Vacation time is almost over. Back to work, back to school. Back to work to pay for school. This week in The Deal, Matt Miller takes a comprehensive look at the student loan business, a giant and deeply troubled industry with problems that eerily parallel the woes of government-sponsored enterprises like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. (One difference: Demand for student loans is very high; demand for mortgages is sinking.) Miller traces the history of the government's involvement in student lending, analyzes the situation of major players like Sallie Mae and examines the temporary fix imposed by Congress. This is a must-read even if you don't have college tuition bills looming.
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