Max Rashbrooke, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
The number of New Zealanders with ‘negative net wealth’ is large and growing – reflecting widening economic inequality that remains an urgent political priority.
Visitors take photos near a model of the doll Younghee featured in ‘Squid Game,’ displayed at the Olympic park in Seoul, South Korea, on Oct. 26, 2021.
(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Squid Game alludes to anti-worker violence that has permeated South Korean labour history, and reminds viewers of the need to overcome real inequalities.
The commentary made by the hit show may seem absurd, but it’s uncomfortably close to the truth.
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The unanticipated popularity of the Korean show ‘Squid Game’ highlights our relationship to debt and capitalism, but the contradictions extend beyond the show itself.
Instead of blaming young people for eating too many avocado toast breakfasts, we need a better understanding of the economy and society they are growing up in.
Would a default mean an end to the dollar’s position as the go-to trading currency?
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
Jamaal Abdul-Alim, The Conversation and Alvin Buyinza, The Conversation
As federal student loan debt continues to rise, a number of scholars discuss how debt affects the nation’s college students, graduates and the economy as a whole.
Nigeria’s economy is struggling to recover from fluctuating oil price, inflation and impact of COVID-19 pandemic.
Photo by Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP via Getty Images
To non-economists, the World Bank ranking Nigeria fifth on the list of its top ten debtor countries is alarming. A deeper analysis shows there is no cause for concern.
Already the Biden administration has forgiven nearly $3 billion of student loan debt from 113,000 borrowers.
Paul Morigi/Getty Images for We The 45 Million
Charles Schwab mistakenly transferred over $1.2 million to the account of a woman who then kept the money. Did she have a moral obligation to return it? An expert says the answer is not that simple.
A child plays in a street in the port village of Paquitequete near Pemba, northern Mozambique. The region suffered decades of neglect, and major gas projects have failed to deliver local benefits.
Photo by Alfredo Zuniga/AFP via Getty Images
Sam Jones, United Nations University and Finn Tarp, University of Copenhagen
The development strategy based on foreign investment in natural resources projects has not delivered economic growth or security. What’s needed is an inclusive vision based on local realities.
People visit fruit section of a grocery store on Guadeloupe, an island group in the southern Caribbean Sea.
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Debt relief would improve Caribbean states’ response to global crises.
How quickly people recover financially from the COVID-19 crisis,or lose the gains they made, may depend on their level of financial literacy.
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Teaching financial literacy requires more than adding financial literacy to kids’ school curriculum. It also means offering teachers professional development to ensure they’re equipped.
Beware of zombie companies.
solar22 via Shutterstock
Gemma Ware, The Conversation and Daniel Merino, The Conversation
Plus a new technique to protect birds from predators – using fake smells. Listen to episode 10 of The Conversation Weekly podcast.
A person sits on a tripod platform high above the street as protesters occupy an intersection during a demonstration to call for government action to on climate change in Vancouver in February 2021.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
As Canada emerges from the pandemic, creating jobs and achieving full employment are top priorities. Relegated to the back burner are balanced budgets and reducing debt.
Preventing home foreclosure is one reason middle-class people may declare Chapter 13 personal bankruptcy.
fstop123/E+ via Getty Images
Few middle-class Americans undergoing Chapter 13 bankruptcy blame the government. They portray themselves as hardworking victims and resent others for taking more than their fair share.
PM Boris Johnson (left) and Chancellor Rishi Sunak have come up with money to underwrite wages, rescue packages and meal vouchers during the pandemic.
Jonathan Brady/PA Wire/PA Images
Developing countries face greater risks raising money to deal with the pandemic. Zambia is now on the verge of being the first ‘COVID default’ and other developing countries could follow suit.
Who picks up the bill when customers can’t pay?
iStock / Getty Images Plus
Many Americans have been unable to pay their electric bills during the COVID-19 pandemic, racking up billions of dollars in delinquent bills. Where will the money come from?
Far from saving for a rainy day, governments are seriously indebting our children and future generations due to profligate overspending.
Ben Wicks/Unsplash
Canadian governments are failing to treat future citizens fairly by saddling them with huge debt. What policies should Canadian governments enact that offer greater fairness to future generations?