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Many private pension plans won't be able to pay the benefits they have promised; they are underfunded by an estimated $450 billion. Even the federal agency that insures them is in the red $23 billion — and its shortfall could hit $142 billion in 20 years. The biggest pension failures have involved companies in struggling industries such as auto, steel and airlines — but even healthy corporations such as IBM, Verizon and Hewlett-Packard have recently frozen their pension plans. Congress is crafting legislation to make the nation's private pension system more stable, but many observers worry that tightening funding rules could lead more companies to drop their pension programs. It seems certain that more of the responsibility of saving for retirement will fall to individuals — and Americans are notoriously bad savers. As the first wave of baby boomers turns 60 this year, many experts warn that they and coming generations won't be able to retire as comfortably as their parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nation's $59 billion newspaper industry is facing an uncertain future even while its biggest companies are enjoying enviable profits averaging around 20 percent. Newspaper circulation has been declining for many years, especially among young adults. Now, newspapers are losing readers and some advertising to the Internet. In fact, only 52 percent of adults read the paper on a typical weekday. Many newspapers are working on redesigns aimed at making their print editions more readable. Most also have created Web sites to deliver news and information, including special features and interactive options not included in the print product. But newspaper executives are struggling to incorporate their online editions into viable business plans. Meanwhile, slipping profit margins are resulting in layoffs at several of the major newspaper companies and opening up the country's second-largest -- Knight Ridder -- to a possible takeover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As deaths from bird flu continue to mount in Asia — and now threaten Europe — concern about a worldwide epidemic has prompted calls to action at the highest levels of government. Last month, in response to President Bush's emergency request, Congress approved $3.8 billion to develop new vaccines and stockpile anti-flu medications. Some critics say it's too little too late. If a pandemic hit tomorrow, the nation would have drugs to treat only very few people, no approved vaccine and a public health system that is woefully unprepared for a pandemic. With each new case of human infection, the danger increases that bird flu could easily pass among humans, health authorities warn. But some scientists doubt the virus will mutate into one that is easily transmitted from human to human. So far, most victims had close contact with poultry. But even skeptics agree a flu pandemic is inevitable at some point, and that the nation needs to shore up its response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The federal minimum wage -- $5.15 an hour -- has not changed since 1997. Since then, minimum-wage earners have lost 17 percent of their purchasing power to inflation. Supporters of increasing the rate say it would lift many Americans out of poverty, but business groups say an increase would hurt the working poor because it would cause companies to lay off low-wage workers. In any case, they say, many minimum-wage earners are middle-class teens earning pocket money, not poor adults. Attempts in Congress to raise the minimum wage failed this year, but perennial sponsor Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., says he will try again next year. Seventeen states and Washington, D.C., now have higher minimum wages than the federal level, and 130 cities and counties have so-called living-wage laws requiring public contractors to pay significantly higher wages. Nevada and Florida recently passed minimum-wage ballot initiatives, and more state battles are looming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In just two decades, low-paid Chinese workers and a modernization-obsessed leadership have transformed China into one of the world's biggest economies. China produces two-thirds of the world's copiers, microwave ovens and DVD players, plus vast amounts of its clothing, shoes and toys. China's 9 percent growth rate over the past 25 years is the fastest economic acceleration in world history. Average incomes have quadrupled, and 300 million people were lifted out of poverty. China's $1.6 trillion economic output is expected to triple in 15 years, overtaking the United States by 2039. Critics say the communist nation owes much of its success to unfair trade practices and abysmal labor conditions for Chinese workers. In any case, China's leaders are intent on maintaining growth. High unemployment, widespread poverty and growing social unrest create unstoppable demand for the economy to keep expanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The American labor movement suffered a major blow at its 50th-anniversary convention in Chicago in July. The beleaguered AFL-CIO split nearly in half as seven unions formed the rival Change to Win coalition. The seceding unions argued that the AFL-CIO, led by John Sweeney, had been spending too much time and money trying to get Democrats elected to national office and not enough time recruiting new members. The defections reflect the concern over declining union membership in recent years, due in part to automation and job outsourcing. Some 3 million U.S. factory jobs alone were lost between 2000 and 2003. As he starts a new term, Sweeney confronts the possibility of more defections, businesses that are aggressively anti-union and unafraid to move