Inflation 2022: A new crisis worth your Attention!

Lately, there has been an upward trend in the prices of goods and services throughout America. Commodity prices and necessities charges are becoming inverted. It doesn’t take a fantastic capitalist or entrepreneur to see the fear in the market. With consumer credit and delinquencies reaching all-time highs plus the economic recovery from a worldwide pandemic, fears of a recession cannot be uncalled for.

Funeral fit for a Queen, but at what cost to the U.K. Economy?

Queen Elizabeth II, the U.K’s longest-reigning monarch, died on September 8th, 2022, marking the start of a new era of uncertainty for the country. Though the country has united in more ways than one over the monarch’s death, the grandeur of the funeral has put a hold on an inevitable situation: the reality of an economic crisis. This new period of national mourning will be the latest blow to a British economy already in turmoil. The Queen’s funeral alone removes some of the final threads to the UK’s status as a top-tier global power. As of now, the British government has not disclosed the cost of her funeral, but the price tag, according to a House of Commons report, is estimated to have been around $954,000 for “lying-in-state” and around $5 million for security.

The Economics of United States Soccer: Past, Present, and Future

Followed by over 3.5 billion fans worldwide, soccer (or football as it’s called outside the United States) is the most popular sport worldwide, and its popularity is only increasing. For context, A whopping 5 billion people are expected to watch the Qatar-hosted World Cup in December of this year. With such immense popularity comes even greater profit for soccer teams. However, in the United States, the sport remains less popular compared to other countries worldwide, though it has won its acclaim over the past few decades. What exactly does this mean for the economic future of soccer in the U.S?

Perfect Storm: Shortfalls in Federal Funding Allocation for Puerto Rican Hurricane Relief

Hurricane Fiona made landfall on September 18th, 5 years after Hurricane Maria previously devastated Puerto Rico, but its impacts will be felt for months to come. Is Puerto Rico equipped to recover from Fiona? Can there and will there be a better recovery than from Maria? And what will this mean for the US economy?

The Ins & Outs of FIFA Advertisements

The World Cup is a shared cultural ground globally. In fact, out of the 8 billion people that exist on earth, NBCSports predicted that “the 2022 World Cup is expected to pull in 5 billion viewers according to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.” The vast majority of people watch the games live, making it the perfect opportunity (if financially an option) to invest in advertisements. Knowing this, news brands are seen to substantially increase their rates. A specific example of this is Fox News: “Fox is seeking $600K per 30-second spot for the highly anticipated Black Friday showdown. That’s roughly double the $300,000 price tag for ad time during other match telecasts.”

The Harsh Truth Behind Income Inequality in Tennis

It is currently 7 pm on Sunday, September 11, 2022. In Queens, New York, a tennis match is in progress. This is no ordinary tennis match, however: it is the US Open, where Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz and Norwegian Casper Ruud are ruthlessly facing off in the finals to see who will become the next world’s best. They have spent the last three grueling hours playing three sets, with Carlos winning two out of the three. The score starts to tip in Carlos’s favor and it is now 40–30; he has one more point to win before he is crowned the world champion. Carlos serves, to which Ruud dives for the ball, but to no avail. The crowd goes into a wild uproar, while Carlos collapses to the ground, still unable to comprehend what he has just accomplished.

Why Americans Are Moving to Europe

Lately, an increasing number of Americans have been immigrating to Europe. Amid increases in the costs of living and tax incentives, Americans are packing their bags to places such as Portugal, Greece, France, and Italy. According to Bloomberg, Sotheby’s International Realty reported that the number of Americans who wanted to move to Greece during the April-June period was up by 40% compared to 2021. Additionally, in the first quarter, 12% of Sotheby’s Italian revenue was from Americans, a 7% increase from last year.

Mental Health: It’s Time for Investors to Watch Out.

The stock market is a great economic endeavor that gives investors the opportunity for their savings to flourish and their wealth to grow. The news headlines are ever so clear: “31-year-old self-made millionaire”, “Trader turns $1,500 to $1 million in 3 years”, the list is virtually endless. Those invested in the stock market have made so much money, that the American Dream has suddenly become achievable. The world has created this false narrative that investing is a miraculous platform, but in reality, the stock market world is very risky since many have lost millions of dollars through digital investing platforms. The stories of people making fortunes off of the stock market create a false narrative; that the end result of becoming rich through investing can be so easily attained. However, it takes a little more thought and economic knowledge to succeed when investing.

Inflation is Heating Up in the Sunbelt

Food, gas, and housing prices in the U.S. have soared this year due to rising inflation as a result of supply chain issues caused by the lockdown in China and the Russia-Ukraine war; and an overall increase in consumer spending. With gas prices rising by 45% and the price of consumer goods increasing by 8.5% on average in the past year, the cost of living in the U.S. has greatly increased. While alarming to all regions, the Sunbelt, which stretches south from Tennessee and across the entire width of the U.S., has been hit especially hard. Consumer goods prices have risen by as much as 10% and gas prices have risen by as much as 62% due to the region’s increasing popularity.

