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The article discusses how budget deficits in several U.S. states are prompting politicians and others to shun past allegiances and embrace greater fiscal responsibility. Democratic legislators in Illinois helped pass budget-cutting legislation that might normally have drawn opposition from allies in labor unions. In New Jersey, state senate president and union leader Stephen Sweeney has fought to reduce public pensions. Indiana's Republican governor Mitchell Daniels resorted to both budget reductions and tax increases to eliminate his state's deficit.

A chart is presented that lists several real estate investment trust upstarts and their major properties by the securities research firm Green Street Advisors which include Acadia Realty, Alexandria Real Estate, and Biomed Realty.

This article describes the minimal selection of mutual funds offered by Wal-Mart Stores to its employees as selections in the company's 401 (k) retirement plan. The article states that such a selection of mutual funds is typical for many companies which offer similar selections with poor cost disclosure and a failure to take advantage of bulk buying power. Wal-Mart employee Jeremy Braden has brought a class action lawsuit against Wal-Mart for breach of its fiduciary duty in offering the funds.

The article provides projections regarding what the economic outlook may be like in 2010 in various industry sectors in the U.S. and around the world. According to the author the U.S. economy can continue to recover unless there is another banking crisis or increased interest rates. Also discussed is the potential lack of economic growth in China, Japan and Europe, the expansion of nontraditional media, and the economic outlook for the automobile and energy industry.

This article presents leaders and capitalist entrepreneurs who made their fortunes either by creating successful products or by creating a particular market for those products and services. Among the business leaders profiled are Philip Knight, creator of Nike shoes and Steve Jobs, creator of the Apple computer and the MP3 player, iPod.

The article focuses on the 10 richest people in the U.S. They include Lawrence Ellison, who co-founded software company Oracle Corp., which has acquired 54 companies over the last five years, including Sun Microsystems. Christy Walton, a member of the family of Sam Walton, who founded Wal-Mart, is the wealthiest of the Waltons due to her late husband, John Walton's, investments. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg owns 85 percent of Bloomberg LP.

The article discusses real estate investment and Marty Cohen and Bob Steers. The global financial crisis had caused Cohen and Steers' real estate mutual fund group to loose $10 billion in investments and so they decided to start a debt rollover. They sold shares in European and Asian real estate investment trusts (REITs) and used money from Cohen & Steers to provide bailouts. Since the bailouts shares in REITs have increased.

Reports that the financial problems of USG Corp., makers of the Sheetrock-brand wallboard, have been alleviated by wealthy investors seeking value stocks; Mention of lawsuits filed against USG as a result of asbestos in its plaster and joint compound; Decrease in the price of USG stock; Investment in USG by Warren Buffet's company Berkshire Hathaway and Third Avenue Funds.