Car showrooms in Jakarta have removed their vehicles after deadly protests, sparked by rising living costs and inequality, took place across Indonesia https://t.co/TDQhmpCVga ...

Okay. So, in just a few hours, the president of the nation's largest labor union federation, the AFL CIO, will deliver the organization's annual State of the Unions speech. The address comes ahead of Labor Day with the AFL CIO marking the holiday with more than 500 events nationwide and a summer bus tour that the group says promotes organizing and fair contracts.and the president of the AFL CIO, Liz Schuler, joins us now. Thank you so much for coming on the show. I understand you have some new data that sho ...

Key Observations on Post-Colonial Development - The report highlights a pattern of corruption in post-colonial countries, linking it to weak institutions established during colonization [2][4] - The analysis contrasts Kenya, a country struggling with poverty and corruption, with Hong Kong, a successful global trade hub, both former British colonies [7] - The study suggests that the type of institutions established by colonial powers significantly impacts a country's post-colonial development [4][10] Factors Influencing Development Outcomes - In Kenya, British colonization focused on exploiting labor and raw resources like farms and plantations [7] - In Hong Kong, the British valued the region for its importance in trade with China, prioritizing its economy [8] - Kenya's colonial institutions were designed for segregation and exploitation, while Hong Kong's, despite similar procedures, provided a foundation for future systems [8] - Colonial rule in Kenya involved violent repression and land seizures, whereas in Hong Kong, colonization was largely bureaucratic [9] Recommendations for Addressing Corruption - The report advocates for building stronger, more transparent institutions as a solution to corruption, rather than relying on charity [9] - It emphasizes the importance of transparency, free press, and education in combating corruption [9] - The analysis suggests channeling aid through non-governmental organizations and investing in long-lasting institutions [10] - The report proposes studying successful post-colonial countries like Hong Kong to identify strategies for reducing corruption [11] Numerical Data and Conversions - The report mentions that one in three people in Kenya (population 50 million) go to bed hungry [1] - It states that $3.75 trillion (3750 billion) in aid has been given, but a third of it is lost due to corruption [2] - The report notes that some politicians have net worths exceeding $100 million (100 million) [1]

Black Economic Empowerment is meant to reduce South Africa’s stratospheric levels of inequality. But the policy’s main beneficiaries have been a tiny group of new Randlords.This is oligopoly, not equality https://t.co/S7U2lWBZWP ...

Core Argument - The presentation addresses the digital divide as a significant global inequality, hindering overall societal potential [5][18] - It emphasizes that bridging the digital divide can lead to the reduction of other global inequalities, such as those in education and healthcare [22] Historical Context - Geographic differences in early civilizations led to unequal resource access and innovation, planting the seeds for modern inequalities [8][9] - Colonialism exacerbated these inequalities by stripping resources and power from many countries, setting them back in industrialization and innovation [13] - The Industrial Revolution further widened the gap, with some nations rapidly industrializing while others struggled for survival [11][12] Current State - Digital technology is deeply integrated into daily life, making access crucial for healthcare, education, and other essential services [2][19][20] - Over 26 billion people worldwide lack access to digital technology [22] Call to Action - Individuals can contribute to bridging the digital divide by donating old devices, supporting relevant organizations, and raising awareness [23][24] - Collective effort is needed to ensure equitable growth and access to technology for all [24]

Economic System Concerns - The global financial system is under unprecedented pressure due to soaring inequality, massive debt, rising living costs, and economic uncertainty [1] - Capitalism faces a serious test due to financial repression, an invisible tax on savers where interest rates are kept below inflation [4][5] - Consumer debt is ballooning, with total household debt in the US topping $18 trillion and credit card debt surpassing $1 trillion with interest rates averaging over 20% [9] - Real wages have barely budged since the 1970s, while assets like real estate and stocks have soared, benefiting the wealthy and driving inequality [12][13] Historical Context and Evolution of Capitalism - Capitalism emerged from feudalism, driven by entrepreneurs and innovators, and was intellectually championed by Adam Smith [17][18] - Capitalism has adapted throughout history, including interventions by Teddy Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt, and the post-World War II welfare states [22][23] - The dismantling of regulations in the 1980s and globalization led to imbalances that ignited the 2008 financial crisis, followed by unprecedented monetary stimulus [24] Challenges to Current Capitalism - Weak growth, extreme inequality, technological displacement, and digital rent extraction combine into what many call late capitalism [37] - Growth is lacking major innovations to drive broad-based prosperity, leading to reliance on artificial means like QE and low interest rates [29][30] - Automation and AI are displacing jobs, potentially making millions economically irrelevant and creating a problem for consumer capitalism [33][34] - Platform economies dominated by giants like Amazon, Apple, and Google are generating revenue by controlling essential services and extracting rents, stifling genuine competition [35][36] Potential Alternatives and Solutions - Potential alternatives include a resource-based economy, universal basic income (UBI), decentralized crypto-based economies, and reformed capitalism [39][40][44][46] - Reformed capitalism could involve breaking up big tech monopolies, closing loopholes for corporations and billionaires, and investing in education and infrastructure [47] Investment Strategies for Economic Shifts - Traditional financial institutions, especially banks and insurers, are particularly exposed due to financial repression [53] - Consumer-facing industries are at risk due to eroded consumer purchasing power [54] - Hard assets like gold, silver, commodities, and selected real estate may perform well under financial repression and inflationary conditions [56] - Industries aligned with government spending priorities, such as infrastructure, energy, healthcare, and defense, may offer opportunities [57] - Decentralized cryptos like Bitcoin and Ethereum may serve as hedges against financial repression and inflation [58] - Geographical diversification and active portfolio management are crucial in navigating the uncertain economic environment [60][61]

Government handouts are the mechanism favoured by Morena, Mexico’s populist ruling party, for curbing the country’s poverty and inequality. But have they worked? https://t.co/4ybFQTzRoA ...

This is Kenya. 50 million people live there. Yet one in three go to bed hungry.This is William Rudo, Kenya's president. He's reported to own multiple high value properties such as hotels, villas, and mansions. Each of them are valued at millions of dollars.This is Teter Baguso, William Oliv, and Bola Ahmed. All three of them have net worths at over $100 million. And these are their countries, Equatorial, Guinea, Azar, Bayan, and Nigeria.All three of these countries face rampant food insecurity, poverty, and ...

“Inequality has been rising,” says @oren_cass. “And I don’t think that’s healthy.” Will the Big Beautiful Bill make it worse? This week, on “Checks and Balance” https://t.co/p4VcnbMEPR ...