Recession Briefing 8.11

Statistics whiz Nate Silver thinks that the recession likely does not have enough gas left to push the unemployment rate up to 10 percent. (FiveThirtyEight)

As a result of disproportionate male layoffs in the recession, women are coming close to representing the majority of the national work force for the first time in American history. (New York Times/Economix)

Several U.S. cities these days are accommodating the homeless and their encampments, instead of dispersing them. (Wall Street Journal)

Shanghai and Beijing are becoming new lands of opportunity for recent American college graduates who face unemployment nearing double digits at home. (New York Times)

Last popularized during the Great Depression, scrip, or locally created stand-ins for U.S. currency, is making a comeback. A handful of communities across the U.S. have launched its own money in recent months. (Los Angeles Times)

It always takes a while for jobs to start appearing after a recession, but the wait could be particularly long this time around because of the unique nature of this downturn and the severe damage it has done to the labor market. (Associated Press)

A new study indicates that the recession’s wreaking havoc on hotel, airline and rental car loyalty programs — and the members who love their perks. (USA Today)

Ten quirks, neuroses and idiosyncracies that are completely acceptable during the economic downturn. (RecessionWire)

Don’t let your romantic life suffer from lack of funding. Here are some tips for dating cheaply in the downturn. (New York Examiner)

Women, it seems, are dealing with this recession a little differently than men. Specifically, they are cutting back on spending more than their male peers. (U.S. News & World Report)

Tags: china, dating in the downturn, homelessness, recession sacrifices, scrip, unemployment, women in the workforce