The Economics of Terrorist Groups
Last month, btw published news of “cultural vandalism” committed by the Islamic State (which is variously referred to as IS, ISIS, and ISIL). The extremist group appeared to have destroyed ancient artifacts in the Middle East because the objects were viewed as religiously offensive. However, there is growing evidence to suggest that ISIS has been […]
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What Does Middle Class Mean Today? Identifying the common characteristics that bind together a particular demographic is something sociologists, marketers, and politicians have been doing for years. It is a practice that many believe aids in serving these populations, while others believe it can lead to broad stereotyping. A common identifier is socioeconomic, which is […]
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Apple Nudges out AT&T on Dow The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA or, commonly known as the Dow) is a “stock market measure” made up of the 30 largest companies that are publically traded (offer stock) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). These 30 companies collectively represent a snapshot of the economy at large. […]
Shored Up: West Coast Labor Dispute
It is easy to take for granted how our goods make their way to us. That is, until something happens that grinds the process to a halt. This happened all along the West Coast as a nine-month old dispute involving dockworkers and shipping companies caused a major disruption in international trade. The ordeal recently ended […]
Examining the European Debt Crisis
The overall economy of Europe is in big trouble. For the past three years, the European countries bound together by economics have been engaged in ongoing talks over the best way to solve current problems and devise solutions for the future. To understand what is happening, btw brings you a big-picture view. The Brief History […]
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Another Attempt at Peace in Russia For the past year, btw has brought you stories about the conflict in Russia regarding its relationship with the neighboring Ukraine. The most recent effort to halt the ongoing violence is a series of peace talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Francois […]
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Anticipating Tourism in Cuba Earlier this month, btw brought you news of a landmark deal between the U.S. and Cuba. In response, Cuban businesses are making preparations for an expected surge in tourism. U.S. citizens will be allowed to use credit cards in Cuba. They will also be allowed to bring up to $100 worth […]
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What’s Next for Ferguson? You’ve surely heard by now that Darren Wilson, the Ferguson, Missouri police officer who shot and killed eighteen year old, Michael Brown, was not indicted by a St. Louis grand jury. While grand juries rarely fail to indict, law enforcement are also rarely charged in on-duty killings. In response, Wilson made […]
YOU DECIDE: Keystone XL Pipeline
As our lawmakers become increasingly interested in lessening our reliance on foreign energy, the debate over the best way to accomplish this goal continues to rage. The Keystone XL Pipeline project–1,179 miles of pipe stretching from Alberta, Canada to Port Arthur, Texas–is the latest proposal facing a legislation vote some time next year. Canada currently […]
To Frack or Not to Frack: A Complicated Question
Negotiation over ownership of the world’s natural resources has long caused tensions between nations and lead to ongoing, major disputes, including war. One of the major issues of the 2012 presidential election centered around the United States becoming less depending on foreign oil (mostly the Middle East) and more self-reliant in producing its own energy […]