The Rich Get Richer, Work Harder

EJ Dionne: Today should really be called 'Capital Day'

(NEWSER) - "Labor Day" is a misnomer, and we're the ones who have made it so, writes EJ Dionne for the Washington Post . Today, and every day in America, we no longer celebrate workers "as the real creators of wealth." We reserve the highest praise for "capital," he explains. "In scores of different ways, we paint investors as the heroes and workers as the sideshow." Consider taxes, which fall more heavily on money made by labor than on gains from capital (a reality only enhanced by the calls to end the payroll tax cut). More»

'Virtual internships' take among small business

(NEWSER) - Companies have long used internships to avoid paying young people, but increasingly they don't want to see their interns at all. "Virtual internships," where recent grads do research and sales or work with social media from home, has expanded from an unheard-of practice to "something almost every college student has at least considered," one HR professional tells the Wall Street Journal. Many virtual interns never even meet their bosses. More»

Researchers say the sector will continue to grow, but belts will be tightening

(NEWSER) - Tech-spending growth, on a roll since recovering from the 2000 dot-com bust beginning in 2004, is likely to slow next year, dragged down by US economic woes and rising oil prices, reports the Wall Street Journal. Research firms say companies are likely to keep spending, but more slowly. As one CIO said, “It’s not doom and gloom.” More»

New UN report says Americans more productive than peers

(NEWSER) - Labor Day is a well-deserved rest for Americans, as a new UN report shows US laborers work longer, harder, and get more done than their counterparts worldwide. The average US worker produces the most wealth, raking in $63,885 yearly, followed by Irish laborers at $55,986. Only Norway beat the US in the amount of output generated hourly. More»

(NEWSER) - Doctors and lawyers are so old-school—CNNMoney lists the movers and shakers of the future:

• Disease Mapper: Use satellite technology to track and predict epidemics.
• Robot Programmer: Today's robots can analyze blood samples and mix cocktails—if someone shows them how.