Stories by Howard Karger
Howard Karger is professor of social work at the University of Houston, and author of Shortchanged: Life and Debt in the Fringe Economy (Berrett-Koehler, 2005).
Middle-class and poor families have been sold the idea that home ownership is the ticket to economic security, but mortgage vultures and soaring costs have turned buying a home into a financial nightmare.
Posted on Jun 14, 2007
Millions of Americans live on the margins of the American economy, depending on the likes of payday lenders and pawnshops, who charge excessive interest rates and superhigh fees for their services.
Posted on Dec 29, 2006
A federal bankruptcy judge says the new bankruptcy law is good for one thing: allowing creditors to make more money off the backs of debt-ridden consumers.
Posted on Mar 7, 2006
Predatory lenders like LoanMax have interest rates that would make even Tony Soprano green with envy.
Posted on Jan 11, 2006
It's nice of the federal government to exempt hurricane victims from the harshest part of the new bankruptcy law -- but what about other debtors?
Posted on Oct 21, 2005
One of the consequences of so many Americans living paycheck to paycheck is their extreme vulnerability during crises.
Posted on Sep 29, 2005
Attempting to flee Hurricane Rita, a Houston resident tells an all-too-familiar tale of gridlock, government incompetence and empty gas pumps.
Posted on Sep 24, 2005
