Here's why the middle class feels squeezed

http://money.cnn.com/infographic/economy/heres-why-the-middle-class-feels-squeezed/?iid=SF_E_Lead

The middle class household income over the part 18 years has not improved at all. This is concerning to many people especially with costs on the rise everyday.  Since 1995, average college tuition has gone up 61%, cost of a house is up 13%, gas prices are up 94%, and there are many more examples shown in the article. With costs rising, and a stagnant income, people of the middle class have less and less dispoible income, this decreases saving, which gives them less financial freedom. The middle class is in a struggling state right now and has been for a while, this is a fact people need to realize is a real danger to a lot of people in the U.S.

Poverty in Developing Countries

https://www.devex.com/news/10-ways-the-new-eu-trade-chief-can-help-reduce-poverty-in-developing-countries-84458

Poverty, general scarcity or dearth, is the nature of existence for the majority of the world’s underdeveloped nations. Regrettably, synonymous with “developing country” has become “poverty.” Despite the drumbeat of horrifyingly graphic imagery presented in the media, poverty levels in developing nations have actually improved over the past decade. The article above seems to suggest that more so now than ever before, the dream of a poverty-free world is a possibility. Eliminating extreme poverty is a daunting and complex challenge, for while poverty has many causes it admits of no single, or simple, solution. The complexity of the challenge does not mean, however, that the task cannot be conquered.

Bleak are the statistics detailing world poverty. Nearly half of the world, more than 3 billion individuals, subsist on less than $1.25 a day; this meager sum buys barely enough basic food, clean water and cooking fuel to prepare two meals. The majority of these 3 billion individuals live in poor, Third World countries. The poor do not so much live, at least not by Western standards, as they survive.

The article above offers 10 ways in which the new EU trade chief can help reduce poverty in developing countries. The article illustrates that while the challenges of combating extreme poverty remain imposing, opportunities for success are, with each generation, expanding. What was once considered improbable, a world essentially free of poverty, has been shown in the past half-century to be possible and economically sound. I believe we must help others realize that it is indeed possible to eliminate extreme poverty, that we are already making significant gains, and that common-sensical, practical steps can be taken to overcome remaining challenges. Ultimately, a world free of poverty in which all thrive can be achieved but only when we start by fundamentally re-thinking the rules and systems that have historically kept individuals and nations poor. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/06/technology/to-reach-china-linkedin-plays-by-local-rules.html?ref=business&_r=0


LinkedIn is attempting to enter the Chinese market and be the first people to do this. There has been a problem with companies, especially online companies entering the chinese market because of the free speech laws and the Chinese government having problems with people spreading pro democratic over the internet. LinkedIn is attempting their introduction into the Chinese market by following the Chinese rules of censorship in their Chinese version of LinkedIn.

When LinkedIn began their entry to the Chinese market their were some problems with non Chinese users having their content blocked while operating the site in China. This annoyed some of the users of the site but that problem should be solved.

Other social networking sites are carefully watching the situation to see how they should deal with China and how they can enter the Chinese market without compromising their ideals of free speech but still not angering the Chinese government. It will be interesting to see how the situation plays out.

Celebrate The Falling Unemployment Rate All You Want, But It Ignores A Key Point

According to the BLS, we created 248,000 new jobs in September while also falling under 6% unemployment for the first time since July 2008. While these statistics are all very encouraging, it is pointed out in this article that wages still have yet to see any improvements. They have moved a measly 2% compared to just one year ago, but if you factor in inflation, it is actually below that. What really needs to be examined is the portion of Americans who have stopped looking for work because they don't think they can find work and the number of Americans who work part-time, but cannot find a full-time job. This category is also referred to in the article as the U-6 rate. Fed chair Janet Yellen said that this rate will give a better indication of the health of the job market and unemployment in our country. It seems that this portion of workers or people who are on the "fringe", are the reason why wages are stagnate. This article emphasizes that although we have recently seen continued job growth and a decreased unemployment rate, the reality is Americans are making little to no more money at all. Don't get me wrong, it seems that our job market is heading in the right direction, but to go along with this article, I think we all need to hold back on celebrating. There is still a lot that needs to be done, because we all know this is not where we want to be as far as the labor market goes.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/03/real-jobs-numbers-sad-state_n_5926898.html?utm_hp_ref=business

How the Jobless Rate Underestimates the Economy's Problems

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/02/upshot/why-the-fed-needs-to-keep-fighting-to-lift-the-job-market.html?ref=economy&abt=0002&abg=1

In this article, Jared Bernstein discusses some of the ways the unemployment rate minimizes the problems in the US economy, and the importance of understanding the level of slack in the economy. Measuring the level of slack in an economy is difficult because it goes beyond the unemployment rate and attempts to measure the underutilized resources in the economy in general, as well as in the labor market specifically. It is a critical input into the Federal Reserve's decision-making process, as well as a planning tool that is used by businesses, governments, and investors in determining things such as hiring and investment. Measuring economic slack also helps Congress when adjusting temporary policy measures such as extended unemployment benefits and creating infrastructure programs.

