I just read Barack Obama’s speech on race. Firstly, I must say, Wow! I cannot think of a speech that explained the issue in a more accurate, productive, and agreeable way. Better yet, he made the speech not in some isolated, marginalized sector of society. He made it as a front-running presidential candidate. He explained […]
Monthly Archives: March 2008
How to Change the World
I have posted a lot lately about the apparent recession of the United States economy because it relates so much to poverty. However, today I want to post something more optimistic and inspiring. So I will post one of my favorite quotes. I hope it influences us all in our attempts to alleviate poverty and […]
The Recession and the Collapse of Bear Stearns
The fifth largest US investment bank and securities trading and brokerage firm, Bear Stearns, recently collapsed. And the United States government used a bail out to have JP Morgan buy Bear Stearns. This has some people saying that America has been conned with a huge Ponzi securitization scam; the bubble has burst and it looks […]
Jeffrey Sachs Discusses Poverty with Jon Stewart
On The Daily Show last night, John Stewart interviewed economist Jeffrey Sachs. Check it out: I look forward to reading Jeffery Sachs new book, Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet. Regarding the interview, I like that he empathizes the connection between poverty and wasteful, destructive militarism. Also, I like that he basically says that […]
Why the Poorest Countries are Failing
Oxford University economist Professor Paul Collier’s book about poverty has won the prestigious Lionel Gelber Prize for 2008. The book’s title explains its subject rather well: The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries are Failing and What Can Be Done About It According to the description, the book investigates and attempts to explain why traditional […]
Recession and Poverty
The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) determines when the United States is in a recession. However, the group usually does not make the determination until 6 to 18 months after we enter a recession. Generally, economists define a recession as two consecutive quarters of economic contraction. Using that definition, a recession would not become […]