Birthrate Impacts Economy: The birthrate in the US has been falling for decades, leaving many to wonder where it will stop. “The total fertility rate — the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime — now sits at 1.64 children per woman in the U.S. Not only is this the lowest rate recorded since the government began tracking these stats in the 1930s, but it’s well below the so-called “replacement-level fertility” of about 2.1.”  Five Thirty Eight dives into the economic and social repercussions of this rate continuing to fall.  They also offer simple solutions, such as paid parental leave, which would encourage the fertility rate to increase by covering part of the financial burden.

Delivery Apps Profit: At the beginning of the pandemic, many commercials were advertising different food delivery apps.  With the click of a button, you can order food from your favorite restaurant with no human contact.  This seemed like a win-win situation; you were able to financially support your favorite restaurant while staying safe and healthy inside.  The Globe and Mail covers the repercussions of delivery apps now that the world is opening back up.  “Food-delivery apps were forced to implement lower fees when dine-in service was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and restaurants say the change should be made permanent if they are to recover from the crisis.” In an attempt to recover from the pandemic, food delivery apps are now taking as much as 30 percent of ordering costs.  It is now a war between delivery apps, restaurants and government regulations to determine how both businesses will stay afloat in a post pandemic world.

Predicting Meme Stock: Feeling left out of the Game Stock rollercoaster? Missed out on AMC’s stock resurgence? Bloomberg dives into how to tell what the next meme stock will be by observing the similarities of past stocks and determining which current stocks have those same qualifications.  “While there’s no steadfast definition of what constitutes a meme stock, one common thread across the many names being pitched on social media is a focus on heavily shorted companies.”

New Crimes in the Digital Age: Although the digital age has given rise to tech solutions to help prevent crime, it’s also paved the way for new, unanticipated crime.  The New York Times explores the world of digital crime as ransomware becomes popular among cryptocurrency, and what it means for the future.