The results of the biggest study on guaranteed income programs are finally in

If you've got a life-threatening medical condition, your first call might not be to an economist. But Alvin Roth used a theory about matching markets to help connect kidney patients and donors.

Studying the outcomes of public health delivery can lack a scientific methodology. MIT economists have applied the methodology of randomized controlled trial (RCT) to study the effect of the Medicaid expansion plan in Oregon. These researchers look into how the new healthcare coverage affects clinical outcomes, emergency-room use, and employment.

In many parts of the United States, people struggle with economic mobility and achieving the American Dream. Salt Lake City’s rate of economic mobility is at the highest in the country. An investigative journalist explores the Mormon-influenced structure of charitable giving and various social factors that have created this socio-economic anomaly, and discovers that compassionate conservatism and some government welfare programs have contributed to the state being a unique case.

An economic shift to renewable energy could take decades, but thanks to rapidly evolving disruptive technologies, dropping prices of solar and wind power sources, and increasing market demand for green business, the new age of renewable energy could encompass the world economy much more quickly.

For the superrich and the biggest U.S. charitable foundations, donating to universities, hospitals and cultural institutions is the norm. Less common are donations targeted at "social change" such as alleviating poverty or tackling global warming - but that is beginning to change. An in-depth study from the Bridgespan Group is showing how big bets in philanthropy are paying off, as well as what factors - such as a close donor-recipient relationship - are key to success.

Microfinance was widely lauded for decades as a surefire and promising way to break the cycle of poverty and uplift the economies of the developing world, especially when targeted for women. But hard data has shown that, on its own, micro-loans don't serve to create sustainable change without a comprehensive approach, and that there are many other factors - such as education and healthcare - to consider when leveraging these tools.

The West Philadelphia Skills Initiative is working to structure an inclusive economy by bridging socioeconomic gaps between classes; by connecting large employers with the pool of people currently seeking work, this community-empowered group is working to create "an actionable strategy for ... pathways into the middle class"

The Social Innovation Summit, hosted in New York City, examines five key elements that allow the strategy of marketing to the base of the pyramid to actually succeed, and the companies big and small that are leveraging this approach to sustainably break the cycle of poverty in varied industries for communities around the world.

As part of the massive effort to rebuild their country and encourage economic opportunity - particularly for youth - Rwanda has incorporated entrepreneurship into their culture, education, and economy at an unprecedented level, equating it with nationalism and patriotism. From required courses for students in secondary school to government supported training workshops, they are hoping to create new opportunities and become leaders in social enterprise. But does State-imposed entrepreneurship really inspire sustainable new ventures?

Raton's economy took a devastating blow when its coal mine shut down and hundreds of people lost their job. In recent years the town has made great strides in rebuilding by taking inventory of what the town needs, encouraging local businesses, seeking tourists and businesses, and trying to build a stronger work ethic in the residents and decrease the prevalence of drugs.