The article explores the disconnect between the strong performance of the U.S. economy and the negative sentiment of many Americans. It discusses how factors such as inflation, housing, and political polarization have contributed to this disparity. Despite significant economic growth, rising wages, and a low unemployment rate, many Americans feel that their economic situation has not improved. The article delves into the reasons behind this perception and the challenges it poses for policymakers and political leaders.

Despite positive macro-economic trends, people feel negatively about the economy due to past consumer price inflation, especially for frequently purchased items, making them feel poorer and unable to maintain their standard of living. This perception of individual impoverishment persists as prices have not decreased to previous levels, and incomes haven't risen sufficiently, overshadowing any optimism from positive economic indicators like employment rate and GDP growth.

The article "As birth rates plummet, Europe questions existing incentives" discusses the declining birth rates in Europe and the various incentives and policies being considered to address this issue. Some of the key points from the article include:

Leaders should implement more significant measures than minor financial incentives to enhance child-rearing accessibility and increase birth rates, noting the political challenge of redistributing resources from retirees to the youth.

The article discusses the economic situations in the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom. It highlights that the US economy continued to grow in the fourth quarter of 2023, while Japan and the UK faced weakening economies, with both countries likely experiencing a second straight quarter of economic decline, which is a common definition of a recession. The article also points out factors contributing to the differential performance, such as immigration and population dynamics. In particular, Japan's economy unexpectedly slipped into a recession at the end of 2023, with weak domestic demand and frail consumption and capital spending. The situation in Japan has raised doubts about the timing of the central bank's potential policy changes. The article also references Japan's past economic challenges, including the "Lost Decade" in the 1990s, characterized by a period of economic stagnation and price deflation. The country's struggle to overcome this historical experience is still relevant to its current economic policy considerations. The article from Reuters provides a detailed analysis of Japan's economic contraction, citing specific GDP figures, consumption, and capital expenditure data. It also discusses the potential impact on the central bank's policy decisions and the challenges posed by weak domestic demand and slowing inflation. The Investopedia article offers a historical perspective on Japan's "Lost Decade" in the 1990s, explaining the real estate crisis, credit crunch, and liquidity trap that contributed to the period of economic stagnation and deflation. It discusses the role of the Bank of Japan's policies and their impact on the economy during that time. The Wikipedia page on "Lost Decades" provides a broader overview of Japan's economic challenges, including references to external sources and experts discussing the country's prolonged slowdown and its causes. Overall, the articles provide a comprehensive view of the recent economic developments in the US, Japan, and the UK, with a specific focus on Japan's unexpected recession and its historical economic challenges.

The observed phenomenon may be due to 80 million people entering their peak earning years, identified as ages 35-54 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Note 150% of sats zapped to this post, will be used to fund the ~econ territory