operations abroad and a younger generation that knows little about unions. The split also raises questions for the Democrats, who historically derived funding and votes from the labor movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lobbying is a growth industry. The number of registered lobbyists in Washington has more than doubled during the past decade, to 26,013, and last year clients paid lobbyists an unprecedented $2 billion to help influence Congress. Lobbyists meet with lawmakers and their staffers so often they have become part of the nation's legislative machinery. In addition, they raise and donate millions of dollars in campaign cash. Political professionals of all stripes view lobbyists as indispensable experts and persuaders — and as honorable professionals in most cases. But lobbying and corruption have gone hand-in-hand since the 19th century. The latest cloud to shadow lobbyists is a controversy over tens of millions of dollars in fees paid to Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff by Native American tribes seeking to keep their legal casinos flourishing. In the wake of the still-unresolved allegations against Abramoff, open-government advocates say new disclosure rules are needed so lobbyists operate with more transparency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 10 million illegal immigrants live in the United States, and 1,400 more arrive every day. Once concentrated in a few big states like Texas and California, they are rapidly moving into non-traditional areas such as the Midwest and South. Willing to work for low wages, the migrants are creating a backlash among some residents of the new states, which have seen a nearly tenfold increase in illegal immigration since 1990. While illegal immigrants only make up about 5 percent of the U.S. work force, critics of the nation's immigration policies say illegal immigrants take Americans' jobs, threaten national security and even change the nation's culture by refusing to assimilate. But immigrants' advocates say illegal migrants fill the jobs Americans refuse to take and generally boost the economy. Proposals to deal with illegal immigration include the Real ID bill, which would block states from issuing driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants, and "guest worker" programs granting temporary legal status to illegal workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wealth has become more concentrated in the United States, with the top 1 percent of households now commanding a bigger share of the nation's prosperity than at any time since the 1920s. Average middle-class family incomes, meanwhile, have been mostly stagnant for more than 30 years. As the gap between the rich and everyone else grows wider, some sociologists and economists worry that the "Horatio Alger" dream of economic success through hard work and merit is dead and that getting ahead now depends mostly on your family's affluence, education and social connections. Others say living standards are rising for nearly everyone, newcomers still can find their fortunes here and middle-class Americans live better than their parents did. President Bush, meanwhile, is encouraging wealth creation, but critics say his "ownership society" proposals pose greater economic risks and won't help spread the nation's good fortune to all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cosmetic surgery is growing in popularity, fueled by a culture of youthful attractiveness, unprecedented affluence and TV "makeover" shows. In 2004, U.S. doctors performed almost 9 million procedures, including such popular operations as breast augmentations, tummy tucks and liposuction. Once the province of celebrities and wealthy matrons, cosmetic surgery today is within the reach of everyone from middle-class teenagers to aging baby boomers. But critics say the cosmetic surgery craze not only creates an unhealthy overemphasis on physical appearance but also is potentially dangerous. No federal or state regulations specify which physicians are qualified to perform plastic surgery, though some states have begun instituting restrictions. Other critics are concerned because patients are increasingly opting for surgery in private offices and clinics, which can be less well-equipped than hospitals to deal with emergencies. Meanwhile, manufacturers once again are asking the federal government to permit the use of silicone breast implants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In early February, North Korea's leader bragged about his nuclear arsenal, the lagging U.S. dollar started climbing and the Prince of Wales announced his engagement. But the serious-minded readers of Bloomberg News were most interested in Charles and Camilla. Americans have an insatiable appetite for celebrity news, and the juicier the better — from Brad and Jennifer's breakup to Michael Jackson's trial to Martha Stewart's jail term. Some observers say it's harmless to follow the lives of celebrities. Indeed, they even say we are genetically programmed to care, and that the heavy focus on celebrities simply reflects that interest. But media critics say celebrity coverage is squeezing out legitimate news and that, as a result, the United States is becoming a nation that knows more about the "Battle of the Network Stars" than the battle for Baghdad. With less attention being paid to informing citizens about government and the world around them, the critics warn, a cornerstone of a democratic society — an informed populace — is being put in jeopardy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sudden withdrawal of the blockbuster arthritis drug Vioxx and warnings about similar medications -- including heightened suicide risks from antidepressants -- have focused unprecedented negative attention