Category Archives: Topics

World Supply of Biggest Crops Decline and Food Prices Rise

The worst drought in fifty years has caused a decline in the stockpiles of crops such as corn, soybeans, rice and wheat, with the subsequent all-time increase in the prices of corn and soybeans. Good news for commodities investors.

The drought has also affected fuel and power production which, in turn, have a negative effect on food prices. Read more…

Unfavourable weather behind the July rebound of the FAO Food Price Index – FAO Food Price Index [Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations]
America’s disastrous corn harvest will hit world’s poor hardest [The Guardian]
World food prices rising in response to drought damage in the US – Ole Hansen [TradingFloor.com]
Global food reserves falling as drought wilts crops – Tony C. Dreibus and Elizabeth Campbell, Bloomberg [Futures Magazine]
USDA slashes corn yield, production forecast – Bill Tomson [Market Watch]

Income Inequality as Seen from Space

Have you noticed that wealthier neighborhoods have many more trees and vegetation than poorer ones? Tim De Chant set out to prove this observation by collecting satellite images of cities around the World. Check out the collection he put together in his blog post.

Animated Map Visualizations

You can now explore 11 years worth of changes in the demographic characteristics of all U.S. counties through our animated map visualizations. Try the following indicators:

The Role of Airports During Pandemics

A new study shows how air travel plays a role in the spread of contagious diseases. Airports in New York, Honolulu, and Los Angeles are likely to be the most influential in terms of contagion.

Is the airport in your hometown likely to play a role in the next global pandemic outbreak?

The Rise of Residential Segregation by Income

A new report by the Pew Research Center shows that residential segregation by income in the U.S. has increased during the past 30 years in 27 of the 30 largest major metropolitan areas. Check the report to find out details about your city. You can also click on the map above to see visualizations of income segregation for the largest metropolitan areas, e.g. New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston.

Electric Power Transmission and Distribution Losses in India

India loses about a quarter of its electrical power output due to problems in its transmission and distribution infrastructure. It is one of the worst loss rates in the world, although it pales in comparison to Botswana, where almost 80% of power output is lost.

Electrical Outages Around the World

India is not the only country where businesses suffer significant losses due to power failures. Nepalese firms report that they lose an astonishing 27% of annual sales due to electrical outages. Check our Value lost due to electrical outages indicator for more details.

The U.S. Drought and its Consequences on Food Prices

Updated U.S. Drought Map (U.S. Drought Portal)
Food inflation may rise to 3% to 4% in 2013 after drought – Alan Bjerga, Bloomberg (Futures Magazine)
Farmers may gain amid drought with U.S.-backed insurance – Mark Drajem and Alan Bjerga, Bloomberg (Futures Magazine)

Global Corruption Barometer

Transparency International conducts an annual cross-country survey where they collect the general public’s view on, and experiences of, corruption. How did your country fare in the latest survey? Do you agree with the results?

Failed States Index

Do you live in a failed state? Check the 2012 failed states index to find out.

IndexMundi Blog

Country profiles in depth