Trends: Economic – Page 2

World Social Indicators: Global Per Capita Income

Nov 21, 2017

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by

in Economic Development, Great Divergence, Series: World Social Indicators 2017, Trends: Economic, Wealth and Income

We have seen that life expectancy has been improving all across the planet. It is one of the most important measures of well-being. Yet most people think of income when they think of prosperity. Rightly so. Income is correlated with other factors that allow us to move beyond surviving to thriving. Today's common refrain is…

World Social Indicators: Introduction

Oct 19, 2017

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by

mwkruse

in Demography, Health and Medicine, Series: World Social Indicators 2017, Trends: Economic, Trends: Social

Is the state of the world getting better or getting worse? How would you answer that question? What indicators would you use? For Christians, our mission is to seek the greatest shalom possible in the world, always cognizant that shalom in its fullness will only be recognized at the consummation of the new creation. But…

Don’t Forget the Good Stuff

Dec 23, 2016

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by

mwkruse

in Demography, Education, Great Divergence, Health and Medicine, Politics, Poverty, Trends: Economic, Trends: Social, Wealth and Income

It is easy to become obsessed with the challenges and threats we see before us today. It is easy to lose sight of the bigger picture and not see the tremendous good happening in the world. Here are six social indicators pointing to improving the quality of life for billions around the globe. Setbacks and…

Shrinking the World, 1800-1930

Dec 14, 2016

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by

mwkruse

in Economic Development, Great Divergence, Technology (Transportation & Distribution), Trends: Economic, Trends: Social

Satirist and humorist Douglas Adams, probably best known for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, once wrote: "Anything that is in the world when you're born is normal and ordinary and is just a natural part of the way the world works. Anything that's invented between when you're fifteen and thirty- five is new and…

The Future of the American Dream

Dec 12, 2016

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by

mwkruse

in Capitalism and Markets, Economic Development, Generations, History, Trends: Economic, Trends: Social, Wealth and Income

For most Americans today, there has been a presumption that our children's lives will be more prosperous than ours. The American Dream, whatever particularities might include, has always included this assumption. It is virtually a social contract. Is the idea that most of our children will have a more prosperous life than we did really…

Why Are We Not Running Out of Farm Land?

Sep 14, 2016

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by

mwkruse

in Economic Development, Food and Drink, Great Divergence, Technology (Food & Water), Trends: Economic

One of the most persistent worries about population and economic growth is that we will eventually use up all our resources and land. It is based on the intuitive (but false) assumption that if it takes X acreage of land to feed a person today, then it will take two times X acreage to feed…

More Evidence of an Improving World – HDI

Mar 18, 2016

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by

mwkruse

in Demography, Economic Development, Globalization, Great Divergence, International Affairs, Poverty, Sociology, Trends: Economic, Trends: Social

The world is becoming a better place. It is not a utopia. We are not without substantial challenges. But we are becoming (as in movement along a trajectory) better (as in measurably improved according to a standard.) The Human Development Index is a United Nations measure of well-being combining income, literacy, education, and life expectancy…

Rosling Univeristy (How to be smarter than a chimp)

Mar 1, 2016

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by

mwkruse

in Demography, Economic Development, Economics, Globalization, Great Divergence, Health and Medicine, Politics, Poverty, Public Policy, Sociology, Trends: Economic, Trends: Social, Wealth and Income

Are you smarter than a chimp? There is a good chance you are not when it comes to knowledge about global socioeconomic trends. For years, Swedish global health expert, Hans Rosling, has been giving Ted talks and making presentations about global trends. One of his favorite teaching tools is to ask people a question like…

Hans and Ola Rosling: How not to be ignorant about the world

Feb 23, 2016

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by

mwkruse

in Demography, Great Divergence, Sociology, Trends: Economic, Trends: Social

Hans Rosling and Ola Rosling are truly brilliant and entertaining. The first part of this video highlights how poorly we assess what is happening in the world. The back half gives some simple tips on how to avoid developing false perceptions and suggests why it is important that we do so. Enjoy!

Half of Global Wealth Owned by 62 People: How Oxfam Lies While Telling the Truth

Jan 21, 2016

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by

mwkruse

in Capitalism and Markets, Economic Development, Poverty, Trends: Economic, Wealth and Income, Weatlh and Income Distribution

Once again, Oxfam is circulating that 62 people have as much wealth as the bottom half of the world's population. Think about that for a moment. When you read that, what do you think that means? Particularly, what is wealth? Many people will interpret "wealth" as financial assets. Many others realize wealth includes the value…

Category: Trends: Economic