Economy

You may have heard the state has the highest taxes in the country, or that Prop. 13 has saved or ruined California. But what’s really true, or half true? Share your questions and we'll find out.

How companies collect and share consumers' personal information is likely to grow into an expensive fight as election season unfolds in California.

We answer your pension questions about California legislators, University of California retirees, and more.

The California Gold Rush redefined how Americans saw failure and success. Today, the state’s economy still benefits from entrepreneurs eager to take big chances.

California’s $2.75 trillion economy makes it the world’s sixth largest. But that ranking disguises an economic fault-line: The decline of the middle class.

The U.S. Supreme Court has yet to weigh in on a high-profile case that could slash the power of public-employee unions. But California labor leaders are already planning to push for new state laws to blunt the impact of an unfavorable ruling.

The cost of retirement benefits for public employees from California's state state and local governments and schools and colleges has more than tripled since 2003—putting so much pressure on government budgets that many are having to choose between service cuts and raising taxes. We explain the forces at work.

California's focus: what to do with an expected surplus of at least $6.1 billion. Republicans say return it to California’s 40 million residents as a nice tax refund. The governor's priority is to fill up the state's rainy day fund. Democratic legislators mostly want to spend it.

State Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León is proposing an end run for Californians to deduct the full value of their state and local taxes from their federal tax bills.

The 2018 elections are coming—and those of you who don’t spend your waking hours monitoring the secretary of state’s website may have some questions. Here’s a quick primer for anyone resolving to enter 2018 as a more informed citizen.