In a continuation of our series "Pomp In These Circumstances" (examining the challenges that graduate face in these economic times), today we turn to Generation Y. This spring, 1.6 million people will grab their undergraduate diplomas and then walk off campus (with an average of more than $20,000 in student-loan debt) into the toughest labor market in at least 25 years, a workplace where there are approximately five people out of work for every available job. But Lindsey Pollak, author, speaker, and career consultant, is optimistic. She joins The Takeaway with advice for young graduates and finds a bright side even in this economy.

For more, read Lindsey Pollak's book, Getting from College to Career: 90 Things to Do Before You Join the Real World.

It's not just the market that's bottoming out in this recession. There are nationwide reports of anxiety and stress in the face of these trying economic times. Reports are so widespread that the federal government was prompted to put up website warnings about symptoms of depression, substance abuse, and even suicide. Pam Belluck is covering the story for the New York Times and in her research she met Victoria Villalba, a woman who has been experiencing severe anxiety about the economy. They both join The Takeaway to share their stories.


For more, read Pam Belluck's article, Recession Anxiety Seeps Into Everyday Lives in today's New York Times.

Also, check out the government's website, Getting Through Tough Economic Times for more information on the signs of recession depression and where to get help.

I got married last year and was actually somewhat excited this month when I arrived at the accountant's office. For some reason, my husband and I were under the shared delusion that we'd be getting a big fat tax refund.

Not so: These wee slips of gold around our ring fingers cost us a fair chunk of money. But the four-hour slog at the accountant's also started me thinking about the social contract hidden within the 17,000 pages of tax code.

Our painful April 15 ritual is arguably the only thing we do together as a country. Undocumented immigrants, conservative Republicans, anarchists, grannies, teenage babysitters, janitors and bankers line up every year, fill out a series of tedious forms, and stand ready to have what they've monetarily accomplished for the year added up and held to account. Of course, people from those same groups also cheat together as a country (joining Tom Daschle and dozens of other nominees to government posts). But cheating is part of the ritual. (As is tax evasion: Leona Helmsley reportedly said, “Only the little people pay taxes.” Then she was audited by the IRS and sentenced to four years in prison.)

Whether you like its priorities or not, the tax code represents our country’s social and political agreement: who should pay and who should pay more; who gets penalized for working or not working; what institutions in our society are valued; and what it means to be a full member of society, or a buyer of the social contract.

Guilt, obligation, bureaucracy, hard labor and relief when it’s finally over — all the same elements as a bad family reunion. As your resident geek at the family dinner table, I’m going to write about some of the most interesting pieces of tax day over the next few weeks. Send any questions along and I'll try to answer them.

— Sitara Nieves

In every economic downturn there are industries that prove to be recession proof. And aside from business models that avoid losses in profits, are the ones that do better in tough economic times. Take debt collection work and the actual people who do voice over work for debt collection companies; an occupation that is growing.

Joining The Takeaway are two debt collection voice over artists who use their pipes to get debtors to fork over their money. Donna Mack is a freelance voice over artist and Gerry Burke works for CSG systems.

For the unemployed, The Takeaway continues to discuss how to dust yourself off and get back on your feet. With more than half a million jobs lost in the U.S. last month alone, those who've been laid off may be confused as to what benefits are available to them. Andrew Stettner, deputy director of the National Employment Law Project talks to The Takeaway about exactly how to get the most out of unemployment benefits.

Yesterday President Obama announced that companies receiving federal bailout money must cap their executives no more than $500,000 a year. Is a pay limit helping the economy? Or is it simply a PR move? Compensation experts Nell Minow, editor and co-founder of The Corporate Library, and Charles Elson, director of the Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware, join Adaora and John to debate the merits of the measure.

Over twenty million rural migrant workers in China have lost their jobs because of economic hard times and the Chinese government is increasingly worried that rising job losses will cause social unrest. The Takeaway talks with Dr. Kerry Brown, a senior fellow in Asia research at Chatham House.

With men getting laid off at a faster rate than women, we ask is there such a thing as a gender that's recession proof?