Speaking of debt: Framing, guilt, and economic choices

In many Germanic languages, the commonly used word for “debt” also means “guilt”, which carries a strong moral connotation. Commentators have long suspected that this linguistic overlap may lead to greater debt aversion. Former French finance minister Bruno Le Maire invoked this idea to explain Germany’s fiscal conservatism: “In Germany, debt is ‘die Schuld’. It’s…

Credit card debt forgiveness and Fed rate cuts: What borrowers should consider this fall

Credit card debt forgiveness can effectively eliminate a sizable portion of your debt balance. Rob Hyrons/roberthyrons/Getty Images Interest rate cuts are looming again.  After the Federal Reserve resumed the rate-cut campaign it started in 2024 in September, other cuts now seem likely for the central bank’s next meetings in October and December. That will potentially…

Mayor Adams Cancels Nearly $135 Million in Medical Debt for Working-Class New Yorkers, Celebrates Opening of Eight New Financial Empowerment Centers at Select NYC Health + Hospitals Locations to Help New Yorkers Avoid Future Medical Debt

Mayor Adams Cancels Nearly $135 Million in Medical Debt for Working-Class New Yorkers, Celebrates Opening of Eight New Financial Empowerment Centers at Select NYC Health + Hospitals Locations to Help New Yorkers Avoid Future Medical Debt Pioneering Program Launched by Mayor Adams Cancels Medical Debt for Over 75,000 New Yorkers in Partnership…

Sevilla Forum Tackles Global Debt Crisis

The Sevilla Forum on Debt will promote fairer lending, faster restructuring and long-term reform of the post-war financial system. Hosted by Spain and supported by the United Nations, the forum is designed to keep global attention on the debt crisis while converting firm commitments made at June’s Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4)…