The purpose of our social, economic and political systems is to enable all Australians to lead good lives. Australia is doing well on some fronts. It ranks third out of 188 countries on the UN Human Development Index, which takes into account life expectancy, education and national income per capita. We also rank 19th on national income per capita.
If the United States doesn’t address rising inequality, the middle class could start feeling the effects in the form of fewer government services, one expert says.
Researchers have created an interactive, map-based tool—the Opportunity Atlas—that can trace the root of people’s outcomes, such as poverty or incarceration, to the neighborhoods in which they grew up.
Racial wealth inequality was an important factor contributing to the riots in many American cities in the 1960s, but a half-century later, the issue has gotten short shrift, researchers report.
When low-income Michigan residents enrolled in an expanded Medicaid program, many got more than just coverage for their health needs—they also got a boost to their wallets, according to a new study.
Though the flooding from Hurricane Florence is predicted to be unprecedented, residents of the coastal North Carolina towns threatened by the storm surge know what it’s like to take on water. Some homes in these areas have been repeatedly flooded — and repeatedly bailed out by federal flood insurance.
American workers’ occupational status reflects that of their parents more than previously known, a new study shows.
The findings reaffirm more starkly that the lack of social mobility in the United States is in large part due to the occupation of our parents.
While many economists assume the “invisible hand” theory influences markets, new research finds a disruptor has turned this long-held concept—which Adam Smith introduced in 1759—on its head. The disruptor does not have anything to do with technological advancements or innovation like one might expect—in fact, it’s much simpler. It’s a third party who interrupts a trading relationship.
The Mudgirls collective redefines expectations about what a construction site is supposed to look like—child care, breastfeeding breaks, and all.
A range of neighbor-to-neighbor efforts address basic needs, from healthcare to food access, that are going unmet by local government agencies.
The past several years have seen increased calls for colleges and universities to demonstrate their value to students, families and taxpayers.
Societies tend to become more unequal over time, unless there is concerted pushback. A society that fails to invest in its children, to protect its land and water, or to build a future is courting collapse. The process feeds on itself, growing like a cancer...
New research strongly suggests the days of high manufacturing employment in the United States, and just about every other country, are over
Children from low-income families who attend a school that offers free breakfasts do better academically in math, science, and reading, report researchers.
The UK’s employment rate has been at a record high. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that unemployment in the UK fell by 60,000 between October and December 2015, with the highest number of people in work since records began in 1971.
The U.S. middle class has always had a special mystique. It is the heart of the American dream. A decent income and home, doing better than one’s parents, and retiring in comfort are all hallmarks of a middle-class lifestyle.
To improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nutrition and health we need real community consultation, improved public governance and political will. After years of neglect and a notable absence in last week’s Closing the Gap report, nutrition is finally being recognised as integral to closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage.
So far, policymakers have tried to reduce costs by tinkering with how care is delivered. But focusing on care delivery to save money is like trying to reduce the costs of house fires by focusing on firefighters and fire stations.
A number of recent articles in the corporate press around the country highlight the ongoing dilemma the capitalist class faces in dealing with the persistent and rising homelessness problem.
After states suffer significant job losses, college attendance drops among the poorest students of the next generation, a new study suggests.
There is little doubt that the challenging, turbulent and uncertain times faced by the UK’s university sector in 2016 are set to continue well into 2017
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