As important as the level of slack in our economy is, most Americans do not hear about this statistic. Rather, we hear about the unemployment rate, which Bernstein argues is misleading. Every month, the BLS comes out with the unemployment rate in the US, and we celebrate as the number drops, getting closer to natural unemployment. This month, the unemployment rate reached 5.9 percent, a fact that has been touted across the news as a triumph. Many may see this statistic and believe that the economic problems in the US are a thing of the past. The truth, of course, is more complicated. What about the people working only part time jobs (who would much prefer to be working full time)? What about the people who have left the workforce due to stagnant wages or lack of viable opportunities (and who would return if the wage rate or specific job markets improved)?  The unemployment rate does not take these factors into account, and it is for these reasons that Bernstein believes that it is a misleading statistic. When these factors are taken into account, the unemployment rate would be at least 2% higher than the level at which it is currently being touted. The US economy, while on the right track, is far from fully recovered.

Marriage in America: the New Merry-Go-Round

http://www.economist.com/news/books-and-arts/21621689-how-make-families-more-stable-new-merry-go-round

In an article in the economist from this past week, it is predicted that one in four young Americans will never marry.  Isabel Sawhill is a researcher who has been examining family dynamics for decades.  She writes about the class statistics that accompany marriage statistics.  Particularly interesting is that 90% of university-educated mothers will marry before having their first child.  Among non-graduate mothers, 58% of first births are out of wedlock.  Among this second group, only a third will still be "intact couples" by the time the child turns 5.

This scale continues on a downward spiral of marriage rates as income decreases.  Also of interest is the rates of escaping poverty based on the marriage-status of parents.  A child who is in the bottom 5th has an 83% chance of escaping if they have married parents, but only a 50% chance of escaping otherwise.  Sawhill attributes this to her theory that the “feminist revolution seems to have bypassed low-income men.”  Educated men tend to treat their wives and partners more as equals, while uneducated men in the majority cannot accept their partner being the breadwinner, and are more likely to opt out of the child's life entirely rather than not provide fully for the family.  

Sawhill urges the use of long-term contraceptive devices such as IUDs as a possible solution.  She believes this is more realistic than asking educated families to preach the family values they practice.

Fighting ISIS

The first wave of United States attacks against ISIS have begun and they are costing the military upwards near $ 1 billion.  This is only the beginning also.  The Center for strategic and budgetary assesment (CSBA)  says that the cost may end up being $1.8 billion a month.  This estimated cost will be the case if the Military presence grows to 25,000 ground troops.  The attacks so far have been mostly airstrikes but the missiles used are very expensive.  There are 1,600 troops in Iraq being used as support roles but are not conducting combat operations against ISIS yet.  Obama has made a statement that he has no plans for U.S. ground troops to engage in combat.

http://money.cnn.com/2014/09/30/news/economy/isis-cost/index.html?iid=SF_E_River

Moving abroad for a job.

Moving to another country for work is a huge decision to be made, and there are several different things to take into consideration. A new survey discovered that 64% of people all over the world would like to move for their careers.

Apparently, people from less developed countries with smaller economies like Pakistan, Jamaica, Honduras and Ghana would like to take the leap. Meanwhile, people from bigger economies would choose the less risky and more stable arrangement.

Location also seems to be an important aspect in making this decision.

Additionally, the field of profession also matters. A majority of those in IT and telecommunications are much more willing to go abroad than those in health and social work.

Hydro Job Opportunities

http://money.cnn.com/2014/01/08/news/economy/hydro-jobs/index.html

Given the large push to go green in recent years, in regards to eliminating greenhouse gases and coming up with more environmentally friendly ways of creating renewable power, hydroelectric power seems to be one sector that the economy isn't necessarily crediting for the potential industry of it. Those looking to enter the workforce in a "green" sector job, should look to hydro power because it's credited for employing more people than wind and solar put together, as well as more people than that of coal mining.

The sector of hydro power is somewhat frowned upon because it changes the landscape of the natural environment, however what it does do is create a lot of well paying jobs. Sources say that out of the 80,000 dams in the United States, only 0.3% of them are actually wired to produce energy. Since the dams are already built, these kinds of jobs that would be required would be long-term positions, such as daily maintenance, managers, etc. Also noted in the article is how these dams create a large reservoir behind them, which are used for recreational activities. These areas need monitoring, and since there are so many dams, you'll find more job positions for people in the areas of park rangers, and others personnel to maintain and oversee these given sites.

Hydro power can be seen as not only a great way to produce green energy, but also an industry that would allow for a lot more jobs to be filled, ultimately bettering the economy's employment rate, as well as helping the overall well-being of the natural environment.

US unemployment rate hit a six-year low in September

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-29479533

The unemployment rate dropped from 6.1% in August to 5.9% in September.  This is the lowest recorded rate since July of 2008.  The labor market also added 248,000 jobs in September which is another great sign that the US economy continues to be on the rise. Other good news and signs for the economy, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose over 100 points the past month. 

Ever since the financial crisis in 2008, the Fed has kept interest rates close to zero but with the economy continuing to grow the Fed could raise the interest rates for the short run.  The stimulus plan implemented by the Fed called "quantitative easing" is expected to end this coming month.  They were trying to keep interest rates low by purchasing bonds and thus boosting spending.  There is no set date to the raise in the interest rate but the Fed said that it will come "a considerable time" after the stimulus program ends.