Featured topics in this issue: Christmas, Santa Claus, and Unemployment

Read these articles in Russian here.

Christmas in a Nutshell

Interview with Karal Ann Marling, a Professor Emeritus, a well-known specialist in American culture, and the author of many books, one of them is Merry Christmas! Celebrating America’s Greatest Holiday. Since 1977 she has been teaching at the University of Minnesota, where she was professor in both Art History and American Studies.

Christmas in the United States; Facts, Numbers and History

A poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports showed that 88% of Americans celebrate Christmas and for 64% of them Christmas is purely a religious holiday.

A Rare Profession

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in November 2008, there were 7269 professional Santas working in the United States. These elite professionals were supplied by 464 companies.

Unemployment, Piecing the Puzzle

The U.S. Department of Labor released the latest unemployment statistics that place the unemployment rate at 6.7%.

Collecting the Unemployment Benefits

The unemployment insurance in the United States is tightly regulated by each state and the amount, eligibility, and the length of time varies considerably from state to state.

Unemployment Insurance and its Affect on the Economy

Some experts argue that unemployment insurance stimulates the economy; others disagree and assert that it does not. Experts on both sides of the debate present their findings.

Evolution of the Unemployment Benefits in the United States

A historic overview of the U.S. unemployment benefits, how the system evolved into what it is today, and what factors are responsible for the unique decentralization of the American system.