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Jason Margolis
The Presidential Politics of Ignoring Climate Change
One issue has been nowhere on the radar during the Republican presidential primaries: addressing global climate change.
Purchasing Power and the Big Mac Index
Economists study something called purchasing power parity. Basically, how far will a dollar go in Argentina, Italy, or the US? They gauge this by looking at a comparable basket of goods and services across nations.
Venezuelans Getting Political in Florida
The Republican presidential candidates are trying to woo Florida’s Hispanic voters this week. That includes native Venezuelans, an up-and-coming group of Florida voters.
Republican Candidates Court Miami’s Cuban Vote
The Republican candidates are in Florida. To capture the state, it’s key to appeal to Hispanic voters. And no Latino group is more important in Florida than Miami’s Cubans.
Bank Loans for Milwaukee’s Immigrants
For an immigrant living in America, it can be tough to get a bank loan. Many new arrivals don’t understand the banking system. Or trust it. But some community banks are trying to change this dynamic, places like Mitchell Bank on the south side of Milwaukee.
President Obama Unveils Smaller Military
The US military will become “leaner” as it switches focus to the Asia-Pacific region, President Barack Obama has announced.
Foreign Policy and the Republican Race in Iowa
The military and foreign policy haven’t been major topics this campaign for the Republican presidential candidates. In fact, national security is rarely mentioned.
How to Lure Foreign Money: Lessons from Fort Dodge, Iowa
Small manufacturing towns throughout the Midwest have been ravaged by foreign competition for some 30 years. Call it irony, or call it smart business, but some of these same communities are now trying to reinvent themselves by turning to foreign competition.
Iowa: Globalization & Immigration
Every four years, politicians, pundits, and reporters descend on Iowa to hear how voters are feeling, and what their mood might say about the selection of the next president of the United States. Iowa is prospering, relative to much of the country: urban areas are thriving and corn is fetching record prices. But smaller industrial towns are struggling. The World’s Jason Margolis spent time in three rural Iowa communities to see how they are dealing with the shifting economic challenges of globalization and changing immigration patterns.
Storm Lake, Iowa: A Meatpacking Town Fueled by Immigrant Labor
Immigration reform has come up in the Republican presidential debates, but it hasn’t been nearly as big of a topic as in years past. The issue still evokes strong passions, however, in many small Iowa towns that rely on immigrant labor at their meat packing plants. It’s an open secret: Many of the workers are undocumented.
Knocked Down by Globalization, Newton, Iowa Rebuilds
On paper, the economics of Iowa look pretty good. It has the seventh lowest unemployment rate in the nation. But not everywhere in Iowa is prospering. Rural manufacturing towns continue to struggle as jobs go to cheaper foreign locations. How does a town that’s hit rock bottom, like Newton in central Iowa, start to rebuild?
Apathy in Iowa
Everywhere I turned, I found disinterest among Iowa voters. I thought this was supposed to be the great hotbed of American democracy in action. Was it me? Or are Iowans over this whole caucus thing already?
Making Money by Making Money
Billions of dollars, euros and yen zap around the globe electronically in milliseconds these days. That’s the way that modern economies work. But there’s still a need for cold, hard cash.
Restaurants Near the Pentagon Feel the Hurt
With the Congressional Super Committee’s failure to come to an agreement, the military now has to cut some $500 billion from its budget, over the next 10 years. Those cuts could also hurt the stores and restaurants near the Pentagon that cater to the military.
How Military Cuts Could Impact the Economy
The work of the so-called Congressional Super committee appears headed for failure. Now, $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts to government spending are slated to happen. The big loser is the Pentagon – but besides the military readiness debate, there’s also an economic debate: How might slashing the military budget impact the wider economy?
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