Fascinating World Media

As a wildlife photographer, N. Hayakawa has spent nearly two decades following land and sea animals across Japan, hoping to capture images of them in their natural habitats. Of all the animals they’ve filmed, a group of orcas gave them the shock of their career last year when the school of whales revealed one unusual member. “This is the first time I’ve encountered a white orca after 15 years of photographing orcas in Rausu (Hokkaido, Japan),” Hayakawa wrote on X.

Christopher Columbus is famous for his 1492 trip to the Americas, and while many would expect him to be a seasoned or accurate cartographer, he was quite far off. The map above illustrates what he thought the world looked like. Columbus’ primary goal was to reach India (and more broadly East Asia, including places like Cipangu, or Japan), and given his lack of knowledge about the Americas, he believed that sailing due west would land him there. However, the presence of two whole continents stopped him. This is the reason why Native Americans were often referred to as “Indians,” due to the initial confusion. Columbus soon realized that he was nowhere near India, though he continued to insist so. In fact, when he died, Columbus never knew knew that he hadn’t truly reached Asia Columbus was not a professional cartographer by trade; rather, he was primarily a mariner, navigator, and self-taught cosmographer. However, he did work on maps with his brother Bartholomew, including a surviving partial world map from around 1490 that focused on the known Old World. More importantly, his understanding of global geography came from studying existing maps and calculations, particularly a 1474 letter and map from the Florentine scholar Paolo dal Pozzo Toscanelli, as well as a highly influential 1491 world map by the German cartographer Henricus Martellus (which Columbus likely referenced or copied elements from) These sources, in conjunction with Columbus’ own interpretations, contained major errors. He severely underestimated the Earth’s circumference, adopting flawed figures (influenced by medieval interpretations of Ptolemy and others) that made the planet roughly 25% smaller than its actual size. He also exaggerated the eastward extent of Asia (drawing from accounts like Marco Polo’s) so that Japan appeared much closer to Europe across the Atlantic than it truly is. In his calculations, the distance from the Canary Islands to Japan was only about 2,400 to 3,000 nautical miles, a quite feasible voyage with 15th-century ship, when in reality, the actual is upwards of 10,000 miles. Without the Americas in the way, his expedition would almost certainly have run out of supplies long before reaching Asia When he made landfall in the Bahamas on October 12, 1492, Columbus initially believed he had reached islands off the coast of Japan or the Indies. Even on later voyages, as he explored more of the Caribbean and parts of Central and South America, he clung to the idea that these were Asian lands (perhaps near the earthly Paradise or the Great Khan’s territories described in medieval texts). It was only gradually, through later explorers like Amerigo Vespucci and the realization of the vast Pacific, that Europeans fully understood this was an entirely new continent, or “New World,” blocking the direct western path to Asia. The misnomer “Indians” for Indigenous peoples of the Americas persisted for centuries as a direct result of Columbus’ geographical misconceptions Make sure to like this slideshow and follow us! And if you learned something new or enjoyed watching this, check out similar content at www.fascinatingworld.org/history #History #map #columbus #america #map

This small village, called Viganella, is located in the Italian Piedmontese region’s Antrona Valley. Because it’s tucked in among the mountains, sunlight has a hard time reaching the village from the months of November to February. For a whole 84 days, the area goes without ever seeing direct sunlight. As a result, engineers installed a 8m x 5m mirror 1,100m over the village to reflect sunlight. During the winter, the residents of the village only get sunlight via this mirror #italy #mirror #science #fact #photo

Back in 1969, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers temporarily dewatered the American Falls portion of Niagara Falls. On June 9, they began constructing a cofferdam, and the water flow was fully cut off by June 12. The project was carried out because researchers needed the falls to be dry to conduct geological studies and stabilization work. The water flow was restored on November 25 after the cofferdam was removed. This means that the U.S. portion of Niagara Falls was just rocks and puddles for over five months! For the first time in over 12,000 years, since Niagara Falls’ formation, it stopped flowing (at least part of it) This big project started due to worries about erosion at the American Falls, where rock piles at the base seemed to threaten its structure and looks. The Corps worked with the International Joint Commission to check the rock face, spot risks such as rockfalls, and decide on fixes like removing debris or adding supports. They built a 600-foot cofferdam using over 1,000 truckloads of rock and earth (around 27,800 tons) to stop water flow to the American Falls and divert the river to the Canadian Horseshoe Falls instead With the water off, the bare bedrock showed a moon-like scene with tossed coins and also, sadly, the remains of two people who had fallen over before. Experts drilled samples, added sensors, and surveyed for stability. In the end, they found that the rock piles actually helped support the falls. Because of this finding, they made few changes and just let nature take its course Like what you see? Check out similar content at www.fascinatingworld.org/history #History #niagarafalls #river #newyork #photo

