Resource abundance can bring short-term wealth (Dutch disease, resource curse), but long-term prosperity depends more on institutions, education, innovation, open markets, and effective governance.Many resource-poor countries (Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Switzerland) achieved high income through human capital and systems, while some resource-rich nations (Venezuela, Nigeria) remain trapped in poverty due to poor institutions.Conclusion: Resources are a bonus, not destiny. Good institutions + human capital > resource endowment.Relevant sources: https://www.nber.org/papers/w13983 https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2010/03/bornhorst.htm https://ourworldindata.org/resource-curse
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Humanistic education significantly enhances individual judgment by cultivating critical thinking, empathy, and contextual understanding rather than rote knowledge.It trains people to:Question assumptions Weigh multiple perspectives Recognize nuance and complexity Distinguish between fact, opinion, and propaganda Make decisions based on values and long-term consequences Studies and educational outcomes consistently show that individuals with strong humanities exposure demonstrate better analytical depth, ethical reasoning, and resistance to simplistic or extremist narratives.In an age of information overload and polarization, humanistic education remains one of the most effective tools for developing independent, mature judgment.Related websites: https://www.aacu.org/trending-topics/humanities https://hepg.org/her-home/issues/harvard-educational-review-volume-89-issue-3/herarticle/the-humanities-in-american-life https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2023/04/17/humanities-still-matter-critical-thinking-opinion
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Lifestyle diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity, reflect deep social structural issues including socioeconomic inequality, poverty, and unequal access to resources. These conditions often cluster in lower-income groups due to limited access to healthy food, safe spaces for exercise, education, and healthcare. Commercial determinants like aggressive marketing of ultra-processed foods exacerbate risks, while urbanization and poor working conditions promote sedentary behaviors and stress. Framing them solely as individual "lifestyle choices" ignores how social structures—class, environment, and policy—shape daily options and health outcomes.https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-determinants-of-health https://globalizationandhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12992-023-00914-z https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5328595/ https://www.healthpolicypartnership.com/time-to-drop-lifestyle-out-of-health-policy/
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