on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Two congressional committees, the Government Accountability Office and the Institute of Medicine have begun looking at the agency's performance, and several lawmakers are proposing overhauling the way the FDA operates. Critics say the agency suffers from deep-seated flaws, including conflicts of interest, an inattention to safety issues and a lack of enforcement authority. An FDA medical reviewer testified recently the agency's close relationship with the drug industry and its tendency to rush drugs to market has left the country "virtually defenseless." But FDA and drug-industry officials say the U.S. still enjoys the safest drug system in the world and that proposed reforms, including creation of a new safety oversight board, will create transparency and provide a safety backup system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

State and local governments are under increasing criticism for using the long-established power of eminent domain to acquire private property not only for highways and other government projects but also for private developments. Financially strapped cities say eminent domain, or condemnation, is sometimes the only way to assemble large tracts of land for upscale residential and commercial development that will enhance urban life and bring in needed tax revenue. Property-rights advocates and other critics say the government should not force home and business owners to turn over their property to other private parties. The Supreme Court is considering the issue in a case pitting the distressed city of New London, Conn., against a group of homeowners who refuse to make way for a private development. The justices seemed skeptical of the homeowners' position during oral arguments in February. But some experts say property-rights advocates are causing municipalities to be more careful about using eminent domain in residential areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent breakthroughs in hydrogen fuel-cell technology offer new hope that the United States could one day end its dependence on fossil fuels. Proponents of renewable fuels say non-polluting hydrogen could not only help end U.S. reliance on Middle Eastern oil but also dramatically reduce air pollution and emissions of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas linked to global warming. The Bush administration is intensifying its support for fuel cells, including a proposal to spend $1.2 billion on hydrogen research over the next five years. But even critics who foresee a major role for hydrogen fuel cells note the administration is also proposing to increase domestic production of highly polluting fossil fuels, both to generate electricity and power cars as well as to produce hydrogen itself. Critics also say the administration is continuing to reject caps on carbon emissions and underfund subsidies for wind power and other renewable-energy technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six years after major U.S. tobacco companies agreed to restrict cigarette advertising as part of a $246 billion settlement, "Big Tobacco" is fighting for survival. U.S. sales have plummeted in the past three years, tobacco taxes have risen, and smoking has been banned in airplanes, buses and restaurants. Nonetheless, a quarter of American teens are smokers by the time they leave high school, tobacco exports to Asia are booming, and lawmakers recently defeated a bill authorizing the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco products. But tobacco use is still the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, and industry critics complain that cigarette ads and controversial, new products — including flavored cigarettes — target minors. The industry's prospects may well rest on the outcome of two suits by smokers and a $280 billion Justice Department action charging cigarette makers conspired to defraud the public about the risks of smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charges of media bias have never been louder than they are today. Both liberals and conservatives complain about slanted coverage of central events such as the war in Iraq and the presidential campaign. CBS was universally condemned in September for basing a report about President Bush on fake documents, but every major media outlet has come in for its share of criticism. The Fox News Channel and popular commentator Bill O'Reilly have been called little more than spokesmen for the Republican Party. And Fox, The Wall Street Journal and MSNBC have all come under fire recently for the perceived right-wing slant of their reporters and political commentators. With distrust so rampant, experts are asking whether the American public as a whole can ever agree about what constitutes the truth. In an era of polarized politics, if citizens can't even agree about what the facts are because they don't trust major sources of information, it is that much more unlikely that the populace will be able reach consensus on the major issues of the day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much as they did 100 years ago, farmworkers today still face "back-breaking jobs with impossibly long hours for skinflint wages in filthy conditions," as a newspaper editorial described it. Wages have not kept pace with inflation, and in some labor camps, living conditions range from the deplorable to the unconscionable. Some farm bosses even have been convicted in recent years of enslaving workers, most of whom are illegal aliens afraid to speak out for fear of deportation. Human-rights advocates say the only way to improve conditions is to give undocumented workers legal residency. But opponents say that would reward illegals for breaking U.S. immigration laws and ultimately spark more illegal