It began in December 1967 when five secretaries at a ventilation and heating company volunteered to work an extra half hour each day without pay to do their bit for the flagging economy.

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Earlier reports have said that the University of Washington is planning to offer credit for Coursera courses, though students will likely have to pay a fee and do extra work with a U. of W. instructor.

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Some doctors worry that, even if such charges discouraged unnecessary visits and raised money to pay for more doctors (and pay doctors more), collecting them would involve a lot of extra work.

ECONOMIST: Health