Much less visible than the goods that travel in huge container ships, the global trade in services can be seen when we just look at everyday activities.…
The Gallons of Gas That a Worker Can Buy
Comparing the purchasing power for a Big Mac and a gallon of gasoline, we can form hypotheses about worker well-being in developed and developing nations.…
Which Countries Want You to Have a Baby?
It is a recipe for demographic disaster when you have too many old people and not enough babies. The problem is the size of the working age population. When countries like the US are affluent enough t…
How To Cope With (Water) Stress
Being water stressed means you are unusually vulnerable to a water shortage. Sort of like a household where one emergency can push it over the edge because it spends all it earns, so too with most wat…
Pooches and Prosperity
Chloe and Gus, my daughter’s miniature Pomeranians, consume organic dog food and use wee-wee pads, they visit the vet, the groomer, and enjoy their treats and toys. Because of Chloe and Gus, my cats, …
Olympic Predictions
If you want to predict Olympic medal winners, you might look at economic data. A report on the Olympics from Goldman Sachs suggests that nations with a superior economic growth environment will increa…
Population Futures
Imagine for a moment 3 groups of countries, each with a different population pyramid. The first has a huge bulge at the bottom, the second is wider in the middle and the third is relatively broad at t…