immigration. Meanwhile, many state and federal laws protecting workers go unenforced, and growers say Americans increasingly do not want to do farm work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social Security has provided a guaranteed income for retirees, widows and disabled individuals for almost 70 years. But unless changes are made to the taxpayer-funded system, Social Security will begin paying more in benefits than it collects in payroll taxes in about 15 years. That's when the retirement of millions of baby-boom workers will overwhelm the system's pay-as-you-go funding mechanism. Moreover, by 2052, the program's trillion-dollar trust fund is expected to run dry. Experts continue to debate the seriousness of the program's problems and the best way to strengthen it. Three years ago, President Bush called for bolstering Social Security funding by allowing workers to invest part of their payroll contributions in personal investment accounts. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry opposes privatization. Regardless of who wins this fall's presidential election, Social Security reform is likely to figure high on the legislative agenda next year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

America is teeming with Wal-Marts, Home Depots and other "big-box" chain stores — some larger than five football fields. Millions of consumers like the low prices, free parking and one-stop shopping convenience offered by the megastores, while policymakers say the stores create jobs, enable customers to save money for other expenditures and pump much-needed tax dollars into community coffers. But critics say big-box stores actually harm local economies and flourish only because they receive public subsidies, pay low salaries and benefits and utilize unethical and possibly illegal practices to drive smaller, locally owned competitors out of business. Critics also say they cause added traffic congestion and suburban sprawl, force U.S. companies to ship high-paying manufacturing jobs overseas and cost more in local services than the taxes they generate. Communities increasingly are passing special ordinances to keep the big retailers out, but the chains are fighting back, saying they are simply giving consumers what they want. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Americans spend at least $16 billion a year on nearly 30,000 kinds of dietary supplements, most of which seem safe. But critics contend that 10 years after Congress relaxed federal regulation of supplements manufacturing, little is really known about the long-term effects of many supplements, particularly herbals. Moreover, despite a federal ban against the once-popular weight-loss aid ephedra, critics say at least a dozen other supplements may also pose serious health risks. They want legislation to toughen safety rules and more money spent on enforcement. Questions also have emerged about the efficacy of supplements. Apart from vitamins and minerals, the health benefits of most supplements are minimal to non-existent, critics say. But supplement manufacturers counter that critics exaggerate the problems within the industry, ignore studies that suggest positive health effects of supplements and are hostile to alternative health care in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Political bickering over scientific research is intensifying. The Bush administration has attacked environmental laws like the Endangered Species Act and warnings about global warming, claiming they are not based on sound science. But a distinguished group of scientists contends the administration distorts scientific information in order to support policies favored by the religious right and business interests. Questions also have been raised about the influence of corporate money on the integrity of government and academic science. Recently, it was revealed that many scientists at the prestigious National Institutes of Health (NIH) were also working as paid consultants to drug companies whose fortunes could be affected by decisions the scientists made. And questions increasingly are being asked about the close ties developing between university researchers and corporations, which have become a growing source of funding for academic research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the Cold War ended, a downsized U.S. military has increasingly turned to private contractors to fill positions once held by military personnel. In U.S.-occupied Iraq, most of the jobs involve logistical support, but several thousand contractors also work as armed security guards or help interrogate Iraqi prisoners. The privatization trend went largely unnoticed until April, when insurgents in Fallujah murdered four civilian security guards and burned and mutilated their bodies. Soon afterwards, at least two contract interrogators were implicated in prisoner abuses at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison. The incidents have renewed questions about the effectiveness and legal status of private contractors operating in war zones and the wisdom of the Pentagon's increasing reliance on private contractors. Supporters of privatization say the military's use of contractors saves taxpayers money and improves efficiency by freeing up soldiers for strictly combat operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The future of nanotechnology -- the science of creating molecule-size machines and materials -- holds mind-boggling possibilities, according to proponents. Microscopic nanosensors someday will monitor criminals and detect chemical weapons. Nanobots, or tiny machines, will clean up toxic wastes, conduct surveillance, perform surgery and deliver drugs to targeted sites inside the body. Many products that use nanotechnology are already a reality, including