Through an American lens, Western Europe’s middle classes appear smaller
The American middle class is smaller than middle classes across Western Europe, but its income is higher.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
The American middle class is smaller than middle classes across Western Europe, but its income is higher.
Melina Platas, an assistant professor of political science at New York University Abu Dhabi, explains the Muslim-Christian education gap in sub-Saharan Africa.
Many people in South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya are concerned about their countries’ political and economic systems. Yet, there is considerable optimism about the future.
The Chinese people recognize their country’s growing prominence in Asia and the world. However, concern remains over corruption and other domestic issues.
As elections near, Venezuelans are down on President Nicolás Maduro and Hugo Chávez’s legacy, but wide ideological splits point to a nation divided. Overall, most are dissatisfied with the direction of the country.
The urgency expressed by Pope Francis on global poverty and inequality is grounded in harsh reality. 4.4 billion people – 71% of the global population of 6.2 billion – lived on $10 or less per day in 2011, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of the most recently available data.
Most people in China say they are better off financially than they were five years ago. At the same time, they’re worried about corrupt officials, air and water pollution, crime and economic inequality.
As a whole, Latin America enjoyed solid economic growth in the first decade of this century, with a fall in poverty, a decrease in income inequality and a rise of its middle class.
China’s incredible economic expansion has led the Chinese to be overwhelmingly happy with their economic situation and optimistic about their future, but there are underlying complaints about inflation, inequality and corruption.
The world’s third largest economy faces long-term challenges, including pessimistic forecasts from the Japanese public, the hollowing out of Japan’s working-age population and the nation’s exorbitant public debt.
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