Perfect Storm: Shortfalls in Federal Funding Allocation for Puerto Rican Hurricane Relief

As food prices increase, U.S. shoppers are feeling the pinch in their wallets at the register. In September 2022, consumer prices rose by 8.2% compared to 2021 levels, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. In analyzing the data, food, shelter, and medical care contributed to the overall surge. As weekly grocery bills increase for families, the wages of most U.S. citizens are not rising at rates that can keep up with the robust consumer prices.

The Economics Behind Skiing: Why it’s a Dying Industry

In 2016, 20.23 million Americans went skiing. Within five years, this figure fell by over 2 million people, with only 18.11 million Americans skiing in 2021. With this massive drop, one has to wonder what is the cause of this decline. Before diving into this question, let’s look at the history of skiing.

The Only Holiday Gift Retailers Want This Year: Impecunious Shoppers To Spend

As the pandemic slowly becomes a distant worry, U.S. retailers are once again preparing for the expected influx of holiday shoppers eager to return to in-person shopping. The holidays are often the busiest months for retail and shopping, with November and December accounting for around a quarter of annual sales of department shops and niche businesses. Logistics and supply chains weren’t something Black Friday shoppers worried about. Yet, during the pandemic, customers did not expect rows of empty shelves that were once filled with vegetables, hand sanitizer, and…toilet paper.

The truth about how much money NBA players really have

While many see making it to the big leagues as meaning you’re financially set forever, a new statistic marked by essential sports may prove this not to be the case.

Basketball: The Truth Behind the Wage Gap

Of course, we have our all-time basketball greats like Stephen Curry, Lebron James, and Giannis Antetokounmpo (who are all still active in the league), but how many casual National Basketball Association (NBA) fans actually know who Kyle Kuzma is? If you were to ask me, I would say many have not even heard of his name, but he’s actually making millions more than an entire organization of professional players combined. Kyle Kuzma’s salary for the 2022–2023 NBA season will be higher than the entire Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) salary from last year. Yes, you heard me right…the entire WNBA. A single man, unheard of to many, is making millions more than an entire women’s organization. The NBA is continuing to give its players the contracts they desire, while the WNBA is keeping its players’ pay in check. This trend has been continuing ever since the WNBA was first inducted. Does the economic state of this world find no harm in these drastically contrasting numbers?

The Musk Era: How One Man Changed the Space and Green Tech Industry Forever

The world’s most notorious genius, billionaire, playboy, and philanthropist: Elon Musk. Although he has been involved in massive layoffs at Twitter, rumored affairs, and even workplace abuse allegations, it is undoubted that he has been a driving force in the modern green tech industry. So who exactly is Elon Musk, and how did he single-handedly revive the green energy sector: a seemingly once-forgotten industry?

Is College in the US Really That Good?

The notion that a college education within the US is outright superior to its European competitors has arguably been the general consensus for many students, particularly within the US. Yet, as more and more young adults find themselves unable to climb out of the deep pit of student debt and bring themselves to financial stability, one begins to wonder if it’s really worth it.

Problems in the Shadows: Economic Impacts of the Russia-Ukraine War

Before diving deep into the economic impacts of the Russia-Ukraine War, it is important to acknowledge that the initial military conflict between the two nations dates back to 2014 when Russia seized the Ukrainian territory of Crimea. Tensions have continued to rise since, and in February 2022, Vladimir Putin decided to invade Ukraine in an attempt to overtake the whole region. With more than 50,000 Russian casualties and over 14,000 Ukrainian casualties — with many incidents not reported —, the war has had an immense physical toll on the two nations. Beyond Russia and Ukraine directly, there seems to be a harsher impact that is perhaps not so obviously stated. Which is the fact that the economic state of the world is depleting at an impeccably quick rate.

Bankruptcy Looms for Some Popular Retailers

Rising interest rates and high inflation have impacted U.S. consumers and businesses hard. As we begin 2023, various household names struggle to stay afloat amidst weak sales, tough competition, and supply-chain issues. In the post-Covid environment where people still find themselves working remotely, several consumers reach for online deals purchased conveniently from the comfort of their homes rather than venturing into local brick and mortar stores for goods. As a result, companies are faced with expensive real estate decisions and must adjust to mounting bills as their sales plummet.

AI In the Stock Market: Savior or Armageddon?

The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in recent years has brought about one of the most dramatic changes in human history. AI is now an instrumental part of daily life, whether it be through smart home devices, social media filters, healthcare management, or even video games. Whether we like it or not, AI is sticking with us for good. Recent turbulence in the economy — caused by a number of things (COVID, inflation, war, and more) — has raised some questions about economics, finance, and what the future holds for AI. More specifically, the question we should be asking ourselves is: how will advanced AI affect the stock market? And if it does, will it be for better or for worse?

Why it’s Important to Expose the Next Generation of Economists to Impact Investing

15 years ago, financial firms would have turned their back on the idea of mixing investments with philanthropic efforts. While finance is known for profit and charity for social impact, these two disciplines have since been integrated into one sector known as impact investing. Impact investments are those with the intention to create positive, yet measurable social and environmental impact, while also generating a financial return.

America’s Favorite Pastime: How Baseball Initiated the Sports Economy

Baseball, often referred to as America’s favorite pastime, has been linked to sports entertainment culture in the United States for over a century. Evident by the $10 billion in revenue generated annually, the significant impact that baseball has had and continues to have on the economy is widely known.