Table of Contents

Class action lawsuits deter companies from financial wrongdoing, study finds
A study released by The Investor Advocate reports that the threat of class action lawsuits against corporations is more of a deterrent to corporate malfeasance than SEC enforcement action. Comments: 0

65% of online adults use social networking sites
A new study from the Pew Internet & American Life Project reveals that over half of adults online use social networking sites. Comments: 0

Map of medical identity theft reveals geographic patterns
The World Privacy Forum has published an interactive map of medical identity theft occurrences in the United States, based on complaints to the Federal Trade Commission. Comments: 0

Credit reporting system fails in fairness and accuracy, report says
Public interest group Demos has released a report that reviews the country's credit reporting system and looks at the impact of credit reports and scores on everyday Americans. Among other things, having poor credit means a consumer pay more for a car or a home, and can even mean being denied for or terminated from a job. Comments: 0

Study digs into how we use social networks
A study from the Pew Internet and American Life Project reveals how our trust, personal relationships, and civic and political involvement are connected to the use of social network sites and other technologies. Comments: 0

How safe are your savings?
Investors will continue to be preyed upon as long as brokers, banks and insurers are allowed to place profits above the best interests of their clients, finds a new report by Demos. Comments: 0

Recent changes in reverse mortgages impact older homeowners
Consumers have more choice in reverse mortgages, but these loans are generally more expensive and more complicated, finds a new study by the AARP Public Policy Institute. Comments: 0

Groups release joint principles on prepaid payroll cards
Two national consumer groups work with industry to develop joint principles on payroll cards, a type of prepaid card used for distributing wages when workers don't have a bank account to accept direct deposit. Comments: 0

Study sees “financial self-efficacy’ as vital component of financial success
Financial self-efficacy is a psychological concept that can be an important predictor of successful performance in individual financial empowerment. Comments: 0

Oldest and poorest Medicare recipients spend more out-of-pocket, report finds
A new analysis by the American Association of Retired People's (AARP) Public Policy Institute has revealed that Medicare beneficiaries spent a median of $3,103 a year of their own money on health care in 2006. Ten percent of beneficiaries—more than 4 million people—spent more than $8,300 a year. The oldest and poorest beneficiaries spent about one-quarter of their income on health care. Comments: 0