The golden years: 49% of Greek households still rely on pensions as primary income source

Italy and France are fast catching up. Full article. (Bloomberg)

Anomaly: Why is it that that less densely populated a country, the higher its housing costs?

Why is housing twice as expensive in Canada as in the US? Why is it 20% more in New Zealand than in Britain?

The Economist: "Deaths of Despair"

White middle-aged men in developed countries, like the population as a whole, have enjoyed increasing life expectancy for many decades. Suddenly, around 1997, mortality rates for these average Joes started rising in the US while they continued declining in France, Germany, Canada, Britain, etc. Life expectancy for the US part of this group is now less than it was twenty years ago. Why? The Economist (article attached) posed the question in last week's issue but couldn't come up with any one answer, not even their old standby, global warming.

I would note, however, that this period of rising mortality corresponds with the period that NAFTA has been in force. (Coincidence? Perhaps.) But in any case, as Ross Perot was wont to say, "It's just plain sad."

The article ends on a hopeful note: "One avenue for reducing despair may lie in future generations of low-skilled Americans curbing their aspirations. Indeed, some of the jobless young already seem content to spend much of their leisure time playing video games. . . " This may solve the problem as the "jobless young" mature into a jobless but contented middle age, and alcohol, marijuana and other drugs may also help.

The shape of the Earth: A bold contrarian view

from today's  Boston Globe:

India: The rise of the yogis

We wish Uttar Pradesh's new PM much success in improving the lives of his citizens.

Twinkie defense

From today's WSJ: Back from bankruptcy and liquidation, Hostess Brands epitomizes the US manufacturing renaissance:




Sales of Hostess snack cakes are expected to reach 2 billion units this year.

Innovative new products are the key:



To enhance the value proposition, creative chemical rejiggering has extended shelf life from 26 to 65 days.

"Ho Ho.

This wouldn't be happening if Gaddafi were still alive.

From The Economist: