PS Picks is a selection of the best things that the magazine's staff and contributors are reading, watching, or otherwise paying attention to in the worlds of art, politics, and culture.

• By Francie Diep
• Member Exclusive

The personal computer was supposed to kill the office and liberate us from hellish commutes to the city. But the average American commute has only increased since then. Could virtual reality finally change that?

• By Greg Rosalsky

Edison-era lightbulbs, known more for their fashionability than sustainability, have become a symbol of gentrification in the hipster capital of the world, Brooklyn.

• By Thomas J. Campanella

Representative Kevin Brady wants to shake up our retirement-savings system. That might not be a bad idea.

• By Dwyer Gunn

Across the globe, beef consumption is seeing rapid growth, fed by cheap imports and served by an industrialized agricultural global trade model that's been linked to a host of environmental impacts, climate change chief among them.

• By Sean Mowbray

A new report finds that expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit by 10 percent would lead to increases in after-tax income for middle-class Americans.

• By Dwyer Gunn

Even if you ignore the obvious moral necessity for the government to assist Puerto Rico, the government should not ignore its economic and military necessity.

• By Lillian Bobea

The company reneged on its 100 percent buyback policy, according to the suit.

• By Katie Kilkenny

A lesson for public officials courting Amazon.

• By Rick Paulas

A new report from the Kaiser Family Foundation sheds light on the Trump administration's funding cuts to ACA navigator groups.

• By Dwyer Gunn

New research finds a monetary reward inspires innovation far more than the promise of public recognition.

• By Tom Jacobs

How critical disaster studies can teach us what went wrong in Puerto Rico.

• By David M. Perry

A recent California Supreme Court decision could be a major blow to the state's 1978 tax revolt.

• By Anthony York

Trump's tax plan includes cuts for the wealthiest Americans.

• By Kate Wheeling

But it's got everything to do with xenophobia.

• By Jared Keller

Three new studies suggest racial economic inequality remains robust, despite the skewed views of many Americans.

• By Tom Jacobs

Economically struggling suburbs would benefit from joining with nearby cities, a think-tank report suggests.

• By Elena Gooray

Twenty-four states saw their poverty rate decline in 2016.

• By Dwyer Gunn

The economy continues its long recovery from the Great Recession.

• By Dwyer Gunn

The president is saying we should get rid of the debt ceiling. Lots of economists would agree.

• By Dwyer Gunn

Even after the nation's recent nuclear test, international powers appear at odds over whether sanctions are an effective deterrent.

• By Massoud Hayoun

For decades, the two communities have worked hand-in-hand on a range of issues—and now they're both under fire from the White House.

• By Elizabeth King

Last year, a group of 15 record labels sued the website Youtube-mp3.org and its proprietors for copyright violation.

• By Jack Denton

A new book argues that re-thinking the role of home health aides would both improve health outcomes for elderly Americans and reduce income inequality.

• By Dwyer Gunn