The Economist (January 14)
“When education fails to keep pace with technology, the result is inequality. Without the skills to stay useful as innovations arrive, workers suffer—and if enough of them fall behind, society starts to fall apart.” Robotics and artificial intelligence now emerging “call for another education revolution.” But to succeed, the offerings will need to be lifelong and attract those who aren’t already considered high achievers.
Tags: AI, Education, High achievers, Inequality, Innovation, Lifelong, Pace, Robotics, Skills, Society, Technology, Useful, Workers
Reuters (September 1)
“Activity in China’s manufacturing sector unexpectedly expanded at its fastest pace in nearly two years in August as construction boomed, suggesting the economy is steadying in response to stronger government spending.” The strong performance “may reinforce growing views that China’s central bank will be in no hurry to cut interest rates or banks’ reserve requirements, for fear of adding to high debt levels or fuelling asset bubbles.”
Tags: Asset bubbles, Boom, China, Construction, Debt, Economy, Government, Interest rates, Manufacturing, Pace, Reserves, Spending, Steadying
New York Times (August 30)
“Economic fundamentals today are no different than they were before the market took a walk on the wild side.” The U.S. economy is “growing at 2.5 percent. At that modest pace, the United States cannot be of much help if other economies falter. But it can rebound from a market swoon, at least for now.”
Tags: Economy, Fundamentals, Growth, Market, Market swoon, Modest, Pace, Rebound, U.S.
Los Angeles Times (January 6)
“Societal change usually happens slowly, even once it’s clear there’s a problem.” This is not necessarily a bad thing. A leisurely pace allows a consensus to be established, eliminating backlash. “With climate change, however, there simply isn’t time to waste…. It’s a fight between human beings and physics. And physics is entirely uninterested in human timetables. Physics couldn’t care less if precipitous action raises gas prices or damages the coal industry in swing states. It couldn’t care less whether putting a price on carbon slowed the pace of development in China or made agribusiness less profitable.”
Tags: Agribusiness, Carbon, China, Climate change, Coal, Pace, Societal change
