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Recession Briefing 11.17: More Going Hungry

What you need to know today to survive and thrive in the recession.

The number of Americans who lived in households that lacked consistent access to adequate food soared last year, to 49 million, the highest since the government began tracking what it calls “food insecurity” 14 years ago. (New York Times)

Massive financial fraud schemes like Bernard Madoff’s multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme may attract lots of headlines. But as the effects of the recession wear on, it’s small-time financial crimes that are thriving, experts say. (NPR)

Some 15.4 million taxpayers could receive smaller refunds than they expected or owe taxes next year because they did not have enough money withheld from their paychecks as part of the Making Work Pay tax credit program. (Washington Post)

The pace at which people fell behind on their mortgages slowed during the summer for the third consecutive quarter, but the overall delinquency rate hit another record. (Associated Press)

During the housing boom, Henry County, a suburb of Atlanta, had its share of racial tension. But the recession has begun to erase those differences. (New York Times)

America’s small cities are losing some of their traditional appeal to upwardly mobile families seeking wholesome neighborhoods, a stable economy and affordable living. Smaller cities of between 20,000 and 50,000 residents have lagged behind their larger counterparts in attracting higher-educated residents in this decade. (Associated Press)

Leaders from across the corporate landscape are being cautious in rebuilding work forces reduced severely during the economic downturn. (Wall Street Journal)

House Democratic leaders are aiming for a legislative solution to rising unemployment by Christmas. (The Hill)

John Carney looks at how a government bailout may have caused the coming catastrophe in commercial real estate. (Clusterstock)

Although the downturn has been severe and truly global in scale, inventive and entrepreneurial people have used this period to take risks, launch businesses and grow existing enterprises at a time when competitors battened down the hatches. (Telegraph) Check out some of those Lemonade Makers here. (Recessionwire)

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Tags: economy, jobs, News, politics, real estate, stimulus