The Changing World Economy

Understanding how the world economy works will be the key to forming a just and sustainable future.

Travel the Journey

Our Broken Economy, in One Simple Chart

David Leonhard, New York Times

Three leading economists provide a dramatic look at the skyrocketing income growth of the 0.01% very rich vs. all other Americans over the past 34 years.

slaves in a cotton field

In Order to Understand the Brutality of American Capitalism, you have to Start on the Plantation.

Matthew Desmond, Project 1619 New York Times

The founding of the American economy on a brutal system of slavery clearly demonstrates the interconnections of the particular forms of exploitation which grew out of the colonial mindset. The same greed and indifference to human values appeared across the world, from Leopold’s Congo, to Bolsonaro’s Brazil, to the Middle East today.

African boy against a dark background

Cocoa’s Child Laborers

Matthew Desmond, Peter Whoriskey and Rachel Siegel, Washington Post

Mars, Nestlé and Hershey pledged nearly two decades ago to stop using cocoa harvested by children. Yet much of the chocolate you buy still starts with child labor.

woman hanging laundry to dry

Time to Care

Oxfam Report to the 2020 World Economic Forum

The heavy and unequal responsibility of care work perpetuates gender and economic inequalities. This has to change.

Public Good or Private Wealth

Oxfam Report to the 2019 World Economic Forum

“The gap between rich and poor is pulling us apart. It stops us from beating poverty and achieving equality between women and men. Yet most of our political leaders are failing to reduce this dangerous divide. It does not have to be this way. Inequality is not inevitable – it is a political choice. Concrete steps can be taken to reduce it.”

rural scene in Kenya

The Future of Not Working

Annie Lowrey, New York Times

As automation reduces the need for human labor, some Silicon Valley executives think
a universal income will be the answer — and the beta test is happening in Kenya.

older woman with younger people in the background

Cash, Food and Health Care All Help the Poor, but Something’s Still Missing

Nicholas Kristof, New York Times

In a remote village in Paraguay, indigenous people are gaining hope and leaving poverty. The approach would work in rich nations, too.

people standing on rubble

Ten Humanitarian Crises to Look Out for in 2019

The New Humanitarian

The New Humanitarian predicted these 10 crises and trends would help shape their coverage in 2019. Here’s why they have the editors’ attention, and should demand ours.

photo of a woman wearing a white shirt and necklace

Why 2018 Was the Best Year in Human History!

Nicholas Kristof, New York Times

There’s plenty to fret about. But a failure to acknowledge global progress can leave people feeling hopeless and ready to give up. In fact, the gains should show us what is possible and spur greater efforts to improve opportunity worldwide.

Further Reading

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