Ways of the World "Briefs"

A Follow-Up on the Economic Mobility Article

We gave last week's article on income mobility a descriptive title: ". . . Steady Through Time, But Different by City".  Perhaps we should have said it differently: "Economic Mobility Is a Social Issue".  Our friend and faithful reader Carolyn cut to the chase for us in a concise comment: "some of the conclusions are great: keep kids in school, help them get work, keep commutes short, and encourage people to have a life in their church's community.  How terrific that such basics work so well!"  There you have it.  In cities where those practices and features are active, people move up in the world more easily.

The inclusion of religion as a "significant" input into the analysis we discuss in the article worked its way into my own psyche, and last Sunday at church, I found myself marveling during the service over the added meaning it was all having for me.  Much of the time, I see my role here at Ways of the World as trying to explain and illuminate how economics and business impact people in the church.  But in this instance, the causation is going the other way around:  churches – and synagogues and other religious institutions – are seen as playing an active role in the economy by facilitating people's community interactions.  This holds a positive and favorable role in people's economic well-being as well as their spiritual and psychic well-being.  What do you know?

Documents You Need for Late Medical Care and Estate Planning

Debbie Loeb over at the Geranium Farm's Hodgepodge page has posted a wonderful graphic on the kinds of important personal documents we all need to compile and file neatly away for our families.  When we might be seriously ill or actually on the verge of passing away, our families need to know how to handle our affairs.  The documents would be stored in a specific file-drawer or box and include such things as marriage certificates, birth certificates, living wills, powers of attorney, a will itself and so on.  Go see the "file-drawer" graphic, and if you don't have such a collection, start to put one together.  This is a great exercise for Lent.  And goes right along with – ahem – doing our annual tax return exercise.