a company that compiles data on compensation and workplace issues, found almost 78% of Baby Boomers report having high job satisfaction. That is slightly better than Generation X (72%) and Generation Y (66.4%).

However, the study also found that almost 68% of Baby Boomers reported high job stress. That was more than Generation X (65.5%) and Generation Y (about 60%).

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lowering college costs
EducationNews

Colleges Consider Options to Lower Costs, Including Changing the Need for a Four-Year Degree

Universities may eventually award bachelor’s degrees in less than four years, one of many proposals currently on the table to lower the cost of college for students, according to an expert in the field.

Jeff Selingo, in a recent interview with PBS, said that “there is nothing magical about four years of college and 120 credits for a bachelor’s degree.” He said there is now a movement toward more competency-based education, where the only question is: what do you know?

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college prices
EducationNews

College Prices Increase at Slowest Rate in 30 Years

While tuition prices continue to increase at many schools across the country, there was actually a slowdown in the price increase in 2013 at public universities in the United States, according to a new study.

The average cost of attending a four-year public university increased by 2.9%, according to the annual “Trends in Higher Education” report from the College Board. That’s the lowest increase in 30 years.

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women entrepreneurs
BusinessNewsResearch

Women Entrepreneurs Optimistic About the Future

About 75% of female entrepreneurs are upbeat about their businesses, and 79% said their business was not impacted by the government shutdown.

A new Cox business survey showed women business leaders are concerned about the national debt ceiling not being raise. About 56% said in the survey that another recession is likely unless Congress finds a compromise and agrees to raise the debt ceiling.

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