The Blessings of Christmas, Part 3 – Decline in Poverty

December 22, 2011

Since 1990, the absolute poverty rate (now defined as the number of people in the world living on $1.25 or less) has been cut in half.  This astonishing feat has been achieved thanks to major liberalization in places like India and China.

Perhaps more significantly, the global economy now has an exploding group of countries contributing to poverty relief.  Emerging market countries contribute 100 times the funds to global development that they contributed in 2000, meaning that a second channel of funding for development now exists.

Such gains mean real increases in length and quality of life for billions of people around the world, something we can all be thankful for.

Leave a Comment » | Economy, Foreign Investment | Permalink
Posted by Vital Signs Blog

The Blessings of Christmas Part 2 – Heroes and Losers

December 22, 2011

As 2011 draws to a close, the slate of world leaders who are no longer wielding influence is long. Indeed, many countries now face a frighteningly open future in which national destinies hinge on the graciousness and responsibility of survivng populations.

For those no longer living under the tyranny of Mubarak, Qaddafi, Kim Jong Il, or any of the other leaders whose stranglehold on their people has been released, 2011 is a spectacular year. The challenges brought by the future are great, but the helplessness of oppression is gone.

By contrast, the passing of Vaclav Havel reminds us to be thankful for the best of us – those unafraid to stand against evil in all its forms. Havel was such a man, and Europe will surely miss him.

Leave a Comment » | American Dream, Uncategorized | Permalink
Posted by Vital Signs Blog

I’m dreaming of a…

December 20, 2011
The probability that any given American will have a White Christmas is 27 percent.

The probability that any given American will have a White Christmas is 27 percent.

The probability that any given American will have a “white Christmas” in any given year, selected at random, is approximately 27 percent.

A “white Christmas,” for our purposes, is one in which 1 inch or more of snow is on the ground.  I compiled data from the National Weather Service and NOAA for the past 50 years on the probability of having at least 1 inch of snow on the ground on December 25 for every micropolitan and metropolitan statistical area in the United States.  I combined this data with data from the US Census over the time spans concerned, made my computer do some magical mathematics, and, voila! - you have your probability.

Apparently, for 3/4ths of the US, dreaming is as close as we’ll get to a white Christmas.

Leave a Comment » | American Dream | Permalink
Posted by Vital Signs Blog

The Blessings of Christmas – Part 1

December 20, 2011

Over the next few days, I’ll post a few things that, as a politically active researcher, I’m thankful for this year.

Blessing 1 – A Decline in Child Abuse

In theory, economic hardship is bad for families and bad for crime.  As money and jobs run short, tempers rise, and the added head results in more robberies, more spousal abuse, and more divorces.

It is a blessing, then, that this holiday season, the Department of Health and Human Services can report a continuation in the steady decline of child abuse in the US.  Tomorrow, DHHS is set to announce that between 2008 and 2010, abuse and neglect of children fell by more than 14 percent, while child fatalities declined by 8.5 percent.  Rates of abuse, including cases where children were abused multiple times in the course of a year, fell from 10.3 incidences per 1,000 children to 10 per 1,000, representing the lowest level on record.

Any child abuse is too much, but thank God for the welcome decline in neglect, assault, and harassment of children.

3 Comments | American Dream, Social Interaction | Permalink
Posted by Vital Signs Blog

Europe’s Next Lost Generation

December 9, 2011

More than half of all Europeans ages 18-35 still live with their parents, and unemployment among youth (charted below) is at record highs.

Read more.

Leave a Comment » | Depression, Economy, Europe, Unemployment | Permalink
Posted by Vital Signs Blog

If you think our unemployment is bad…

December 9, 2011

If you think the US unemployment rate (8.6%) is bad, move to Europe.

Systemic unemployment is one reason Europe can’t seem to find solutions to its crisis.  With labor markets that make it hard to hire, fire, or change jobs, and economies contracting in the name of  ”austerity” or “fiscal consolidation,” the Europeans (save Germany) have rising employment crises on their hands that will make it hard to jump start recovery from their serious crisis.

3 Comments | Economy, Europe, Unemployment | Permalink
Posted by Vital Signs Blog

I’m back

December 9, 2011

After months away working on issues related to crises in Europe, I’ve decided to resume blogging.  Stay tuned.

Leave a Comment » | Blogs | Permalink
Posted by Vital Signs Blog

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.