dramatically faster computer chips and non-staining, wrinkle-free clothing. Some scientists warn, however, that the technology poses environmental and health risks, especially from easily ingested nanoparticles. Others worry that nanotechnology's potential is being over-hyped to investors. But advocates say the technology can be developed with proper safeguards and that it eventually could trigger the world's next Industrial Revolution, render oil obsolete and transform medical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although workplace fatalities and injuries are on the decline, thousands of workers are still hurt or killed on the job each year, and many mishaps go unreported. But the most flagrant violators of the nation's safety rules remain in business despite racking up hundreds of penalties and losing multiple workers to death or injury, raising tough questions about the effectiveness of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. And certain groups of workers -- including Hispanics -- suffer disproportionately higher casualty rates. Labor unions and citizen advocacy groups accuse President Bush of gutting protections and caving to corporate interests, but Republicans deny the accusations and say deregulation actually helps business improve safety. Businesses complain of burdensome, one-size-fits-all rules that drain time and money, hamper international competitiveness and spur companies to move jobs offshore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The supposedly accidental "wardrobe malfunction" that exposed Janet Jackson's right breast during the Super Bowl halftime show shouldn't have surprised anyone. Radio shock jocks like Howard Stern and Bubba the Love Sponge have been pushing the decency envelope for years, and TV has been following suit, raising new complaints about its increasingly risqué -- some say indecent -- content. Defenders of the media say the First Amendment gives them wide latitude to broadcast sexually provocative material, which simply reflects changing contemporary mores. But critics of today's radio and television content say sexually oriented broadcasting can harm society, especially children. With polls showing that Americans want something done about broadcast content, legislation is now pending in Congress to increase indecency fines dramatically. There is even talk of regulating the cable TV industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The U.S. economy is recovering, but employment continues to lag. Experts blame some of the joblessness on the job-exporting phenomenon known as offshoring. Well-trained, low-wage workers in India, China and other developing countries make exporting American jobs attractive, along with the widespread availability of high-speed Internet connections. In addition, millions of foreign professionals have entered the U.S. work force using temporary visas, while millions more undocumented foreign workers from Mexico and Latin America have found low-wage jobs in the U.S. thanks to lax immigration and border-control policies. Offshoring proponents say paying lower wages reduces the cost of goods and raises profits, ultimately enabling U.S. companies to create better-paying jobs for Americans. Critics say offshoring simply eliminates good jobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Armed with new findings on the links between brain chemistry and mental illness, drug companies produced a new generation of drugs for schizophrenia, major depression and other severe psychiatric conditions. Most experts say up to 70 percent of the nation's 17.5 million adult sufferers could recover with access to the new drugs and strong social supports. Yet fewer than half receive any treatment, and the situation is eroding as cash-strapped states try to limit public subsidies for the higher-priced new drugs. Some say the new drugs often aren't worth the added costs, but others contend they are cheaper than the alternatives with older drugs — distressing risks and side-effects and more mentally ill people locked up in prison or homeless. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accounting scandals at Enron and other large corporations rocked the financial world a few years ago. Now new problems are shaking up the stock market. The $7 trillion mutual fund industry is reeling from revelations that fund managers engaged in unethical trading practices to benefit themselves and a few select clients. Meanwhile, questions about the integrity of governance at the fabled New York Stock Exchange -- the world's largest stock market -- have led to new leadership and sweeping structural changes. But some analysts contend that the actions taken don't go far enough to protect investors. Others say recent market gains show that the corrective actions are working and that investors retain their faith in the overall integrity of the stock market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread availability of music that can be downloaded for free off the Internet has decimated sales of compact discs in recent years -- amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars in losses. Perhaps belatedly, the music industry is starting to fight back, filing high-profile lawsuits against individuals to discourage piracy and promoting new online sites that sell licensed music for a low price. But many observers wonder whether the industry, long resistant to the new technology, will adapt in time to remain profitable. As physical distribution of music on plastic discs becomes an anachronism, who will profit from promoting and marketing music that's available everywhere through digital devices -- the labels, the artists, legitimate Internet companies or the pirates? