Latest news with #PewResearchCenter
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
I'm a Financial Expert: Here's Why You Should Take Out a Personal Loan To Further Your Education
Thinking about going back to school or picking up a new skill? Whether it's a degree, a certification or a specialized course that could level up your career, one thing's for sure: Education isn't cheap. The Pew Research Center reported that Americans owed about $1.6 trillion in student loans as of June 2024. But before you let finances hold you back, there's one option you might not have considered — taking out a personal loan. It might sound intimidating at first, but it could be a smart move to invest in your future. Read Next: Find Out: GOBankingRates spoke with Dennis Shirshikov, professor of finance at the City University of New York and head of growth and engineering at Growth Limit, to discuss the benefits of taking out a personal loan to further your education. Also see 10 key questions to ask before taking out a personal loan. Done correctly, Shirshikov said a personal loan (structured for the purpose of financing school, of course) can be one of the most underutilized but strategic moves for professional growth. That can be particularly so for workers looking to upskill in the short term or pivot their career paths. According to Indeed, many industries have some types of certifications, which can help employees earn more money. Check Out: Unlike many student loans, which are often limited to accredited institutions and traditional degree paths, personal loans offer flexibility. They can be used for coding bootcamps, certificate programs, executive education or even specialized one-on-one training that will enable you to command a higher salary or start a business. 'Consider, for example, a client of ours, a marketing analyst who was stuck on her salary who used a personal loan of $12,000 to make a UX design boot camp happen for her,' Shirshikov said. In under 10 months, the client made the leap to product design and boosted her salary by over $30,000 annually. 'And from a financial point of view, that's a return on investment that would leave any investor green with envy,' Shirshikov said. 'When you consider that the interest on the loan was under 10%, the math adds up.' This type of nontraditional education financing is particularly compelling, according to Shirshikov, because it's not bogged down by the bureaucracy and restrictions of federal education financing. Yet it still can have predictable, structured repayment terms. It's also worth noting that when you take out a personal loan for education, it doesn't typically come with a risk of collateral-backed loans, a psychological load that many borrowers can feel far more than for home equity lines or business loans. More From GOBankingRates 8 Common Mistakes Retirees Make With Their Social Security Checks This article originally appeared on I'm a Financial Expert: Here's Why You Should Take Out a Personal Loan To Further Your Education Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Miami Herald
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Support for renewables shrinks as fossil fuel interest grows
Support for renewables shrinks as fossil fuel interest grows Republicans and Democrats alike are less likely to support renewable energy than they were five years ago, according to a survey released June 5 by the Pew Research Center. Floodlight examines the survey results, which mirror growing pockets of opposition to solar farms, reignited political support for coal plants and moves by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans to kill federally funded clean energy projects. This shift in opinion dates back to when Democratic President Joe Biden took office, said Brian Kennedy, Pew senior researcher and one of the study's authors. "This isn't a new trend," he said. Still, Kenneth Gillingham, professor of environmental and energy economics at the Yale School of the Environment, was surprised. "I see this shift … as a successful effort to link climate change and renewable energy to broader culture war issues," Gillingham said. He added that in the past, "prominent" Republicans supported renewables and sought solutions to climate change, but those stances could now be seen as "disloyal" to Trump. The survey of 5,085 U.S. adults taken April 28 to May 4 revealed that while 79% of Americans favored expanding wind and solar production in 2020, that number has dropped to 60%. And 39% of Americans today support expansion of oil, coal and natural gas - almost double the 20% that supported it in 2020. Combustion of fossil fuels - in transportation, energy generation and industrial production - is the No. 1 cause of climate change. Much of the change in opinion is driven by Republicans, whose support of oil and gas grew from 35% in 2020 to 67% today. But Democrats also indicated less support for renewable energy and more for fossil fuels than five years ago. While many results reflect Trump's policies opposing most renewables and boosting fossil fuels, Pew found a few notable exceptions: 69% of all respondents favor offshore wind - a technology Trump has specifically targeted. Both Democrats and Republicans indicated stronger support for nuclear power, with Republicans' favorable opinions increasing from 53% in 2020 to 69% in 2025. Democrats' support rose from 37% to 52%. The Trump administration has signaled support for a nuclear renaissance, despite its high cost. There were wide partisan splits on several topics. In March, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it would scale back environmental regulations. Pew asked whether it was possible to do that and still protect air and water quality: 77% of Republicans said yes and 67% of Democrats said no. Pew didn't ask the respondents why their attitudes have shifted. But Kennedy said in Pew's past surveys, Republicans have expressed concern about the economic impacts of climate change policies and transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Mike Murphy, a Republican consultant and electric vehicle backer, said when the environmental benefits of clean technologies are touted, it polarizes Republicans. Instead, Murphy said messages should be about pocketbook issues - like lower fuel costs - and jobs. "It's hard for pro-climate people to understand," said Murphy, who has advised dozens of state and national GOP campaigns including John McCain's 2008 presidential bid. "(They think) we just need to shout louder and hit people over the head about climate, climate, climate. The key is you want to talk about jobs and national security and other events that naturally resonate a lot more with right-of-center people." That's what Murphy's groups, the EV Politics Project and the American EV Jobs Alliance, are trying to do to depoliticize electric vehicles. "Whenever electric cars are seen through a climate lens," Murphy said, "their appeal narrows." It's a strategy also being used by the Electrification Coalition, a left-of-center pro-EV group. Ben Prochazka, the coalition's executive director, echoed Murphy's strategy, adding that EVs have "become overly politicized and caught in the culture wars, impacting markets and ultimately hurting our ability to realize their many benefits for all Americans." Prochazka noted that once introduced to EVs, consumers support them: "EV drivers love their vehicles, with more than eight out of ten reporting that their next car will also be electric." Perhaps those practical messages are getting through. In the Pew survey, electric vehicles were the one item that saw an uptick in support - 4 percentage points in the past year. But popular support might not be enough to stop Congress from killing a $7,500 electric vehicle credit, which Murphy said would be "policy disaster." Republicans, he said, are in a "real squeeze," because "they don't have enough money for the tax cuts the president has promised." Murphy said: "It's easier for Republicans to cut Biden electric cars … than it is for them to cut more Medicaid." Gillingham is still optimistic that solar, wind and other greenhouse gas-reducing technologies will move forward - because they are the cheapest. "The continued decline in the price of renewable energy and battery technologies, as well as other new technologies, is a reason to continue to have hope that the worst impacts of climate change can be addressed," he said. Published by Canary Media, Renewable Energy World Floodlight is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates the powers stalling climate action. This story was produced by Floodlight and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. © Stacker Media, LLC.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Is Talking on the Phone Dead for Gen Z? Not Quite
Fact checked by Sarah Scott I'll tell you how old I am without telling you how old I am: When I was a teenager, you had to call someone if you wanted to talk to them. We didn't yet have texting, voice notes, or video chats. Fast forward (muffled) years later, and my kids have any number of options when it comes to communicating with friends and family. Talking on the phone is usually last on many teens' list of preferred methods. As my 14-year-old told me, calling someone is 'awkward.' She's not alone: one study from Australia found awkward phone calls are one of the top three things 42% of Gen Z wants to avoid. Instead, my teen relies on video chats or voice notes to stay in (constant) touch. Traditional phone calls may not be the cool thing to do these days, but talking is actually on the rise, according to a new report from Snapchat, a social media platform the Pew Research Center found 60% of teens use. 'It's a misconception that the phone call is dead," says Ceci Mourkogiannis, VP of Product at Snap Inc. Teens are just changing what talking on the phone looks like—and there are benefits to that too. The Snapchat report, released in June 2025, says it's actually a myth that young people aren't talking on the phone. According to the data: Snapchatters, made up of Gen Z and Millennials, collectively talk for more than 1.7 billion minutes on average every day. That's 30% more than this time last year. Voice notes are a very popular way for young people to communicate. Snapchatters in the U.S. sent over 2.5 billion voice notes in the first three months of 2025 alone. That's over 650 million more voice notes than a year ago! It's important to note that, according to Snap, the data around talking includes both video and voice chats. Mourkogiannis explains meaningful connection happens when people communicate in the way that feels most natural to them—be that sending a Snap, recording a voice note, or hopping on the phone. 'We're thrilled to see our community is actually talking more than ever before,' she adds. Meanwhile, Alisha Simpson-Watt, LCSW, BCBA, LBA, the founder of Collaborative ABA Services, LLC, says she has noticed teens gravitating toward video chats and voice notes, and texting going by the wayside. 