By: Norbert Schady During the recent riots in Baltimore, MD, Toya Graham, an irate mother of a would-be protester, became an instant celebrity when she was caught on tape roughing up her son. She appeared on the evening news slapping his head repeatedly and pushing him down the street away from the violence that was engulfing the city. Given the situation, Ms. Graham’s … [Read more...] about Hitting Kids: How Much Does It Hurt?
Social Issues
The Diaspora Goldmine
Many countries have substantial diasporas, but not many are proud of it. After all, people tend not to leave a country when it is doing well, so the diaspora is often a reminder of a country’s darker moments. El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Cuba, to cite three examples, had more than 10% of their native population living abroad in 2010. And this figure does not take into account … [Read more...] about The Diaspora Goldmine
Did You Get Your Shots? In Rural Communities in Guatemala a Simple Reminder Improved Health
By: Matias Busso and Julian Cristia Take a moment to recall the last time you forgot someone's birthday. When was the last time you were at the grocery store and forgot that one crucial ingredient for dinner? How many times have you been locked out in the past year? A good memory is undoubtedly important for anyone. The memory of faces, names, facts and many other things … [Read more...] about Did You Get Your Shots? In Rural Communities in Guatemala a Simple Reminder Improved Health
Unemployment among Women: Another Kind of Spell
Men and women are different. That’s a good thing, much of the time, but not in the case of unemployment. A woman may be able to bewitch her partner, but when it comes to being out of work, she’s the one in the deepest spell—an unemployment spell, that is. Recent research in Colombia sheds light on some of the issues surrounding women in and out of the workforce. Let’s set the … [Read more...] about Unemployment among Women: Another Kind of Spell
Faced with a Water Shortage, a Flood of Ideas.
The US state of California is passing through a very serious drought, which has resulted in serious problems of water availability. Experts have not been able to agree on the reasons for the extreme situation and why preventive measures were not taken, nor have they been able to agree on the best possible solutions. Nevertheless, it seems that the measures they have taken up … [Read more...] about Faced with a Water Shortage, a Flood of Ideas.