The U.S. differs from most other countries in how it sets its minimum wage
Putting minimum wage policy in the hands of lawmakers is one of several ways in which the U.S. approach stands apart from other countries.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Putting minimum wage policy in the hands of lawmakers is one of several ways in which the U.S. approach stands apart from other countries.
The Trump administration’s plans to impose $50 billion in tariffs on Chinese imports, as well as tariffs recently placed on imported steel and aluminum and on imports of solar panels and washing machines, mark a distinct break from decades of U.S. trade policy, which long has generally favored lower tariffs and fewer restrictions on the movement of goods and services across international borders.
Public debt has increased sharply in many countries in recent years, particularly during and after the Great Recession.
Although manufacturing jobs have fallen over the past three decades, improved productivity has kept manufacturing output rising – contrary to what many Americans believe. But over the past few years, productivity growth has been sluggish at best.
Many Europeans, Japanese and Americans feel better today about their nations’ economies than they did before the financial crisis, according to a new global survey by Pew Research Center. But those public sentiments aren’t always aligned with a nation’s actual economic performance.
Public opinion data going back to the 1930s shows that generally speaking, Americans oppose large numbers of refugees entering the country.
Although Europe is struggling to manage the hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing conflicts in the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere, the countries facing the biggest refugee impacts are the ones closest to the fighting.
Women now make up 20% of Congress, a record high. But women have more representation in most countries’ national legislatures.
Lame duck congressional sessions have become more common in recent years, but their actual legislative productivity has varied considerably.
Consumer confidence is rising in the U.S., reflecting its continued modest growth. But confidence has taken a tumble in Europe, which is still struggling to achieve significant, sustainable growth.
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