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latinos recently moved ahead of African-Americans to become the nation's largest minority. But while Hispanics already exert enormous influence on American life — salsa is now more popular than ketchup — their political clout has yet to catch up. Some experts contend that the recent defeat of Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante in California's gubernatorial election indicates that it may be a decade or more before Latinos' political influence blossoms. But others say growing Latino populations in swing states will bring increased influence in next year's national elections. Meanwhile, some immigration critics favor curtailing the influx of Latinos until those already here are inculcated with American values. But Hispanics say their high rate of English-language fluency — and proud self-identification as Americans — show they already embrace the nation's values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Media companies are expanding rapidly, integrating broadcast television, cable, radio, newspapers, books, magazines and the Internet under their roofs. Five conglomerates control most prime-time TV programming, and one company — Clear Channel — dominates radio. Yet, in the paradox of today's media landscape, consumers have more choices than ever, although critics say too many choices are low-brow offerings like "reality" TV. Meanwhile, newcomers — such as satellite radio and Web bloggers — keep sprouting. Now, as media companies push to grow even bigger, a nationwide debate rages over whether there's enough diversity of content and ownership. In June, the Federal Communications Commission relaxed its media-ownership rules, but growing resistance from lawmakers threatens to roll back the sweeping changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than a billion people around the world lack access to safe drinking water, and their numbers are growing. To make matters worse, 40 percent of Earth's inhabitants — nearly 3 billion people — have no sanitation services, often forcing them to sully the little fresh water they have. In the United States, copious rains finally have brought relief to many water-starved parts of the country, but the West and Southwest continue to suffer from last year's severe drought. The drought has intensified the ongoing struggle between thirsty urban centers in the West and rural communities fighting cities' efforts to tap their pristine rivers. Environmentalists say conservation can alleviate the water shortages, but others contend privatization of water supplies and more investment in technology offer the most hope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many people believe the end of legal discrimination gave blacks the same chance of success as other Americans. And by any measure, African-Americans' social, economic and political standing has vastly improved since the civil rights upheavals of the 1950s and '60s. Yet, by all the same measures -- wealth, income, life expectancy, school success, crime rates -- blacks lag far behind whites. Many African-Americans -- and not a few whites -- say discrimination, whether due to institutional habits or deliberate prejudice, prevents them from attaining jobs and homes equal to those enjoyed by whites. The recent Supreme Court decision upholding affirmative action heartened many blacks. But racially tinged incidents, such as those in Cincinnati, Benton Harbor, Mich., and Tulia, Texas, periodically shatter Americans' complacency about race. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions about the business practices of the pharmaceutical industry are growing along with its unprecedented profits. Critics say drugmakers put profit margins before human needs and sometimes jeopardize public safety. Consumer advocates and federal regulators complain about skyrocketing drug prices, misleading ads and cutthroat litigation. They also accuse the industry of buying influence in Washington to keep legislators, regulators and low-priced competitors at bay. The drug companies insist the criticism is overblown and say the proof of strong competition in the industry can be seen in the billions of dollars companies spend each year developing new products as well as the meteoric rise in generic drugs. Now the national spotlight on drugmakers is intensifying as lawmakers debate Medicare reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sport-utility vehicles have become icons of American consumption in the past decade, changing the look of the nation's highways. But few consumer products have attracted such adulation and scorn. Fans of the trucklike passenger vehicles love their spacious interiors, rugged appearance and high-off-the-ground seating. Critics see them as gas-guzzling, turnover-prone behemoths that spew pollutants and endanger the occupants of smaller cars. Like minivans, SUVs are categorized by the government as light trucks, which are held to less stringent fuel-efficiency and safety standards than cars. The Bush administration has ordered automakers to increase light-truck mileage efficiency by a total of 1.5 mpg -- to 22.2 mpg -- during the 2005-2007 model years. But environmentalists say that's not enough. