The US is currently one of the rich world’s fastest-growing economies, but from a wellbeing perspective, the dissonance between the macro and micro pictures it offers is quite striking. In particular, the US economy shows why focusing on GDP data to the detriment of more qualitative indicators can be so misleading when evaluating wellbeing. Here is the reason why: The US currently has the most…
MONTHLY BAROMETER – WELLNESS EDITION MONTHLY BAROMETER A growing sense of uncertainty about what is coming next is affecting the global economy. It is further entrenched by (1) trade wars being waged on multiple fronts; (2) greater political and geopolitical instability around the world; and (3) mounting policy concerns about big macro issues, such as the effectiveness of monetary policy or impending regulatory backlashes related…
“We believe that gratitude not only positively impacts how we feel about ourselves and the world around us but realizes our vision of a world of understanding and care.”—Mia Kyricos, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Wellbeing, Hyatt Gratitude is a state of being, a mindset, an emotion, a virtue, a human strength, a coping response, a conscious practice and so much more. It…
MONTHLY BAROMETER – WELLNESS EDITION MONTHLY BAROMETER: In the wake of Uber and several other disappointing tech IPOs, the WeWork debacle marks the end of the golden age of unfettered tech growth. Its failure to go public and a valuation that bombed from $47 billion to $8 billion in a week brings this thought to mind: Tech narratives have the power to lure investors desperate…
A recent report from the US Census Bureau highlights the predicament of the US middle class and helps explain the concomitant political fallout. At year-end 2018, the median household income was $63,200. Adjusted for inflation, this is barely above the 1999 level and 135 percent above income levels of 30 years ago (a mere 14 percent in real terms)—this despite the economy growing by almost…
MONTHLY BAROMETER – WELLNESS EDITION MONTHLY BAROMETER: Some practical take-aways for business and investors from the many sessions on sustainability at the recent Summit of Minds: (1) the pricing of environmental and possibly some societal externalities will become a reality; (2) supply chains will shorten (hyper-localization and sharing platforms will become favored themes); (3) sustainable healthy eating and “locavorism” will gain ground; (4) recycling and…
