Your customized headlines for Wed, Apr 11, 2012

If demography is destiny, the U.S. economy may be in the midst of a decades-long slowdown.

The U.S. labor force is growing at about half the rate it was 20 years ago; according to recent projections by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it will continue to expand at a slightly lower pace through 2020.

Jose Antonio Ocampo, one of three candidates to head up the World Bank, said Tuesday that the organization needs a "change of culture," citing the bank's past difficulties in collaborating with other international institutions.

Facebook bought Instagram on Monday for one buh-buh-billion dollars, a tectonic lurch in the realm of social media, and what does this have to do with the real world — the chaotic world that surrounds us, not the orderly one that is contained in the tininess of our smartphone screens?

The Washington region's unemployment rate fell to 5.5 percent in February from a seasonally adjusted 5.6 percent the month before, one of the lowest levels among the nation's largest metropolitan areas and well below the national jobless rate, according to data released Friday by the Labor Department.

The head regulator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac said Tuesday that a preliminary analysis shows that it might make financial sense for the government-backed mortgage giants to reduce the loan balances of struggling homeowners. But he said more study is warranted before making such a move.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — President Obama on Tuesday renewed his public push for a "Buffett rule," hoping that the proposal to raise taxes on millionaires will deepen distinctions with his political rivals in an election year, even if it has little chance to become law.

—How your smartphone is ruining your productivity.

—The Real Hillary Clinton has written a submission to Texts from Hillary.

—After 25 years, Simpsons creator Matt Groening reveals the location of Springfield.

A crucial health-care regulation is starting to win over some of its most important skeptics.

The Center for Medicare Services announced this afternoon that it has signed up 27 health care systems for the Accountable Care Organization program. That's the part of the health reform law that gives a team of doctors a flat-fee for managing a set of patients' care. If they can provide high-quality care for a lower cost, the difference as profit. If the idea works, it means the end of Medicare's 'fee-for-service' reimbursement, and the beginning of real pay-for-quality.