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An exodus of young people from the rural Great Plains is tolling a death knell for hundreds of small communities. Experts blame the decline on such factors as the rise of agribusiness, the lack of cultural amenities and the federal farm-subsidy program, which they say mainly benefits large farms. Meanwhile, the number of Native Americans and buffalo on the plains has rebounded. Some experts say the federal government should try to lure residents and businesses to rural areas with financial incentives, much as the Homestead Act attracted 19th-century settlers with free land. Others call for reforms to farm subsidies. But some say stemming the depopulation of the region is impossible, and that it should be transformed into nature reserves for wildlife, Native Americans and tourists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asbestos was widely used for decades in the United States even though it was linked to cancer and other serious diseases. Over the past 30 years, people exposed to asbestos have flooded the courts with suits seeking monetary damages for their injuries. Asbestos use has been drastically reduced, but claims continue to increase annually by the tens of thousands. Business groups want Congress to solve the "litigation crisis" that already has cost $54 billion and could cost $210 billion more. One plan would create a $100 billion trust fund to pay victims; another would put a hold on claims from people who are not already sick. Trial-lawyer and labor groups say a trust fund might work if adequately financed, but closed-door negotiations on Capitol Hill have yet to produce a consensus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At least 8.4 million Americans cannot find jobs. Two million have been jobless for more than six months and are exhausting their savings. Meanwhile, the federal-state unemployment-insurance system, designed during the Great Depression to help the jobless and stimulate the economy, is strapped for funds and under fire. The White House insists tax cuts will revive the economy and proposes a significant federal withdrawal from the unemployment program. Congressional Democrats and employees' advocates want expanded coverage for low-wage and part-time workers. Moreover, they call for an immediate federal extension of weekly jobless benefits. But Republican leaders assert added jobless benefits only encourage the unemployed to remain idle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

President Bush is proposing a $674 billion plan to boost the economy centered around eliminating the taxes investors pay on corporate dividends. Bush's plan also would speed up tax cuts for high-income Americans due to take effect in 2004 and 2006. Democrats are offering rival stimulus plans that cost less — around $100 billion — and provide more relief for average taxpayers. The Democrats also propose helping fiscally strapped states and extending unemployment benefits. Meanwhile, some experts say the economy is already turning around and that new tax cuts would only worsen long-term fiscal problems, now that budget deficits have returned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the collapse of corporate giants Enron and WorldCom, a federal crackdown on corporate fraud led to a steady parade of handcuffed, high-profile executives in front of TV cameras. In addition, executives once considered the darlings of Wall Street, including entertainment entrepreneur Martha Stewart, have been linked to possible insider trading or money-laundering. Despite the lurid headlines and dramatic "perp walks" on the nightly news, some experts question whether corporate crime is actually on the increase. Others say it is growing and that only stiffer penalties for white-collar crime, such as those contained in legislation passed in July, will halt the questionable practices. Still others suggest that civil litigation, regulatory reform and changes in corporate governance are the best ways to control wrongdoing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since Baltimore became the first U.S. city to adopt a so-called living-wage ordinance in 1994, nearly 100 cities and counties have mandated wage floors above the $5.15-an-hour federal minimum. Relatively few workers take home bigger paychecks — perhaps 100,000 of the nation's 134 million workers. Moreover, living-wage ordinances are banned in one state, and others may follow suit. While the living-wage trend is still gaining momentum, economists disagree whether the pay increases are overshadowed by reductions in the number of jobs. Meanwhile, living-wage campaigns are active in more than 100 cities, including Santa Monica, Calif., where voters will decide in November on a $10.50 beachfront minimum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From corporate boardrooms to the factory floor, Americans are increasingly expressing their religious views at work — holding prayer breakfasts, proselytizing co-workers and wearing turbans and other religious garb. Some experts argue the First Amendment entitles Americans to express their religious views at work. But others say religion has no place in the secular work environment. Many employers have struggled to accommodate the religious beliefs of Muslims and other workers, but in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, complaints about workplace religious discrimination have been rising. Meanwhile, lawmakers are set to debate a bill pending in Congress that would greatly expand employers' obligations to accommodate religious expression on the job. