First posted at Journalism, Journalists and the World.

Just catching up on some stuff.

One of my favorite annual surveys is the Economists’ Big Mac Index. (My other favorite is the Durex Global Sex Survey, although they are a couple of years late in doing their latest one.)

The Big Mac Index looks at whether a currency is over or under valued. Here is the Economist explanation:

The index is a lighthearted attempt to gauge how far currencies are from their fair value. It is based on the theory of purchasing-power parity (PPP), which argues that in the long run exchange rates should move to equalise the price of an identical basket of goods between two countries. Our basket consists of a single item, a Big Mac hamburger, produced in nearly 120 countries. The fair-value benchmark is the exchange rate that leaves burgers costing the same in America as elsewhere.

Burgernomics: The latest Big Mac index suggests the euro is still overvalued

What the survey showed is what I have been saying for a couple of years: In Brazil you spend a lot of money for mediocre food. Brazil is the third most expensive place in the world for a Big Mac.

While this is a “lighthearted attempt” at looking at a complicated issue — currency values — it is an easy to understand index that can help people understand the issue.

Using the Big Mac Index reporters can help explain why getting China to float its currency is important. Or how trade is affected by differences in currency values.

After all, the price of a Big Mac is something everyone in the States understands. Even journalists.

First posted at Journalism, Journalists and The World

Interesting look by Pew at the digital divide between U.S.-born Latinos and their foreign-born counterparts. Seems the U.S. born are more likely to have regular Internet access.

The Latino Digital Divide: The Native Born Versus The Foreign Born

What does this mean? Think about it. Access to the Internet means better access to jobs and education. That means people who have Internet access have a leg up in improving their lives.

Looking at these national numbers got me thinking that there are probably loads of local stories that can be developed along these lines. Do these numbers translate to local areas? How about other ethnic groups?

Maybe stories could even be written about comparisons between Internet access in the immigrants’ home countries and the States.

The report does not break down how Latinos in the Northeast might be different from those in the South or Northwest. But by using some numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau and some shoe leather a local reporter could come up with a story about the differences within the ethnic communities.

And, as mentioned above, access to the Internet can often mean access to a better life. And having more people improving their lives has a long-term effect on taxes, schools and other social issues.

First posted at Journalism, Journalists and the World.

NPR had a fun piece today about how the United States is now a spicier nation.

U.S. Is A Spicier Nation (Literally) Since 1970s

I am glad to see that seasoning other than salt is making its way into the US kitchen. (Much healthier.) And I am glad to see the internationalization of cooking. (I still remember 25+ years ago when pita was introduced into Air Force One and the uproar it caused.)

But let’s look at why different spices are now selling so well in the States.

When I taught a feature writing class at George Mason University I gave my students an assignment to find connections in everyday student life and the world. (Use of the Internet and interviewing foreign/exchange students did not count.) In a brainstorming session about what those possible links might be I suggested the food court.

The impact of foreign students on the school meant the restaurants had to adjust. So there was Arabic food and Hispanic food. There were places that offered food under the rules of halal and kashrut.

And now NPR tells us

The consumption of spices in the United States has grown almost three times as fast as the population over the past several decades. Much of that growth is attributed to the changing demographics of America.

So here is the entry to a whole series of LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL articles that include an international perspective.

A local reporter could look at the sales of spices in his/her area. Then figure out what ethnic group is most closely tied to those spices. Then he/she could look at the local growth of that ethnic group in the area.

Finding out the how and why these immigrants came to the United States and to that local area could provide the fodder for a whole series of local profile stories.

Getting the basic information is easy. Just go to the Census Bureau.

For example, in just 30 seconds I found that 10.4 percent of the Southern United States is foreign-born.

Digging a little deeper — another 30 seconds — I found that 10 percent of Virginia’s population is foreign-born.

And just a little deeper I learn that 27.7 percent of the Fairfax County population is foreign-born, with 50.7 percent of that group from Asia and 30 percent from Latin America. (Could that be why there are so many Asian grocery stores in Fairfax County?)

And the foreign-born population in Arlington County comes to 24 percent, with 30 percent from Asia and 44 percent from Latin America. (Could that be why there are more Latin American restaurants and stores in Arlington than in Fairfax?)

And let’s not forget how those differences also play out in issues other than spices and restaurants. Think about taxes, education and other social and political issues.

The mantra of LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL these days should include more stories that involve international aspects. It just takes an enterprising reporter to dig out the stories.

Maybe we could get a few student journalists and j-profs to submit material to this project to see if we can get what we do and why included.

Life In A Day: July 24

Cross posted with Journalism, Journalists and the World

The censorship squad in Beijing has got to be going crazy right now.

The European Community made the case earlier this year that censorship is a trade barrier. That means governments that engage in censorship of the Internet are in violation of trade agreements from simple bilateral accords to the whopper World Trade Organization.

Countries like China fought to get into the WTO to ease their sales into other trading countries. At the time, China said it was willing and ready to play by the rules of the rest of the world.

Of course, they only meant the “build cheap, sell expensive” and “Buy from me but I don’t have to buy form you” rules. Nobody mentioned anything about opening up access to information.

It was inevitable, however. Free and fair trade can only exist when there is also free exchange of information and data. The Chinese government understands that somewhat. They loosened some controls over foreign media access to China. More Western — non-Chinese government — publications are available to more Chinese people. And even some Chinese pubications are able to report more freely about economic and business issues. (But not social or political ones.)

But the Old Guard continues to hold enough power in the government to keep trying to control Internet access in China. But there has been push-back they never expected.

• The government failed to force all computers in China to install the stolen software Green Dam.
• Google refused to play ball by self-censoring information through its web site
• Hackers who provide ways around the Great Chinese Firewall are treated like rock stars by computer users.

And now trade, the lifeblood of economic well-being in China is under attack.

Basically the Europeans have told China: “Censor the Internet and we will file unfair trade practices against you.”

And now the U.S. has joined in. And Google is helping. (Google helps build trade case over Web censorship)

The usually boring trade issue stories now have GEEK APPEAL. It would be nice to see if some U.S. reporters — national and local — pick up on this technology and trade issue.

• How is censorship unfair trade?
• What does it mean for U.S. and local businesses?
• How has the Internet made getting cheaper goods easier? Harder?
• How has the Internet affected how people do business with suppliers from around the globe?

Just a few questions. Let’s see if anyone asks them.