The best defense against authoritarianism? More educated citizens.

For democracy to prosper in the long term, we need more people to reach higher levels of education.

Credit: slexp880 via Adobe Stock
  • It's difficult to overstate the impact of technology and artificial intelligence. Smart machines are fundamentally reshaping the economy—indeed, society as a whole.
  • Seemingly overnight, they have changed our roles in the workplace, our views of democracy—even our family and personal relationships.
  • In my latest book, I argue that we can—and must—rise to this challenge by developing our capacity for "human work," the work that only humans can do: thinking critically, reasoning ethically, interacting interpersonally, and serving others with empathy.
Keep reading Show less
ai work humanity politics fear education mind inequality

China’s most important border is imaginary: the Hu Line

First drawn in 1935, Hu Line illustrates persistent demographic split – how Beijing deals with it will determine the country's future.

Credit: Tomaatje12, CC0 1.0 – Public domain.
  • In 1935, demographer Hu Huanyong drew a line across a map of China.
  • The 'Hu Line' illustrated a remarkable divide in China's population distribution.
  • That divide remains relevant, not just for China's present but also for its future.

Keep reading Show less
china Economy infrastructure Inequality Poverty population Maps

One year of COVID-19: What will we learn?

Pandemics have historically given way to social revolution. What will the post-COVID revolution be?

Credit: tur-illustration via Adobe Stock / Big Think
  • The US is approaching 500,000 COVID-19 deaths. What can we learn from one year of loss and chaos?
  • The lessons are clear. Among them are realizing our fragility as a species, our codependence as humans, and the urgent need to move beyond social injustice and inequity.
  • As with the Renaissance following the Black Plague of the 14th century and the explosive creativity of the 1920s post Spanish influenza, this is our turn to redefine the course of history. Let's not mess this up.
Keep reading Show less
coronavirus science environment virus society inequality poverty history humanity

Virus made inequality much worse across the world, says report

Inequality in wealth, gender, and race grew to unprecedented levels across the world, according to OxFam report.

Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
  • A new report by global poverty nonprofit OxFam finds inequality has increased in every country in the world.
  • The alarming trend is made worse by the coronavirus pandemic, which strained most systems and governments.
  • The gap in wealth, race and gender treatment will increase until governments step in with changes.
Keep reading Show less
inequality economics Inequality money Coronavirus

The social determinants of health, explained

Want to tell someone's future in the US? You don't need a crystal ball, just their zip code.

Credit: Stephanie Keith/Getty Images
  • Social determinants of health, such as income and access to healthy food, affect well-being long before people may enter medical facilities.
  • They're one reason neighborhoods in the same city can maintain life expectancy gaps larger than a decade.
  • With growing awareness of how societal ills determine health, medical professionals and their partners are devising more holistic approaches to health.
Keep reading Show less
health society policy government health care poverty inequality
Quantcast