9 States Running Out of Water
ThinkstockFor many states, the rainy season is over, and most of the Western United States is now locked into a fourth consecutive year of drought. The imminent dry summer is particularly foreboding for California,…
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Thomas Frohlich
Countries That Hate America the Most
In 2014, 45% of the population across the 135 countries reviewed approved of the United States, roughly unchanged from the year before. Of major global powers, the United States received the highest median approval…
Countries Spending the Most on War
Global military spending was down slightly in 2014 from the year before. Based on nominal military expenditure figures, these are the 10 countries with the largest military budgets.
The Most Democratic County in Each State
With the 2016 presidential primaries less than 12 months away, campaign season is well under way for candidates of both parties. In the last election, President Barack Obama won with about 51% of the…
The States With the Most Deadly Accidents
ThinkstockThere were 130,557 accidental deaths in the United States in 2013. Some types of accidental deaths are more common than others. Drug poisonings and motor vehicle accidents were the two leading causes of unintentional…
12 States That Kill the Most Animals
The United States consumes the most meat per capita of any nation in the world. As of 2009, Americans consumed an average of 265 pounds of meat per person annually, dwarfing the global average…
States Using the Most Mind-Altering Drugs
ThinkstockWhile about 19% of Americans use drugs to relax almost every day, a nation-leading 28% of West Virginians report near-daily drug use. The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, which measures a range of metrics to determine…
States With the Highest (and Lowest) Taxes
During the 2011 tax season Americans paid an average of 9.8% of their income in state and local taxes — on top of taxes collected by the federal government. This is part of the…
10 Cars Americans Don’t Want to Buy
The American auto industry was pummeled during the recession. Since then, car sales have recovered gradually. More than 1.5 million cars and light trucks were sold in March, up slightly from a year ago.…
The Happiest (and Most Miserable) Cities in America
ThinkstockWell-being captures the happiness of individuals. Not only are happier workers often more productive, but a healthy economy can also improve the well-being of an area’s residents. The measurement of well-being is both complex…
The Healthiest (and Least Healthy) Countries in the World
World Health Day is on April 7, and people around the globe are turning their attention to health issues. The global infant mortality rate of 33.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2013 has…
America’s Highest Paying Companies
The median income for all Americans was $35,540 in 2013, up slightly from the year before. At a number of U.S. companies, salaries are considerably higher. Based on figures provided by Glassdoor, 24/7 Wall…
America’s Fastest Shrinking Cities
The U.S. population rose by just 0.75% in 2014, roughly flat from previous years and the lowest growth rate in more than 70 years. Not only has the country become less attractive to immigrants…
America’s Fastest Growing Cities
The U.S. population rose by just 0.75% in 2014, roughly flat from previous years and the lowest growth rate in more than 70 years. Not only has the country become less attractive to immigrants…
Eight Housing Markets With the Longest Road to Recovery
ThinkstockLocation, location, location, it is said, are key to succeeding in real estate. While the value of a single family home nationally may — at the current pace — be about 2.5 years away…
The Most Iconic Job in Each State
Whether it is a gaming supervisor in Nevada, a farm worker in California, an extraction worker in North Dakota, or a petroleum engineer in Texas, one occupation is often more strongly associated with a…
The Worst Product Flops of All Time
The larger the company, the greater its capacity for taking risks. While pouring millions of dollars into market research and advertising campaigns can lead to tremendous successes, such ventures can also be a formula…
States Volunteering the Most (and Least)
Nearly 63 million Americans volunteered a total of roughly 7.7 billion hours in 2013, a contribution estimated to be worth approximately $173 billion. Despite the economic and community benefits of volunteering, the percentage of…
The Largest Employer in Each State
iStock / Getty ImagesIt is essential for a state’s economy to have a diverse array of companies. Still, the impact each of the companies has on a state’s economy varies considerably. In each state,…
Companies Profiting the Most From War
Worldwide military expenditure shrunk in 2013 for the second consecutive year, falling by 1.9% to $1.75 trillion. The 100 largest arms-producers sold a combined $402 billion worth of arms and military services in 2013, also down…