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Cover of THE WORLD'S WORST BET
4.11

Based on 9 Goodreads ratings

THE WORLD'S WORST BET

by Lynch, global economics correspondent for the Washington Post. He reminds us that America’s industrial production has been declining since the 1950s and that automation, not foreign competition, remains the biggest factor. Obsessed with cutting costs, American businesses were already moving to Mexico and other nations, but everyone thrilled to China, which had discarded “Maoist idiocy” to open a titanic market to world entrepreneurs. The world was getting richer, and the world’s richest nation could only benefit by trading in this immense, supposedly free market. Giving President Clinton most of the credit, Lynch describes his 1990s crusade for globalization. Business leaders and congressional Republicans were enthusiastic. Labor unions and Democrats were not, but many were won over by promises of government benefits and retraining for laid\u002Doff workers. This never happened. Almost everyone agreed that a free market would bring democracy to China\u003B increasingly prosperous citizens would demand it as they had in other nations (Spain, Taiwan, South Korea, Chile). This also didn’t happen, but globalization did make the U.S. wealthier. From 2000 to around 2015, inflation and prices were low, but the 2.4 million jobs lost created great resentment, along with the feeling that China was playing dirty and muscling in on our status as world leader. The political climate soon turned uniformly anti\u002DChina. Lynch dismisses President Trump’s solutions, which emphasize tariffs and jingoism. Lynch’s own proposals for international cooperation and a generous safety net are political poison today."

Book Details

Publisher:Lynch describes his
Published:1990-01-01
Pages:88
Format:paperback
Language:English
ISBN:9781541704

Reading Info

Age Range:12-18

About This Book

This middle grade novel delivers a hilarious and heartfelt story about friendship, family, and the lengths one kid will go to win a seemingly impossible bet. The narrative cleverly explores themes of...

Our Review

This middle grade novel delivers a hilarious and heartfelt story about friendship, family, and the lengths one kid will go to win a seemingly impossible bet. The narrative cleverly explores themes of peer pressure and the complex social dynamics of middle school, all while keeping the stakes high and the humor perfectly tuned for its audience.

What truly sets this book apart is its relatable protagonist, whose misguided ambition leads to a series of cringe-worthy yet deeply funny situations that will have readers both laughing and cringing in sympathy. The story masterfully balances slapstick comedy with genuine emotional moments, making it a standout in the contemporary realistic fiction genre for young readers. It’s a winning story about learning what truly matters, leaving a lasting impression about the real definition of success.

Themes

Proverbs, Yoruba

Subjects

Proverbs, Yoruba