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Once the economic envy of the world, Japan now is entering the second decade of a nearly continuous recession, with no end in sight. Unemployment, homelessness and crime are on the rise, and the banking system is lurching toward collapse under the weight of a trillion dollars in bad loans. Even the election last year of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on a radical reform platform has produced little change, owing in part to the power of special-interest politics. Japan also must deal with the economic costs of an increasingly aging population, and growing competition from neighboring countries. Meanwhile, since the Sept. 11 attacks on New York City and the Pentagon, the U.S. has pressured Japan to help in the war against terrorism, triggering a debate within the country over its longstanding prohibition against sending troops into overseas combat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Airline passenger traffic fell a catastrophic 33.2 percent after Sept. 11. Carriers slashed services, furloughed workers and canceled orders for new planes, but they still lost an estimated $7.7 billion in 2001. The picture would have been worse without the government's $15 billion rescue package. Most aviation experts say the airlines were struggling before the terrorist attacks due to declines in high-priced business travel. In any event, new aviation-security legislation has created another challenge for the airlines: the hassle factor. The new law gives responsibility for airport security to a new federal agency. But many travelers say they don't want to deal with the long check-in lines, shoe inspections and other inconveniences they now encounter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As U.S.-led forces continue to wage the Bush administration's war on terrorism in Afghanistan, calls are mounting for the United States to attack terrorism on another front: by boosting foreign aid. A coalition of international humanitarian agencies wants America and other industrial nations to double their aid levels as a way to alleviate the poverty, disease and illiteracy they say fan the flames of terrorism. They focus their call on the United States, which spends less on aid, as a percentage of national income, than any industrial nation. But critics say foreign aid has done little to improve living standards in the developing world, often lines the pockets of corrupt government officials and doesn't address the true causes of anti-U.S. sentiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyber-crime has reached epidemic proportions. More than 90 percent of the corporations and government agencies responding to a recent survey reported computer-security breaches in 2001. Disgruntled employees and hackers commit many cyber-crimes, and others are committed by con artists using the Web to perpetrate auction fraud, identity theft and other scams. Credit-card users are only liable for the first $50 of fraudulent charges, but financial institutions get hit hard. Identity thefts cost them $2.4 billion in losses and expenses in 2000. Some policymakers, wary of Internet-facilitated terrorist attacks, call for tough, new laws to prevent computer crimes. Others fear that such initiatives will trample on civil liberties. Still others want legislation to make Microsoft and other computer-software companies liable for damages caused by their software-security failures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accounting profession has emerged as one of the biggest victims of the sudden collapse of the once high-flying Enron Corp. The Houston energy-trading company filed for bankruptcy in December after accounting missteps forced it to restate earnings for several years. Enron executives put part of the blame on Arthur Andersen, the big firm that audited Enron's books. Now facing a criminal indictment for shredding documents and suits by Enron employees who lost pension savings, the venerable firm may not survive. Meanwhile, President Bush, Congress and the Securities and Exchange Commission want to strengthen auditor independence and improve corporate financial disclosures — but the accounting profession is resisting some of the changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aseries of recent launch failures has rocked the U.S. space program, casting doubt on the nation's space prowess at a crucial time. Commercial launches are expected to surge early in the 21st century as companies deploy satellites for direct-to-home television, mobile phones, pagers and other communications equipment. The United States, once assured of a significant piece of the market, now faces intense global competition. Delays and technical problems could further erode market share and also delay the launch of military satellites for national security purposes. Congress is debating what to do -- and awaiting the results of a series of inquiries into the accidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the Year 2000 nears, concern about possible problems caused by computer glitches is increasing, and contingency planning is shifting -- some say belatedly -- into high gear. Companies and governments are identifying ways to work around power failures and disruptions of food supplies. Some experts even say that computers not programmed to read "2000" could trigger a worldwide recession. U.S. officials are cautiously optimistic that basic infrastructure systems won't shut down. But small businesses and many foreign countries lag far behind in their Y2K repairs. Given the interconnectedness of today's wired world, some observers fear that weak links in the global computer network could cascade into massive disruptions in power, telephone and water services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Once known mainly for chat rooms, e-mail and pornography, the Internet is rapidly being transformed into a powerful commercial selling tool. U.S. business transactions on the World Wide Web totaled $43 billion in 1998 and could rise to $1.3 trillion by 2003. Companies increasingly go online to order parts, schedule shipments and obtain business services. Consumers are clicking on Web sites that sell books, recordings and high-tech equipment. But all of the activity is posing difficult questions for regulators, who must set rules for the thriving marketplace. Among the chief issues are taxing sales in cyberspace, defining appropriate commercial speech used on Web sites and applying antitrust laws to an industry often likened to the Wild West. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]