There’s an age-old relationship in economics that you might not have seen before; for better or worse, unemployment and recessions have been closely correlated over the past 70 years. While unemployment does tend to rise during recessions and fall during economic expansions, very low unemployment rates often precede a recession. The severity of recessions can vary, with some resulting in more dramatic increases in unemployment compared to others. But there is one underlying truth: monitoring unemployment rates is crucial for understanding the health of the economy. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
