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The article presents an interview with consumer activist Ralph Nader. Topics discussed include his admiration for U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, his belief that little progress has been made over a 20-year period in protecting consumers in the insurance, banking, and credit industries, how he got interested in automobile safety, and his view that activism among college students has been stunted by what he terms their addiction to electronic devices.

Charts are presented which show the odds for the authors' economic and political predictions to become facts or trends in 2014, noting the topics include the U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, investor activism, and bitcoins.

The article offers a retrospective look at the 2008 global financial crisis and ensuing recession, as of 2013. It recounts events including the bankruptcy of financial services firm Lehman Brothers and the sharp drops in stock prices. It discusses aspects of the U.S. economy that have recovered and notes that unemployment remains relatively high. Related charts are included.

The article profiles Louis Freeh, former director of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), who works as a private investigator in corporate America through his consulting firm Freeh Group International Solutions in 2013. Topics include Freeh's moral code and his personal life, his involvement in counterterrorism before the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and his investigation into corruption at organizations like soccer governing body FIFA and Pennsylvania State University.

The article discusses the U.S. government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In the aftermath of the global financial crisis of 2008-2009 some including then-U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner called for Fannie and Freddie to be wound down. In the spring of 2013, though, the two guarantee 80% of all new mortgages in the U.S. and have returned to profitability. The author observes how the dominant position of Fannie and Freddie in the U.S. mortgage market have crowded out private capital, and offers a solution.

The article examines attempts by Internet retail company Amazon to prevent a law that would allow states to charge sales taxes on Internet purchases in 2013. The lack of regulation on Internet purchases has caused states like Texas to allegedly lose millions of dollars in uncollected revenue even as U.S. states appeal to the federal government to change the laws. Other topics include how Amazon fought claims that the Texas state government should legally be allowed to tax Amazon sales, the possibility that the U.S. government will pass a law mandating electronic commerce (e-commerce) taxation, and a discussion of Amazon's finances.

The article profiles Wang Jianlin, founder and chairman of real estate company Wanda Group, who is one of China's richest men. Wang has been responsible for the Chinese purchase of American media company AMC Entertainment, and is interested in expanding Wanda Group into other American business ventures. Other topics discussed include his meeting with Hawk Koch, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, to expand his holdings in the U.S. entertainment industry, a discussion of Wang's corporate culture at Wanda Group, and Wang's reputation as a businessman in China and internationally.

A chart is presented which ranks the financial performance of the top 500 U.S. companies by the location of their corporate headquarters as of May 2013, with information on the corporate ratings of companies including the Arizona-based U.S. Airways Group, the Arkansas-based Wal-Mart Stores discount retailer, and the California-based technology company Apple.

A chart is presented which profiles the 500 largest companies in the U.S. in 2013 according to "Fortune" magazine, listing the revenues, profits, and stockholders' equity of companies including Wal-Mart Stores, International Business Machines (IBM), and Liberty Mutual Insurance Group.

The article discusses the surge in Chinese tourism in the United States following a 2007 memorandum permitting Chinese tourist groups to enter the U.S. Topics include the competition between U.S. cities and states in attracting Chinese tourists to their areas, U.S. President Barack Obama's creation of a public-private partnership called Brand USA to develop a unified national marketing campaign, and the increase in the contribution of Chinese travel and tourism to the U.S. economy between 2006 and 2011.

The author reflects on reasons why the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) should allow interest rates to start increasing. She states that Fed chairman Ben Bernanke has voiced a positive note predicting sustainable economic growth and suggested it's due to the Fed's low-interest-rate policy. She comments that previous low interest rates resulted in an increase in risk taking by investors seeking higher yields and resulted in the subprime crisis. She mentions the need for Congress to start doing its job.

Discusses the attitudes of chief executive officers (CEO) and investors in light of the perception that the recession which began in 2001 in the United States is at an end. Topic of how recessions are often followed by periods of growth and contraction; Growth of the economy which coincided with a fall in corporate profits; View that profits may not grow as fast as they did in the 1990s.

The article focuses on challenges facing Office Depot, the No. 2 U.S. office-supplies chain. Like many other companies, it lost money during the 2008-2009 economic recession. In addition, it is being investigated by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) as to whether it overcharged government customers. Observations are offered by chief executive officer Steve Odland on the allegations.

