When you pick up medication at the drugstore, intuitively you might think that the cost of the drug is what you’re paying for. But you are not merely paying for the R&D and manufacturing costs; there is a complex system of middlemen that hike up the price of virtually every drug in the US market.Continue Reading
What makes US healthcare so expensive? Our neighbor in the north may serve some answers. While Canada and the US share similar backgrounds in culture, language, and economies, Canada’s universal healthcare system cuts healthcare prices in half compared to the US, and still outperforms the US in life expectancy and overall health.Continue Reading
Author: Cindy Xue, Graphics: Yarden Pri-Noy The Japanese Yen is Depreciating A trip to Japan has never been more affordable, but at what cost to Japan’s economy? Reaching an all-time low since 1990, the Japanese Yen has become incredibly weak against the US dollar. Travelers flock to Japan to shopContinue Reading
Author: Lucy Cox, Graphics: Danielle Hwang The BRB Bottomline: Tariffs are the hot topic of economic policy this election, with both sides embracing protectionist tariff policy. But do Americans fully understand the real-life implications of tariffs? When presented with the possibility of a tariff on blue jeans, a staple pieceContinue Reading
In Mexico, a country burdened by a policy-induced sluggish economy, newly appointed President Claudia Sheinbaum seeks to redefine the national trajectory on her terms. Her success, and Mexico’s, will ultimately depend on her ability to balance continuity with innovation and fix what is broken.Continue Reading
Despite China’s efforts, they can’t keep Taiwan under their grasps. With a severing economy and growing independence, the People’s Republic of China’s momentum in actualizing the One China Policy reflects the fear of Taiwan’s growing autonomy. Continue Reading
This is how the famous Missouri cheese cave came to be; its existence is a testament to the failure of the government to adequately oversee markets in the long run.Continue Reading
Despite the political backlash and uncertainty for the macroeconomy brought upon by their plan, the Biden Administration remains steadfast in its argument that it is a vital step for Americans in the ultimate goal of solving the student debt crisis. Moreover, they believe it to be an efficient and sustainable solution — they maintain that because of the high default rates for student loans, the actual cost of the debt forgiveness plan will be lower than the theoretical expectation; however, the specifics of that value have proven to be difficult to calculate. Continue Reading
Downward trends in enrollment have had a ripple effect at institutions across the country. As decreases in enrollment continue, schools are feeling pressure to keep tuition affordable. Although inflation has pushed up the prices of most goods and services, the necessity for more students has incentivized institutions to keep tuition prices relatively low. Continue Reading
Democracy is based on winning the popular vote and maintaining an image that will keep the public content. As a result, it might hinder politicians and lawmakers from creating policies that would be good for economic growth but unappealing to the voter bank.Continue Reading