Posted By: Francis Koster Published: November 1, 2020
We can look at the state of our nation through two lenses – The state of our economy, and the state of our happiness.
The United States has the #1 ranked economy in the world.[1] Turns out this does not have much to do with our state of happiness.
For almost a decade, researchers have been studying annually the happiness of 156 countries, looking at citizen’s perceptions of their happiness in many areas including their sense of freedom, their economy, education, the ability to improve oneself, healthcare, life expectancy, and lack of public corruption. Using these indicators, our United States ranked only 18th for happiness. [2] Among all the countries in the world, we rank number 35 for life expectancy and falling. [3] Even among just the richest countries in the world, our life expectancy ranks 12th in the world and is falling.[4]
Posted By: Francis Koster Published: March 29, 2020
Today, using cell phones, apps and the internet, there is a proven, innovative, locally implementable solution that we can use while working from home or elsewhere (using ‘physical distance’, of course).
Posted By: Francis Koster Published: February 12, 2014
Employee Ownership Yields Big Dividends by Francis P. Koster, Ed.D. Suppose you were unemployed and had a family to feed. After months of looking, you are offered two jobs, and have to choose. Both were with new companies founded by neighborhood entrepreneurs. One offered a standard wage, regular hours, and so forth. The other offered …
Posted By: Francis Koster Published: January 16, 2014
Citizens of Charlotte N.C. Walk the Talk About Honoring Veterans by Francis P. Koster, Ed.D. Charlotte, North Carolina is one a few communities nationally that has found a way to translate those words into direct action and actually support our veterans. Tommy Norman, a Charlotte area Vietnam-era veteran, stepped up and founded an effort that …
Posted By: Francis Koster Published: November 25, 2013
Energizing Local Economies Through Creative De-Construction by Francis P. Koster, Ed.D. There is a way to use charity to both create jobs and improve the community. I love the title of the effort - "Creative De-Construction". In many older neighborhoods, there are one or more houses or business that are abandoned or damaged and become …
Posted By: Francis Koster Published: November 25, 2013
Incubators That Support Local Entrepreneurs Improve Local Communities by Francis P. Koster, Ed.D. Two significant facts that will have profound impacts on our nation's future unless solutions are put in place. The first is the number of unemployed, which by the most accurate definition sits at one in seven members of the workforce.[1] The second is …
Posted By: Francis Koster Published: November 25, 2013
Growing Jobs and Food Security by Francis P. Koster, Ed.D. Consider this: The world's population doubled between 1960, when there were 3 billion people, and 2000, when we hit 6 billion people. In 2020 there will be 7.5 billion. In 7 years, world agriculture needs to feed two and half times more mouths than it …
Posted By: Francis Koster Published: November 25, 2013
Teach a Man About Fish and You Create Jobs by Francis P. Koster, Ed.D. There will be twice as many people on Earth around 2020 as there were in 1970. A lot more mouths to feed. Problem or opportunity? According to a just released September 2013 federal government report, we import 91% of our …
Posted By: Francis Koster Published: June 30, 2013
Thinking Futuristically About Jobs by Francis P. Koster, Ed.D. I am a big believer in the oath taken when sworn in to testify in court. It defines truth: "The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth". It rules out half truths, exaggeration, and downright lies. Pursuit of the truth is foundational to our …
Posted By: Francis Koster Published: June 2, 2013
Old Ideas and New Tools Create the New Capitalism by Francis P. Koster, Ed.D. In the past few years, our once diverse and decentralized banking system has gone through dramatic change. Three out of every four dollars entrusted to banks are now held by just 6 institutions (sometimes referred to as the "too big to …
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