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In: BRB Shorts, Investing

As economies across the world have come crashing down due to the coronavirus, Indian consumers are suffering from suppressed wages, mass lay-offs, and reduced economic activity. Yet, while the entire country’s economy has been turned upside down, one sector of the market has silently exploded: Instant loan suppliers, lending money to Indian workers who desperately need the funds to pay off critical bills. These lenders, however, charge gigantic interest rates which enable them to profit off of the backs of economically insecure workers. Continue Reading

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What happens when entire countries can no longer pay their debts in the 21st century? Is the international economy strong enough to handle dozens of insolvent countries—especially in the middle of a global pandemic? This article explores how countries became indebted before and during COVID-19 and whether the current strategy of sovereign debt reduction is an effective way to stabilize countries in the midst of a public health crisis.Continue Reading

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In: BRB Shorts, Economics

The United States has been an economic powerhouse in the world since 1920, but has the implementation of taxes stymied its growth whatsoever? Congress recently reviewed tax policies, with extensive changes on the capital gains tax, a tax on assets that have accrued value over time when sold, regardless of when the gains had been accrued. The federal income tax does not tax all capital gains. For example, if a stock is purchased in 2010 at $100 and sold in 2020 at $150, the tax would be on the $50 accrued value in the current year. Economists believe that capital gains tax rates have resulted in economic prosperity and stability in the United States for nearly a century since 2016.Continue Reading