The most active period of the witchcraft trials coincides with a period of lower than average temperature known to climatologists as the "little ice age"...In a time period when the reasons for changes in weather were largely a mystery, people would have searched for a scapegoat in the face of deadly changes in weather patterns. 'Witches' became target for blame because there was an existing cultural framework that both allowed their persecution and suggested that they could control the weather.

Even if you are planning a birth with an epidural, the evidence suggests that a doula can help make things go much more smoothly.

When I meet people on airplanes and they find out I'm an economist, they usually ask about stock tips.

One of the big take-aways from a lot of economic theory is that people should engage in consumption smoothing.

You work hard for your income, and that hard work is what fuels the economy.

For many women - myself included - pregnancy brings on tremendous anxiety and confusion, along with the joy.

Good household decision-making often relies on thinking about your household like a firm.