Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 27, 2002
WEALTH AND HAPPINESS: Contrary to conventional wisdom, new research shows that money can buy happiness. Academics at the American Economics Association's annual conference in Atlanta agreed that wealth leads to a deeper sense of well-being. But there's a downside: Emotions such as jealousy come into play, and contentment diminishes when others' income rises faster.
BLUE SKIES AHEAD: A new Ipsos-Reid poll suggests consumers think the country is about to turn the corner on the economy. While consumers remain skittish about the economy at present, particularly job security and their own financial situation, the poll indicates they're confident things will be better in six months.
TOILING ON TUESDAYS: Almost 50 percent of 150 executives surveyed by a unit of Robert Half International Inc. say workers are most productive on Tuesdays.
PLOWED UNDER: The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that among occupations, farmers will see the biggest employment drop this decade.
12.4 PERCENT: That's the share of board seats women held at Fortune 500 companies in 2001. In second-tier companies, women held 8.9 percent of the board seats.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Employee benefits don't have to cost a company a fortune, the Institute of Management & Administration says. It suggests employers offer such low-cost benefits as potluck meals.