Consumer behaviour

Author and environmental policy analyst John Ryan of Northwest Environment Watch makes some observations about the power of consumers to shape the global economy with prudent buying decisions.

The Strong Museum in Rochester, New York is taking a look at our consumerist culture and finding that American attitudes about nature are changing, but our habits aren’t. Brenda Tremblay reports.

While Germany contributes money for international population control, one German state, Brandenburg, is giving cash rewards to women who have more German babies. Alexa Dvorson reports on reaction to this incentive program.

Key economic indicators are still giving mixed signals about the recovery of the nation’s economy. Housing numbers were up, but now they are down; consumer confidence was rising, and now it’s sagging. Analysts still can’t say if we have hit bottom.