Notes - The Economist, September 22nd - 28th 2018 (1)

Regarding the hyperinflation crisis in Venezuela - "[...] two-thirds of the country's citizens have reported losing weight as a result of food shortages." I have a couple of Venezuelan friends and it pains me to see the dismay in their eyes. When things hit rock bottom, there is one hint of hope since the only way left to go is upward.

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For the people who bash on immigration without taking into account the different types of individuals who emigrate - "Moreover, the costs associated with migrants' education and old age typically are borne by the sending countries. Rich countries recruit doctors, nurses, plumbers, or other skilled people, but have not had to pay for their education. And although foreigners contribute to pensions and taxes, they tend not to take their pension and other statutory contributions when leaving. [...] The cultural right has done an excellent job of owning the language of migration, and as a result it has taken on a toxic connotation."

I genuinely understand why whole sectors of society are against immigration. Migrants come to break the fluency of the people originally living here. As humans, we are comfortable with fluency and once it is broken, we are uncomfortable. Globalization is irreversible and it has given us the tools to go around the world in hours. As a result, people from very diverse backgrounds are showing up at international hubs such as Paris, London, New York, etc. Some resistance is natural. I believe this resistance will linger for some years until the kids of interracial and international couples are born. Once this generation of mixed kids grow up, the nature of their own existence will provide them with a different understanding of globalization, cultural mixes, and ultimately, tolerance.

Final thought on migration. In this case, specific to the UK - "Migrants do not appear to increase crime and seem to have no effect on the quality of health care, the report finds. Nor do foreign arrivals lead to noticeable rises in joblessness among British workers - indeed, the unemployment rate is at a four-decade low."

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Lastly, a different perspective on migration from Africa and the privilege that I (we) have - "Those Africans risking the trip north across the Mediterranean today are not the poorest, but those with a mobile phone to organise the trip and money to pay smugglers." In other words, what this is saying is that the poorest Africans are not the ones with the privilege to risk their lives trying to cross the Mediterranean... The sub-Saharan Africa is the place on Earth with the highest index of extreme poverty.

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"There is honour, if not glory, in making the best of a bad job." - Bagehot

Best,

@capatazche