Economics

Economics

Business and Technology, Economics

Stuck in the Slow Lane: Why America Has No High‑Speed Rail

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The United States is a nation built on mobility and grand infrastructure projects – from the transcontinental railroad in the 19th century to the interstate highway system in the 20th. Yet in the 21st century, as countries across Europe and Asia race ahead with high-speed rail networks, the U.S. remains conspicuously stuck in the slow lane. America, a wealthy and geographically vast country, still has no true national high-speed rail system.… Read more
Economics

University Degrees: Economic Assets or Debt Traps?

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Higher education has long been seen as a path to economic mobility, but in recent years the rising costs of college and soaring student loan balances have prompted questions: Are U.S. university degrees yielding lasting economic returns, or trapping graduates in debt? Nearly 43 million Americans now hold federal student loans (about one in six adults), and the federal loan portfolio exceeds $1.6 trillion. Including private loans, total U.S. student debt approaches $1.8 trillion.… Read more
Economics

Hunger in the Land of Plenty: The Hidden Crisis of Food Insecurity in America

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In 2023 the U.S. was home to roughly 18 million food-insecure households – about 47.4 million people – struggling to get enough to eat. That startling figure captures a paradox: the wealthiest country on earth, with vast fields of abundant crops, still leaves millions of children, adults and seniors uncertain where their next meal will come from. As one anti-hunger advocate put it, these numbers show “we have plenty of poverty and hunger” in “the wealthiest, most powerful nation in world history”.… Read more
Economics

The American Dream or American Nightmare? Terrifying Truths Immigrants Must Know

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The “American Dream” is a Hollywood mirage: one migrant blew tens of thousands of dollars before even touching U.S. soil, and 34 % of immigrant families still can’t cover basics like food or rent. Once inside, newcomers face a gantlet of poverty wages—60 % of workers earn too little to afford a modest two-bedroom home—while evictions and homelessness surge. Undocumented newcomers are barred from Medicaid, half have no insurance, and hospitals quietly “medically deport” about 100 uninsured patients a year.… Read more
Economics

The Poverty Penalty: How Being Poor in America is More Expensive

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Being poor in America comes with a steep and often hidden price tag. It’s a cruel paradox: people with the least money frequently end up paying more for basic goods and services than those who are better off. From higher interest rates and fees in banking, to inflated prices at the corner store, to costly health and transportation hurdles, the poor face a “poverty penalty” at nearly every turn. These extra burdens act like a hidden tax on low-income families, siphoning away precious dollars and making it even harder to get ahead.… Read more
Economics

Bankrupting the American Dream: How Medical Bills, Job Loss, and High Costs Drive U.S. Bankruptcies

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In the United States, personal bankruptcy is less a story of individual financial irresponsibility and more a predictable outcome of systemic fragility, where a single shock can trigger a devastating chain reaction. Overwhelmingly, the primary catalyst is a health crisis, saddling even the insured with crippling medical debt just as illness cuts their income, but this is powerfully compounded by job loss, unaffordable housing, and high-interest credit cards used as a desperate lifeline for necessities.… Read more
Economics

The New American Dream: Leaving America for Opportunity Abroad

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For a growing number of Americans, the traditional story of the “American Dream” – a stable job, a house with a white picket fence and upward mobility – is being replaced by a very different vision. Instead of aspiring to stay rooted in the United States, some are packing up and heading overseas. In videos on TikTok and YouTube, Americans show off lives in places like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, or Ho Chi Minh City, marveling at how far their dollars go.… Read more
Economics

Why So Many Britons Are Going Bankrupt and Underwater — And Who’s to Blame

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Beneath the surface of Britain’s rising personal insolvencies — now hitting nearly 118,000 in 2024, a 14% surge from the year before — lies a quiet, grinding crisis: ordinary people, many of them employed, are being crushed not by reckless spending, but by the sheer arithmetic of survival. Soaring rents, mortgage payments up 40%, energy bills still punishing despite caps, and food prices that refuse to retreat have turned paychecks into ticking time bombs — 60% of those seeking debt relief through charities like StepChange are in paid work, yet their incomes can’t outrun costs, leaving 30% with monthly shortfalls averaging £532 even after budgeting.… Read more
Economics, News

KPop Demon Hunters : How Netflix’s Unlikely Hit Became a Global Phenomenon

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KPop Demon Hunters didn’t just break records — it rewrote the rules of global entertainment, turning a neon-drenched, demon-slaying K-pop musical into Netflix’s most-watched title ever and an accidental box office champion, all while proving that catchy songs, cross-cultural swagger, and fandom-fueled virality can outmuscle billion-dollar franchises. What began as a risky Sony-Pictures-turned-Netflix gamble — a $125 million animated fever dream blending Korean idol culture with shamanic fantasy — exploded far beyond algorithms and streaming stats: its soundtrack dominated Billboard with four Top 10 hits (including a #1 anthem, “Golden”), its characters sparked global cosplay and TikTok dance riots, and its surprise sing-along theatrical run outgrossed Hollywood’s latest releases despite being “already on Netflix.”… Read more
Economics

Homes for Living or for Profit? Why Housing Is Treated as an Investment Instead of a Right

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Housing is one of humanity’s most fundamental needs – a safe shelter from the elements, a stable space for family life, and a foundation for personal dignity. Yet in much of the world today, housing is not viewed purely as a basic human right or public good. Instead, it has been transformed into a commodity – a vehicle for profit, wealth accumulation, and speculative investment. Governments and financial markets increasingly treat homes like stocks or gold, fueling a global mindset that a house isn’t just a place to live, but a way to get rich.… Read more
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