Middle East tensions top global trend for 2014
The top score (on a 1-to-5 scale) in a World Economic Forum survey of globally significant trends was "rising Middle East tensions."
Drew DeSilver
Publications
Most young Americans say Snowden has served the public interest
Young adults are significantly more likely to support Edward Snowden and his leaking of classified details of government surveillance programs.
Overall book readership stable, but e-books becoming more popular
The typical U.S. adult read five books in the past 12 months.
Chart of the Week: Many in the Americas say high joblessness can justify a coup
Significant minorities in several nations of the Americas say high unemployment would justify a military takeover of their country's government.
In most states, jobless benefits capped at 26 weeks
Number of states where the maximum duration of unemployment benefits is 26 weeks.
College enrollment among low-income students still trails richer groups
Higher education long has been seen as one of the best ways out of poverty, but connecting low-income students — even the high-achieving ones who presumably are best prepared for college-level work — with colleges and universities remains a challenge. On Thursday, President Obama is expected to meet with more than 100 college presidents at […]
As Congress debates extending benefits, high long-term unemployment persists
The median number of weeks without work among unemployed Americans (as of December).
Who’s poor in America? 50 years into the ‘War on Poverty,’ a data portrait
The War on Poverty was arguably the most ambitious domestic policy initiative since the Great Depression. But the overall effectiveness of the War on Poverty remains hotly debated.
Chart of the Week: Where the smokers are
A new data visualization lets you pinpoint where smoking is most and least common around the world.
5 facts about economic inequality in 2014
With issues of economic inequality becoming more prominent, a "5 Facts" primer.
