finance
Money talks; reviewing the global economy, government spending, taxes, and economic policy that affect our social and political future.
What Grew Faster than the National Debt?
The MAGA catchphrase demands we look back to a time when America was great. There was a time when America had a thriving middle class. It was a time before we suffered from stifling inequality, a time when the national debt grew modestly. It was a time as a nation we sent a man to the moon. As a nation, we defeated Nazi Germany and Imperialist Japan. We made great strides in science and technology that laid the foundation for the digital age.
Gary JanoszPublished 3 days ago in The SwampClimate change cuts sugar supply
Supply chain issues, inflation, and labor shortages are three challenges facing consumers this holiday season. Now, right before Thanksgiving, your favorite desserts and dishes might be nixed due to severe weather disrupting ingredients. Wheat, berries, cream and soybean oil are staples for classics like pumpkin pie and and cheesecake, but empty shelves are greeting amateur and professional bakers alike. Droughts, extreme rainfall, and other climate impacts are constricting supply and driving up prices for key pie ingredients.
Is a Universal Basic Income the Solution to Inequality?
Imagine if you were entitled to an unconditional payment from the government which was enough to provide you with the basic necessities of life. What would you do? And more importantly, what wouldn’t you do? How would this economic security affect your life decisions?
The reasons for China’s economic success
Back in 1976, China was an underdeveloped rural country under the leadership of Chairman Mao Zedong. 30% of the population was poor at that time mainly because 3⁄4 of the production was centrally organized and controlled by the state-owned enterprises. The state set the quantities and prices of production and allocated the resources throughout most of the economy. The main goal of the Chinese government was to transform itself into a self-sufficient economy. Foreign trade was very limited, the only trade partner was the Soviet Union and trades would be things that they truly could not make in China. This system created economic distortions and did not provide motivation for firms, workers, and farmers to be more productive as they would not receive more for it or improve their living standards. The economic system had stagnated a long time ago, individuals were getting less and less motivated, their productiveness was decreasing, and their faith was disappearing. In 1978, after Mao Zedong died, of Deng Xiaoping became the leader and decided to restore China’s economy and faith on the communist party with the goal this time, of increasing economic growth and raise living standards. As the strict state control was not working, he decided to put in place a series of reforms that seemed to work for neighbor countries and regions (Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong). His idea was to create its own economic model through an economic reform. In one hand, it took some ideas from Western countries such as opening itself to the free market to allow private companies into china and receive foreign investments/trades as well. It encouraged the creation of rural enterprises and private businesses by giving more freedom to its workers and controlling them less. It invested in industrial production and education of its workforce.On another hand, it kept things in line and protected its country.
Alexia WambersiePublished 5 days ago in The SwampPru Goward's Prole Bites Back
I was appalled to read Pru Goward's despicable headline, and astonished that the article was published in the Australian Financial Review (AFR). Pru Goward was NSW Minister for Family and Community Services. The fact that she holds these views is a sad indictment on the Department's information and advice to her while in Office.
Lisbeth StewartPublished about a month ago in The SwampPoverty is a illness of mentality
Today I understand that poverty is a mental illness because while I was growing up I only saw my family members worry about studying and having a job and never doing business, can you imagine if they were entrepreneurs?
Dalmy AlvesPublished 2 months ago in The SwampAs a Gen-Z, I May Never Afford a House
Whenever I take aimless walks through the different neighbourhoods scattered around my home city, I imagine living in the houses I pass along the way.
Ilana QuinnPublished 2 months ago in The Swamp
Time To Wake Up America !
First of all I'm not going to get into the tons of information that proves this phenomenon is real. Im just going to say UFO / UAP / USO technology and the existence of Aliens or trans dimensional beings or spiritual beings (what ever you want to call them) is real !!! If you can't at least be open minded about this hidden reality, you are really missing the boat. I hate to have to constantly repeat this fact , but our own government recently admitted that this technology , that seems to defy all logic , does exist. Proven by physical flying craft caught on video by military fighter jets.
Paul GuadagnoPublished 3 months ago in The Swamp
Why We Need Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) and Why It Needs Universal Basic Income (UBI)
Translations of this article are available in: French: The original illustrations in this article are available as NFTs on OpenSea. An audio version of this article is also available to listen to.
Scott SantensPublished 3 months ago in The Swamp
The Race To Space Or The Race To Pay Less Tax?
What a summer it’s been in the billionaires’ playground. Sir Richard Branson became the first “space tourist” by reaching the edge of space on 11 July, followed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ trip on 20 July. Elon Musk isn’t far behind having bought his own ticket to play at being an astronaut on Branson’s Virgin Atlantic rocket plane.
Miles EthertonPublished 3 months ago in The Swamp
India Desperately Needs a Basic Income Scheme If It has to Emerge from the Pandemic
The Covid 19 Pandemic has wrought havoc worldwide in terms of the human, economic, political, and social costs as Millions of people around the world lost their lives and livelihoods. Not only was the human toll higher than any previous such epidemic or even the Two World Wars, the economic and the financial burden imposed by the Pandemic has well and truly devastated the already vulnerable and further marginalized the precarious. Indeed, the Once in a Century Event has disrupted our lives to the extent that even partial recovery seems daunting in the immediate future.
Rammohan SusarlaPublished 4 months ago in The Swamp
Basic Income is EASILY Affordable
Basic Income - a regular payment of money for every resident citizen, regardless of their circumstances, sufficient to pay for essentials.
Robert JamesonPublished 4 months ago in The Swamp