'For some, it is easier to communicate their thoughts and feelings by speaking,' Simpson-Watt explains. 'Also, voice memos add a layer of personalization to the message because it is like you're having a real-time conversation, except that you can answer when the time is more suitable.' Plus, video chats and voice notes can offer a stronger sense of connection helping to reduce feelings of loneliness which is on the rise, particularly among younger generations."Voice memos add a layer of personalization to the message because it is like you're having a real-time conversation, except that you can answer when the time is more suitable."Of course, communication is generally regarded as a positive thing. But do our kids stand to lose anything if they aren't engaging in good old-fashioned phone conversations? Simpson-Watt acknowledges that our modern world necessitates increasing reliance on technology, but points to the possibility that the lack of 'real' interaction may be feeding teens' social anxieties. 'Younger people tend to prefer to talk with people face-to-face on the phone rather than in person,' she says. Furthermore, Simpson-Watt has noticed that younger people can be more avoidant about making simple phone calls. 'For example, younger kids may be more hesitant to call and make their own doctor appointments, as it is more nerve-wracking since they don't personally know the person they are speaking to,' she elaborates. Teens excel at sending voice notes, setting up a video chat with multiple people, and ordering just about anything via app. But I can't be alone in wanting my adolescents to still be able to thrive offline in an authentic way, and without breaking into a cold sweat. According to Simpson-Watt, encouraging kids to incorporate phone and in-person conversations into their lives is key. 'Communicating with others, whether it is on the phone or in real life, is very important even with all the technology we have today, as communication allows us to bond and connect with others more personally,' she advises. Other benefits of communicating without the help of technology include: Sharpening listening skills Picking up social cues that may not come through via text or voice note Limiting screen time So, while video calls and voice memos are fun and trendy, encouraging our kids to engage in traditional calls and more in-person socializing as often as possible can go a long way. Read the original article on Parents
India.com
9 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
These five nations impose severe restrictions on their Muslim population due to...; not India, US, UK, Germany, the names are...
Representational Image/AI-generated. Islam is currently fastest growing religion in the world and the global Muslim population is increasing at a rapid pace, which is estimated to hit 3 billion mark by the year 2060, according to a study by the Pew Research Center. The majority of Muslim population is concentrated in Muslim-majority nations, (India is the exception here), with Indonesia topping the list followed by Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, in addition to the Middle East and North Africa. However, a large number of Muslims also live in non-Muslim countries, and there a few countries where Muslims face severe religious discrimination due to a multitude of factors, including but not limited to racial features, culture, and religious practices. Here are five nations which impose harsh restrictions on their Muslim population, even as some of them are touted as 'liberal democracies'. France : While France touts itself as a 'liberal democracy' where all religions, races, and ethnicities are treated equally, the French authorities impose severe restrictions on Muslims, including prohibition on wearing Hijab in schools and government institutions, citing secular laws, and a complete ban on the display of religious symbols in public spaces. : While France touts itself as a 'liberal democracy' where all religions, races, and ethnicities are treated equally, the French authorities impose severe restrictions on Muslims, including prohibition on wearing Hijab in schools and government institutions, citing secular laws, and a complete ban on the display of religious symbols in public spaces. China : The all-weather 'Iron brother' of Muslim-majority Pakistan, China has committed untold atrocities upon the Uighur Muslims, an ethno-religious minority native to the Xinjiang region. According to human rights groups, Uighur are banned from performing any religious activities, and often imprisoned in forced re-education detention camps. : The all-weather 'Iron brother' of Muslim-majority Pakistan, China has committed untold atrocities upon the Uighur Muslims, an ethno-religious minority native to the Xinjiang region. According to human rights groups, Uighur are banned from performing any religious activities, and often imprisoned in forced re-education detention camps. Russia : Russia, an ally of China, is also harsh on its Muslim population, especially in Chechnya and other Muslim-majority areas, where religious places are monitored, number of mosques is restricted, and Muslims are often are labelled as extremists for keeping long beards or wearing skull caps. : Russia, an ally of China, is also harsh on its Muslim population, especially in Chechnya and other Muslim-majority areas, where religious places are monitored, number of mosques is restricted, and Muslims are often are labelled as extremists for keeping long beards or wearing skull caps. Denmark : Another 'liberal democracy', Denmark