This article contains several short technology updates. A survey done by the National Center for Health Statistics found that people who use only wireless phones also smoke, drink and work out more than people with land line phones. Printer company Zink created technology to print color photos without ink, and Google created a feature called geotagging for its maps.

The article discusses the business component of the stem cell industry, with an emphasis on the work being done at biotechnology company Advanced Cell Technology (ACT). Particular focus is given to the research conducted by chief scientist of ACT, Robert Lanza as well as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved clinical trial for an embryonic-stem-cell therapy and its applicability to spinal-cord injury patients. Other topics include the financial climate for stem cell research in California, the impact of the stem cell industry on the economy, and the public opinion of stem cell research.

The article discusses the illegal testing of the bone cement Norian XR on humans by Synthes, a medical device company. The author reports that the U.S. Department of Justice charged four executives with a violation of health care law called the Responsible Corporate Officer Doctrine, and that they pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor of running unauthorized clinical trials and for engaging in off-label marketing, or promoting products for unapproved uses. Topics include Synthes vertebroplasty animal studies and non-compliance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warning about the bone cement mixture SRS-R. Also discussed was Synthes' failure to comply with FDA mandatory reporting requirements for the death of human test subjects and a list of case evidence.

The article presents the author's criticism of public attitudes in the U.S. toward wealthy people as of 2012, with a focus on protests by the Occupy Wall Street movement against social inequality, income disparity, and corporate greed. Topics include the population of the middle class which calls itself the 99 percent; the 2012 presidential election; moral judgments on rich people after the 2008 economic recession; and tax penalties proposed by U.S. President Barack Obama for those who make more than 250,000 dollars per year.

The article discusses the U.S. government's approach to economic policy, and presents the argument that lack of consensus, short-sightedness, and immaturity among lawmakers is contributing to poor economic conditions such as high unemployment and slow economic growth. The necessity for compromise and bipartisanship is emphasized, and suggestions for changes to programs including social security and medicare, taxation, and health care which the authors argue would improve the economy are presented.

The article discusses the legal case against the internet download company Megaupload and its founder Kim Dotcom, with particular focus given to the implications of the case for future copyright law and the influence of the 1984 U.S. Supreme Court case Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios on copyright law as applied to the internet. Megaupload's business model is described, and the decline of positive public opinion of copyright is examined. The author's opinion that copyright infringement should be more strictly punished is also offered.

The article lists the top 500 largest U.S. corporations in 2011 which includes retail store chain Wal-Mart Stores, computer company Apple Inc., and retail store chain Target.

The article focuses on oil company Exxon's investments in shale gas. It states that in 2010 Exxon chief executive officer Rex Tillerson engineered the acquisition of natural gas producer XTO Energy for 35 billion dollars. It mentions that in 2012, Exxon gets around 50 percent of its production from natural gas, where it also has 50 percent of its reserves. It comments on the use of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, to access natural gas and oil trapped in shale rock. It talks about environmental concerns about freshwater aquifer contamination, greenhouse gas emissions, and earthquakes. It also mentions how the collapse in natural gas prices in the U.S. has diminished Exxon's profits and comments on Exxon's investments in facilities in Qatar to produce and export liquefied natural gas.

The article focuses on money manager Paul Singer, founder of the Elliott Management hedge fund. It states that he has donated over one million dollars to the super political action committee "Restore the Future" which is supporting U.S. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and mentions that he opposes portions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act, is concerned that the Federal Reserve's monetary policies will result in inflation, and believes entitlement reform is needed. It comments on his business practice of purchasing the debt of bankrupt companies and nations and is engaged in a protracted legal battle with Argentina concerning its defaulted sovereign debt. It talks about how concerns of his lawsuits against defaulted national debts have shaped Greece's debt restructuring.

The author of the humorous article suggests that the U.S. economy may not be headed for recession or inflation, but for stagflation. The effects of the debt crisis are only just now being felt with the first round of writedowns, and the author considers a number of different investment possibilities such as money market funds and hybrid airplanes. He concludes we're heading for a stagflation.

