In 1857, Charles Dickens completed serial publication of his eleventh novel, Little Dorrit. Among other things, the novel includes a scathing indictment of a government whose main object is to prevent anything from getting done. This mission is embodied in the Circumlocution Office, a bureaucracy dedicated to “How Not To Do It.” Any individual wishing—scandalously!—to
This story is about two Mexican citizens who came from two very different economic sides of their society. Yet, their stories converge in that they believed they could achieve a better life by moving north.
Jose was a peasant living in the state of Tamaulipas. A few years ago, a drought ruined his crop. Moreover, he
In recent years, an increasing emphasis has been placed on the idea that executives of major companies make an incredible amount of money each year. In the U.S., it is not uncommon to see executives making over 100 times more per year than their entry-level employees, with some firms paying their top-level management over 1000
Inclusive development is gaining momentum on the global agenda, but is the international development sector actually listening to its own advice?
Inclusive development means ensuring that the benefits of economic growth and social progress reach a broad base, generating improvements in the lives of the most vulnerable. Whereas GDP growth was once the primary target of
The difficulty of life in poverty is a prevalent issue that has garnered continuous attention as the world continues on its path of globalization. However, the finer details of the lives of the very poor often escape our attention. A greater understanding of what life is like in extreme poverty allows us to more effectively
We need to understand the ways that economic stratification in our society works and we need to blur the lines that separate us. This will require effort and a challenge of cultural norms. But we all can participate in this effort, regardless of our economic standing.
A family once invited a friend of mine over to
As the recession climaxed in 2011, unemployment in the United States peaked at 9.8%. It seems that better days are now ahead of us with an unemployment rate below 6 percent and tens of thousands of jobs being added to the economy weekly. While many of us are catching the strong economic wave bringing us
According to 2012 data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census, about 26 percent of families are headed by single mothers. What is more, the data show that 47 percent of children are born to unmarried women.
Clearly, family structures are changing and a woman’s role in our society is also transforming. It is no secret
In economics, individuals act based on the idea that the benefits of their actions will outweigh the costs. An individual will forgo one option for another and the benefits he or she could have received are called the opportunity costs.
A prime example of this can be seen in students’ decisions to pursue higher education.
Instead of
Mexico was a relatively peaceful country before it became a drug-related war zone, where executions, kidnappings, extortions and beheadings became normal in some cities. Although it is true that many drug lords were arrested and many tons of narcotics were seized during the drug war, more than 100,000 Mexicans died during this time, and cartels
Business leaders and American citizens view the importance of a college degree very differently. Approximately 70 percent of Americans believe that having a bachelor’s degree remains essential for getting a good job. Unfortunately, business leaders are not so optimistic: only 33 percent believe that U.S. colleges provide graduating students with the skills their businesses need.
On April 18, 1949, bells and celebrations erupted in Ireland. Thirty-three years after the beginning of the Easter Rebellion, the Republic of Ireland Act came into force, severing the last constitutional link to England and the British monarchy. This was followed by the Ireland Act of 1949, in which Britain conceded its former role and
Well-informed citizens are important for the preservation of democracy. So much so, the Founding Fathers protected the press in the First Amendment. Since even before the foundation of the United States, people have been using the press, media, and journalism to inform and influence others. Journalism has seen many changes since then. One change involves
Over $2 billion was donated to the U.S. presidential candidates in the 2012 election. After the donations had come in and most of the money had been spent, nearly 60 percent of eligible voters in the United States turned out on Election Day to cast their ballots in the presidential race. Open elections are ways
Some might argue that greater convergence of international wages is essential for the achievement of a more just and balanced world economy. The perceived injustice of a system where 0.00000004% of the world’s population has as much wealth as the poorest 42% of the world’s people is a cause for alarm. True sustainability of both
Microfinance has proved its value in many countries as a major means of alleviating poverty. It has the potential to change people’s lives for the better, as innovation and creativity are found everywhere and people start companies based on their entrepreneurial leanings. Out of a world population of seven billion, almost 60 percent are poor
What is a nation? This simple question has been at the heart of political philosophy and historical debate for hundreds of years. Is a nation the sum of its actions or an entity defined by those who make up that nation? And when exactly does a nation qualify to emerge on the world stage to
Introduction and definition of a key term:
Filene Research Institute (Filene) has engaged and worked with Progress Through Business (Progress) on several very successful projects. It was thought that, with our experience with tax preparation and financial education programs, a plan of action could be developed jointly to serve those eligible for the Savers’ Credit1. Since
In the past 25 years, over 2 billion people have gained access to improved sources of drinking water. Earlier this year, the World Health Organization announced the Millennium Development Goals for water had already been reached. The efforts of nonprofits, private businesses and governments are to be lauded for this great success.
Although, as a whole,
Imagine that you are online and all of the sudden you have the urge to participate in a lottery. A day later, you discover that you have won $100 million. You now have it made, right? Actually, according to the National Endowment for Financial Education, up to 70 percent of people who unexpectedly gained large
