Weekend reads: Is bitcoin the new gold?

MW Weekend reads: Is bitcoin the new gold?

By Philip van Doorn

Also, what inflation means for the stock market, and how to do your own ESG investing

Bitcoin has been portrayed as an alternative to the dollar and other currencies, but there's no question that it and other virtual currencies are highly volatile. For traders and investors who believe bitcoin has already replaced gold (ABX.T) as a hedge against inflation and government mismanagement, Michael Wilkerson has a counterargument .

More crypto news:Dogecoin is coming to crypto platform Coinbase in 2 months, says CEO

Also: Whether Tesla did sell any cars for bitcoins remains unclear and the company isn't saying

Inflation and the stock market

Consumer prices in the U.S. have increased 4.2% over the past year. That's the largest increase since 2008 .

More about inflation

Helping people while encouraging them to look for work

Employment growth has slowed, and Republican governors have been pushing to end the federal government's enhanced unemployment benefits because they believe the benefits discourage people from looking for new jobs. President Joe Biden said last week there was "nothing measurable" to support that belief.

Two economics professors -- Patricia M. Anderson of Dartmouth College and Phillip Levine of Wellesley College Phillip Levine -- propose a new system of automatic triggers for enhanced unemployment during national emergencies, which would be rolled back in-step with economic recovery.

How about a virtual dollar?

Chris Matthews interviews Christopher Giancarlo, former chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, who believes it is more than time for a digital dollar .

How diversify your investments to make more money and help save the planet

Combining your concern for the world by applying ESG standards (environmental, social and corporate governance) can lead to better performance in the stock market. Michael Brush interviews Charlie Wilson, who co-manages the Thornburg Developing World Fund and explains his successful ESG approach .

Also:These under-the-radar U.S. stocks fight climate change by reducing carbon emissions

Buy or rent?

Alessandra Malito helps a couple who have been successful in building a retirement nest egg and are now renting, but considering whether or not it may be worth buying a house before making another move in 10 years. Here's the math .

A fire warning out west

Three engineering professors share the evidence pointing to another difficult drought and fire season in Western U.S. states .

Vaccines and children

Now that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have begun to approve COVID-19 vaccines for use in children under the age of 16, there may be some conflicts among adults. Andrew Keshner considers potential disagreements among divorced parents over whether or not their children should be given shots .

Related:'Vaccine envy is real,' says a Cleveland Clinic pediatrician. Here's what she's telling parents and teens about the COVID-19 vaccine

A closer look at Nio

Nio Inc. $(NIO)$ isn't yet an arch-competitor with Tesla Inc. $(TSLA)$, but the Chinese electric-vehicle maker is growing rapidly. Jeff Reeves analyzes Nio's stock for investors .

And now for a quiz

Do you know the median price of a house in your city?

Want more from MarketWatch? Sign up for this and other newsletters , and get the latest news, personal finance and investing advice.

-Philip van Doorn; 415-439-6400; AskNewswires@dowjones.com

$(END)$ Dow Jones Newswires

May 14, 2021 12:34 ET (16:34 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2021 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.