An interview is presented with five money managers including Bob Doll, Mary Ellen Stanek, and Rajiv Jain. Economic forecasts regarding slow growth in the U.S. economy, recession in Europe, and slowing growth in Asia are discussed. also mentioned is successful stocks in companies headquartered in foreign countries that do business internationally, like clothing retailer Zara, eyeglass frame company Luxottica Group, and beverage distributor Hellenic Bottling.

The article profiles Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, discussing topics including his youth as a child of immigrant parents, his education at Ranney School and Harvard University, and his legal career from private to public. The article reports his major accomplishments as U.S. Attorney, especially using wiretapping to seal the May 11, 2011 conviction of billionaire hedge fund manager Raj Rajaratnam for insider trading. The article also discusses Bharara's possible next steps as an attorney general, a Supreme Court Justice, or a partner in a private firm.

The article discusses Brian Moynihan, chief executive of banking company Bank of America Co. Moynihan replaced his predecessor Ken Lewis in 2010, and in 2011 negotiated an $8.5 billion settlement with several investors including the Federal Reserve Bank of New York over loans sold by the bank's Countrywide Financial unit. Moynihan is spurning the growth strategy pursued by Lewis and instead wants Bank of America to experience more reliable and less volatile earnings growth by reducing its exposure to risky consumer loans.

The article discusses Bob Rodriguez, chief executive officer of money manager First Pacific Advisers. Rodriguez has twice predicted severe stock-market reversals, first in the 1990s when he said Internet stocks were destined to fall, and again prior to the global financial crisis of 2008-2009. In 2011 he says that unless the U.S. government addresses its problem with budget deficits, the economy will be enveloped in crisis within two to five years. Details are presented about Rodriguez's career, style of investing, and investing results.

The article discusses James Gorman, chief executive officer of investment bank Morgan Stanley. He began his career as a lawyer before going to business school and taking a position at consulting firm McKinsey. In 1999 he joined financial services firm Merrill Lynch, where he successfully revamped the company's brokerage business. He joined Morgan Stanley in 2006 and became chief executive in 2010. In that role he has focused on strengthening Morgan's wealth management and investment banking businesses while reducing risk.

An interview is presented with Michael McCallister, the chief executive officer of Humana, one of the largest U.S. health insurance firms. He discusses the impact of health care reform laws promoted by the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama. McCallister also comments on the difference between the public perception of health insurance and the actual relationship between health care costs and insurance costs, as well as the preventability of several major diseases.

The article presents an investigative report by the publication on events leading up to the April, 2010 explosion and fire on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico that caused a massive oil leak from a well owned by British petroleum company BP PLC. The authors find that during the ten years prior to the accident BP compiled a record of frequent mishaps followed by avowals to improve safety. However, neither chief executive Tony Hayward nor his predecessor, John Browne, made good on that commitment.

The article discusses con artist Tobechi Onwuhara. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) maintains that computer hackers organized by Onwuhara managed to steal at least $44 million and perhaps as much as $100 million from peoples' bank accounts in the U.S. Their specialty was accessing and looting home-equity lines of credit. Onwuhara is a native of Nigeria and the author describes his early life there, his relocation to the U.S., and how he learned about banks by working as a loan officer at financial-services firm Capital One.

The article profiles Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. of the U.S. Supreme Court. Roberts was the youngest man appointed to that position since John Marshall in 1801. He is among five conservative members of a Court that is generally seen as supportive of business interests. The author discusses Roberts' background in government and the judiciary before joining the Supreme Court.

A correction to the article "Bunker Mentality" that was published in the July 24, 2006 issue is presented.

The article discusses the career of lawyer David Boies. Topics discussed in the article include companies that he has prosecuted against, such as the anti-trust case against computer company Microsoft, the way in which he is described by his law partner James Fox Miller, and changes that he has made throughout his career to the law specialties that he practices. The way in which Boies is able to tell a story and succeed in a courtroom is mentioned. Boies' personal life as well as the way in which he became a lawyer is discussed. INSET: Boies's Greatest Hits.

An interview with accounting firm Ernst & Young chief executive officer (CEO) Jim Turley is presented. Topics include the expansion of Ernst & Young, regulatory reform in the U.S. financial services industry as represented by the Dodd-Frank law, and the cost of reducing financial risk associated with implementing the law.

Presented are lists of the largest U.S. corporations ranked by state.

