Economy
Tourists Protest Paying $21 for an Ice Cream Cone in Rome
An ice cream parlor in Rome recently unleashed a wave of protests when it charged some British tourists $21 per ice cream cone. It was just the latest instance of tourists getting ripped off in the Eternal City, as Megan Williams reports from Rome.
Invisible Workforce: An Undocumented Immigrant Caregiver Shares Her Story
Nannies, housecleaners, caregivers—they are sometimes called the world’s most invisible workforce. In the US alone, it’s estimated that more than 2 million people do this type of work. Most are women and many are immigrants. And pressure is growing to address their working conditions. As part of our Global Nation coverage, The World’s Monica Campbell has our first piece in a series about domestic workers.
Lending Circles: Helping Immigrants in America Build Credit
For most of us, when we want to make a major purchase, we apply for a loan. But what if you have no credit score? That’s the case for many immigrants living in the United States – here legally or not. But one non-profit organization in San Francisco has adopted a novel way to try and change that.
Maasai the Brand: Firm Helping Indigenous People Claim Ownership of Their Cultural Property
Marco speaks with Ron Layton of Light Years IP about helping indigenous people gaining the legal rights to their cultural property.
Jobless, Some Spaniards Catch Entrepreneurial Spirit
More than half of young Spaniards are out of work and companies aren’t hiring. So the government hopes the young unemployed will go entrepreneurial and start their own businesses. But the challenges are big, both financially and culturally.
Affordable Washing Detergent for the Poor in Chile
People in poor neighborhoods in Chile are sometimes so strapped for cash that they can’t even get the money together to buy a box of detergent. But buying it in small amounts ultimately costs them more. So a one-time student protester came up with an idea for a simple vending machine that dispenses detergent in small amounts at bulk prices.
New Diaspora: Online Project Documents the Greek Immigrant Experience
In Greece, youth unemployment is running at nearly 60 percent. Many young Greeks have left to find work. A web documentary project called New Diaspora aims to collect stories of the Greek immigrant experience.
Obama to Discuss Drug War and Trade on Mexico Visit
The drug war is on the agenda for President Obama’s visit to Mexico this week, especially after Mexico announced it wants to centralize bilateral cooperation through its Interior Ministry. But Obama and Mexico’s President Enrique Peña Nieto both have an interest in discussing trade as well.
Building Small Business Ties Between the US and Mexico
President Obama is visiting Mexico this week, the United States’ third largest trading partner. Most of the back and forth in trade originates from big multinationals. It’s much harder though for small Mexican entrepreneurs to sell their products in the United States. But those small-business ties are important. And the Mexican government is increasingly focusing on them.
China Past Due: Land Rights
Land is at the heart of any economy, and in China, the Communist Party has chosen to corner that market. Urban land is owned by the state; rural land is owned by village collectives – but, effectively, by the state. The original idea was to end feudalism and give more rights to farmers. But these days, the Party elite are flush and the farmers are the ones losing out.
China Past Due: Facing the Consequences of Control
China’s leaders face great challenges and great expectations. Economic growth is slowing, the population is aging, and the environment is in a state of crisis. In the midst of it all, the Chinese people increasingly expect a different kind of relationship with their government – one of citizens and not subjects. A five-part series by The World’s China correspondent Mary Kay Magistad.
Musician Olafur Arnalds Explains How Iceland’s Financial Crisis Helped the Arts
Anchor Marco Werman tells us about Icelandic musician Olafur Arnalds who – despite possible outcomes of Saturday’s parliamentary elections there – feels that the arts have actually been buoyed by the 2008 banking crisis.
In Spain, Horses the Latest Victims in Economic Slump
When Spain was booming 15 years ago a lot of people bought horses. They were a symbol of status and wealth. Now, with unemployment at a record high and the economy sinking further, people can’t get rid of their horses fast enough. Too often they’re abandoned to die. A few sanctuaries are trying to rescue as many as they can, but they’re overwhelmed.
Spain’s Financial Crisis Sends Actors Into Homes
The bad economy and new taxes have deterred Spaniards from spending on culture and many theaters are closing, but a small group of actors may have found a way to survive.
Salaries of Heads-of-State Around the World
President Obama’s salary announcement Wednesday got us thinking about what other heads-of-state make around the world. Here’s a few highlights.
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