Peering Into 2025: Top Ten Economic Insights

According to the S&P Global Market Intelligence Report, the focus of 2025 is mostly on the post-election policy shifts in the U.S. and their economic implications.

The top 10 Economic Insights are:

1. U.S. Economic Outlook.

2. China's Economic Growth.

3. Western Europe Conditions.

4. Emerging Economies Growth. 

5. Divergent National Inflation Dynamics.

6. Core Inflation Trends.

7. Commodity Price Trends.

8. Global Financial Conditions.

9. U.S. Dollar Strength.

10. Fiscal Deficits and Debt Concerns.

Source: West Central Tribune. Internet.

Source: Internet.

Which Countries Publish the Most Books?

And You? What are you reading today?

I am trying to finish reading the ebook The Condor Trilogy (7,000+ pages) before 2024 end (sigh, currently on page 39). NO. NO. Binge-watching the drama series is not the same!

Source: Voronoi. Internet.

Bitcoin Mining’s Carbon Footprint

Each bitcoin transaction generates carbon emissions roughly equivalent to driving a gasoline-powered car between 1,600 and 2,600 kilometres.

The proof of work (PoW) process of bitcoin mining consumes an estimated amount of 63 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity annually, roughly the same as the annual energy consumption of Poland.

Possible solutions? 1. Improve data centre efficiency; 2. Use renewable energy; 3. Advancing cloud computing. Read the full article here.

Source: Chris Wildt via CartoonStock. 

Mixue's Bubble Tea Empire

 Mixue, a Chinese brand, has emerged as a formidable contender in the bubble tea market. Its has over 20,000 stores in China and a rapidly growing presence in Southeast Asia, with more than 3,000 stores in South East Asia.

Source: Internet.

2025: Last Hajj in Summer Season

According to the Saudi National Meteorological Center, 2025 Hajj will be the last Hajj in the summer season. Hajj in the summer season has lasted for 16 years.

Beginning 2026, the Hajj season will enter the spring season, which will last for eight consecutive years. The next 8 years would be the winter season for the Hajj pilgrimage. 

The Mina Valley

Top 10 Largest Economy 2025

According to FocusEconomics, the top 10 largest economies in 2025 (graph below), five will be in Europe, three in Asia and two in the Americas. 

What do you think of the Economist's pick of the "country that is the most improved of the year" (2024)?

Sources: Internet.

Trump 2.0

According to this article, a Trump 2.0 administration would preach "economic nationalism" via trade protectionism (tariffs), de-regulation of the digital finance and AI sectors,  support for the traditional fossil fuel energy producers, and boost crypto-industry.

Source: Internet.

Togo

A heart-warming family-oriented movie to watch during Christmas holiday, with lots of snow and spectacular visual. It is a historical drama based on a true story. The trailer below (2.20 min). 

The film centers on Leonhard Seppala and his sled dog in the 1925 serum run to Nome, Alaska to transport diphtheria antitoxin serum through harsh conditions. The movie was released in December 2019, with $40 million budget.

Source: Internet.

Source: Internet

Economics of Natural Disasters

Global economic damage from natural disasters, differentiated by disaster category and measured in US$ per year. Data are sourced from OurWorld in Data. Further readings here. 

Source: Internet

Gold Prices Beyond 2024

According to J.P.Morgan, prices of gold will remain high in the near future, driven by factors such as  geopolitical risks, expectations the Fed's lowering rates and central bank buying. The forecast is an average price of $2,600/oz in 2025.

Source: Internet.

Diksi Bertingkah Makna Berubah

Come across this article (in Malay). Becoming a poet is no easy feat, one can learn to write poetry with a careful attention to language.

Source: Internet

Source: Internet

One Drawing A Day

Ryan Todd’s 365 days of doodles drawings delivers a collection of inventions using visual thinking.  He draws in a simple, black and white drawing.  According to him, the visual is  a form of "social commentary." Full article here.

Source: Ryan Todd, 2024. Internet.

The Economics of Hajj

From a financial perspective too, the Hajj is extremely important. The religious event generates an estimated $12 billion per year for Saudi Arabia. (Internet, 14 June 2024)

Brutalist Architecture

Brutalist Architecture is a style that emerged in the 1950s and 1960s, characterized by its rough, raw, and monolithic forms made of raw concrete materials. It is a style that emphasizes function over form and is often inspired by functionalism, the Bauhaus movement, and Constructivism. Brutalist buildings often feature large, block-like shapes with minimal ornamentation and a focus on the materiality and texture of concrete. The style was popular in the design of government buildings, public housing, and cultural institutions and is often associated with a sense of rugged, industrial strength, and urbanity (Arch Eyes | Timeless Architecture).

This article lists 10 most iconic brutalist buildings.

What do people say about brutalist buildings? 'It frames nature against the harsh concrete' (Anonymous). Another said: 'It is a dark side to minimalism.'

The Salk Institute, Image from Internet.

If you have time, watch the movie 'The Brutalist' released in 2024. 

Source: Internet.

The Silver Economy: 65 is the New 54

Growing young as you get old. Is it possible?

Everyone above the age of 50 belongs to Silver Economy. The silver economy is a concept that describes the economic opportunities that arise from an aging population. It includes all those economic activities, products and services designed to meet the needs of people over 50.

Geographically, the silver economy will move from the OECD economies to Asia, according to this article.

The chart below shows the top 10 silver economy market in 2030, dominated by the USA and China.

Source: Katharina Fenz

Source: Pinterest

Award Winning Poverty Reduction Photos

The photos in this article demonstrate the achievements of Jilin Province, China in various poverty reduction and development activities in 2020. 

The first picture is the first prize photo. The 'She Power.'   

Photo: Fei Jiwei. Internet.

Photo: Chang Jianru. Internet.

South Korean Novelist Han Kang - 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature

More than one million copies of Han Kang's books have been sold in South Korea since the announcement of her Nobel Prize for Literature win. All within six-days. Hence the Han Kang effect. That is what a good literature can do.

She is best known for her first novel translated into English  "The Vegetarian." The book won the 2016 Man Booker International Prize for non-fiction. Here is an extract from the book Vegetarian. 

I am currently reading her book -  'Human Act.'  

For those interested, below is the 5-minute book review of the 'Human Act.'

Image source: Internet.

Video source: Internet.

To the Wonder, 2024

'To the Wonder' is the new Chinese drama series released in 2024. It is based on Chinese writer's Li Juan. A drama about Kazakh people living in China. As said by one reviewer (14 minutes video), it is 'short, pretty and exotic.'  Only 8-episodes mini-series. 

If you like Norman MacLean's 'A River Runs Through It' and Taylor Sheridan's 'Yellowstone,'  then you you will like 'To the Wonder' as well.

Stunning scenery and cinematography. A non-fiction docudrama. Some of Li Juan's short stories are available in Internet.

     

Image source: Internet