Lists are presented of the largest U.S. corporations ranked according to industry and include advertising firms, aerospace companies and airlines.

A list is presented of the largest U.S. corporations and includes Wal-Mart Stores, Exxon Mobil and General Electric.

The article presents the transcript of a roundtable discussion among a number of U.S. business journalists. A number of topics are addressed including the business reaction to the global financial crisis of 2008-09, financial reform in the U.S., protection of consumers, and banking regulation. The journalists are Becky Quick of CNBC, Larry Ingrassia and Joe Nocera of "The New York Times," James B. Stewart of "The New Yorker," Bethany McLean of "Vanity Fair," and Carol Loomis and Allan Sloan of "Fortune."

The article focuses on Alan Greenspan, the former Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed). It considers how he has been blamed by many for the 2008-2009 financial crisis. It discusses his belief that he did not cause the crisis or could have prevented it, and that one day he will be able to exonerate himself. He talks of how he spends his days, research he is conducting about the economy and his tenure at the Fed, and his relationship with John Taylor of Sanford University.

Reports on the practical applications of game theory. Discussion of how the United States used game theory in its 45-year nuclear standoff with the Soviet Union; Revelation that Thomas Schelling received the Nobel Prize in economics for his work with game theory; How the Nobel committee cited Schelling for showing that a party can strengthen its position by overtly worsening its own options.

Looks at Sumner Redstone, CEO of Viacom. His conversation with Disney CEO Michael Eisner and what he says about retirement; His advice to others on succession and talking about age; His likely activities when he becomes chairman of the two companies to be created after the Viacom split.

The article discusses the role financier Lewis Ranieri played in the collapse of the U.S. housing market and his strategy to help the housing market recover. In order to help rescue the housing market Ranieri has raised over $800 million to form the Selene Residential Mortgage Opportunity Fund which buys up delinquent mortgages and resells the stable loans for profit.

The article focuses on a scandal involving Tony Young, founder of Acorn Capital, a successful money management firm. It discusses his lavish lifestyle which came to end when the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission accused him of stealing and misappropriating investors' money. Details of the charges are outlined and the fact that the scandal was barely publicized is explored.

The article focuses on the close collaboration between U.S. President Barack Obama and the Internet search engine company Google. Ex-Google employees in the Obama administration include Andrew McLaughlin, U.S. deputy chief technology officer. Google's technological expertise may become overshadowed by a Justice Department (DoJ) antitrust investigation into the company's plans to create a worldwide electronic library. Mistrust of the company by some groups is discussed. INSET: DIARY OF A love affair.

The article focuses on Robert E. Lowder, chief executive officer and chairman of Alabama's Colonial Bancgroup. Shortly after his retirement, federal and state regulators have taken control of the firm which he founded and spend 28 years building. It is the sixth largest bank failure in U.S. history and has pushed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. into a crisis mode. The article outlines Lowder's personal and financial setbacks.

The article profiles J. Christopher Flowers, owner of J. C. Flowers & Co., a private equity firm which invests in troubled financial companies. Particular attention is given to his struggle with a series of poorly timed investments that he made right before the 2008 financial crisis, such as his $1 billion stake in Japan's Shinsei Bank and in Hypo Real Estate and HSH Borbank, two German banks that have failed. INSET: DEAL OR NO DEAL.

The article discusses the U.S. Social Security system. An argument is presented that its existing methods of operation are unsustainable, and that it will collapse unless its finances are rectified. Topics addressed include means testing, benefit formulas, early retirement, and problems with solvency projections. INSET: WHITHER MEDICARE?.

The article presents information on Dina Wein-Reis, who was conspiracy and wire fraud after her townhouse in the Manhattan borough of New York City was raided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Wein Reis is accused of having orchestrated an elaborate scam involving obtaining wholesale goods and reselling them to retail under false pretenses. INSET: THE SHADOWY BUSINESS OF DIVERSION.

The article reports on Yale University economist Robert Shiller's observation of the U.S. economy, which he believes is improving. Shiller forecast the housing bubble in the year 2003 and the economic recession it caused. His company MacroMarkets, which he co-founded, hopes to create financial vehicles for hedging varieties of financial risks. Shiller's risk-averse personality, his help in developing the field of behavioral finance, and his professional ambitions are discussed.