has banned burqa and niqab in public places. Additionally, many of its far-right leaders often spew venom against Islam, isolating the country's Muslim population. : Another 'liberal democracy', Denmark has banned burqa and niqab in public places. Additionally, many of its far-right leaders often spew venom against Islam, isolating the country's Muslim population. Myanmar: Last but not the least, Myanmar's military junta has carried out a horrific genocide of the ethnic Rohingya Muslims, killing hundreds of thousands, forcing millions out of the country and seek refuge in nearby nations, including India. The United Nations has called the violence perpetrated against Rohingyas as ethnic cleansing. Why nations impose restriction on Muslims? Muslims, due to their distinctive culture and religious practices, are often vilified as the 'other' or portrayed as a 'threat' by political parties/outfits, in order to gain votes or support from the majority, especially in democracies. Terrorists attacks are often used by the international media to vilify Muslims as they make attempts to blame the whole community and religion for the barbaric acts committed by a few. Additionally, far-right groups in several countries have inculcated an irrational fear among the local populace that Muslim culture will 'erase' theirs in the long run, which has led to a rise in Islamophobia in these regions.
Business Insider
15 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Meet America's typical live-at-home 20-somethings
In 2023, around 40% of younger Americans lived with their parents. Living with mom and dad is a popular safety net for Gen Zers who face steep housing costs, expensive higher education, and a shaky job market. "If you have the luxury of being able to move back home and pay less for rent, groceries, and other basic bills and put some money away in an emergency fund or towards other big financial goals, it can be a really big deal," Matt Schulz, chief consumer finance analyst at LendingTree, told Business Insider. BI examined the demographics of America's live-at-home young adults — the 42% of 18- to 30-year-olds who lived with at least one parent — using the 2023 American Community Survey, available from the University of Minnesota's Integrated Public Use Microdata Series. So, who made up that 42%? The charts below show the young adults who were more likely to be living at home. A majority of young adults living with at least one parent were men Over half of young adults living with at least one parent were men, while just under half of young adults not living with a parent were men. There's also a cultural element to multigenerational living. Pew Research Center found Black, Hispanic, and Asian young adults in the US were more likely than white young adults to live with their parents. Young adults living with at least one parent were more likely not to be in school The share of young adults living with at least one parent in the household who were in school was about double that of those living on their own — 39% compared to 20%. They're less likely to have a college degree Fourteen percent of young adults with at least one parent in the household had a bachelor's degree as their highest educational attainment, compared to 27% of those without a parent. Single young adults were more likely to live with at least one parent More young adults without a parent in the household were married than those living with at least one parent. Nearly all young adults living with at least one parent were never married or single, at 96%. They're not stay-at-home kids; they're more likely to be working than not Almost two-thirds of young adults with at least one parent in the household were employed, compared to 82% of young adults without a parent in the household. The share of young adults living at home who were out of the labor force — that is, neither employed nor looking for work — was nearly double that of those living on their own. While many were employed, they weren't earning as much as those not living with a parent On average, employed young adults with at least one parent in the household weren't working as many hours or making as much money as their peers who didn't have a parent in the household. According to Pew Research Center researcher Richard Fry, who authored a recent report on where in the country younger Americans live with their parents, young people are more likely to live with their parents when jobs are hard to come by and wages are stagnant. Pew previously found the share of people living in multigenerational households surged during the Great Recession and continued rising afterward. Living at home can also mean being disconnected from work and school There are those who choose to live at home for family connection and financial convenience, and there are others who don't have a choice. So-called disconnected youth who aren't employed or in school made up about 11% of the 16 to 24 age group in 2022, per a 2024 report from the research firm Measure of America. This cohort was more likely than their peers to live in poverty, lack health insurance, and receive government aid. Minorities and young people of color have higher rates of disconnection. "These are creative young people who, for a whole host of reasons, haven't had the opportunities or the support they've needed to explore what they want to do and figure out how to transition to adulthood in a way that's exciting for them," said Megan Millenky, a senior research associate at MRDC who studies youth development.