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs released their 2025 World Urbanization Prospects report, which now lists Jakarta as the most populous city on Earth, serving as a home to around 42 million people. According to this report, this means that Jakarta has overtaken Tokyo, which was long considered to be the biggest city in terms of population Even in terms of land area, Jakarta is one of the biggest cities, with a land area of 255 square miles. However, the definitions for what constitutes city borders vary from source to source. Nevertheless, Jakarta is now the biggest city by the most important metric: population. To put this into perspective, even New York City only has a population of 8.5 million! The U.N. report also highlights that cities host 45% of the global population (3.69 billion people). This is a 20% increase from 1950, and two-thirds of future population growth is expected to be in urban areas Like what you see? Check out similar content at www.fascinatingworld.org/other-articles #indonesia #jakarta #city #population #news

If all the ice on Earth’s land, including the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets and mountain glaciers, were to melt completely, global sea levels would rise by approximately 200-230 feet (60-70 meters). These numbers are based on scientific estimates from sources like NASA, USGS, and National Geographic. This massive rise in freshwater would drastically change coastlines worldwide because not only would entire countries like the Netherlands and Bangladesh would largely disappear underwater, but major cities such as New York, Miami, Shanghai, and London would also be submerged. Adding on, low-lying regions like Florida, much of the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts, and parts of California would be lost to the ocean. In places like the Amazon basin and parts of Australia, where we see relatively lower elevations, new seas would form, thus significantly reducing global land area and displacing billions of people However, the flooding would not be uniform due to factors like Earth’s gravitational changes and land rebound, but the overall effect would inundate coastal plains, deltas, and islands, leading to permanent loss of habitable land and ecosystems. This scenario would take thousands of years to fully unfold under sustained extreme warming, since complete melting requires temperatures far higher than current projections Even though the situation talked about in this slideshow (complete melting of all ice) is unlikely to happen, we still need to acknowledge climate change from global warming, which has already caused sea levels to rise by about 8-10 inches (20-25 cm) since 1900, with the rate accelerating to around 4-5 mm per year in recent decades. This has been primarily due to thermal expansion of ocean water and melting of glaciers and ice sheets. Current effects include more frequent high-tide flooding (now 300-900% more common in many U.S. coastal areas), increased coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers, and more storm surge damage. According to some projections, a further rise of 1-3 feet (0.3-1 meter) in sea levels by 2100 is possible in scenarios with moderate emissions. But this shoots up to 6-7 feet in high-emissions cases with rapid ice loss Like what you see? Check out this article at www.fascinatingworld.org/post/why-climate-change-is-a-bigger-problem-than-most-think #ice #climatechange #climateaction #globalwarming #map

A recent analysis done by Mark Zandi, who is the chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, examined the economic health of U.S. states. In his report, Zandi used data on jobs, consumer spending, and other factors to rank states from strongest to weakest economies. He found that 21 states, as well as Washington, D.C., are either in a recession or at high risk of one. These areas make up nearly one-third of the total U.S. gross domestic product, or GDP, which measures the value of all goods and services produced in a region. After this, he noted that another 13 states are “treading water,” which essentially means that their economies are stable but not growing much. Finally, the remaining 16 states are expanding, showing steady job gains and business activity The states at high risk or already in recession include Wyoming, Montana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Kansas, Massachusetts, Washington, Georgia, New Hampshire, Maryland, Rhode Island, Illinois, Delaware, Virginia, Oregon, Connecticut, South Dakota, New Jersey, Maine, Iowa, and West Virginia, along with, as mentioned before, Washington, D.C. A recession is a downturn where economic activity shrinks for several months, and it comes with falling GDP, higher unemployment, and less spending by people and businesses. Zandi’s assessment points to weak job growth and rising unemployment claims in these places as important and concerning warning signs. For example, areas near Washington, D.C., face extra pressure from cuts in federal government jobs In contrast, the 13 states treading water, which includes Missouri, Ohio, Hawaii, New Mexico, Alaska, New York, Vermont, Arkansas, California, Tennessee, Nevada, Colorado, and Michigan, are holding steady with little change in output or employment. The 16 expanding states are South Carolina, Idaho, Texas, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Alabama, Kentucky, Florida, Nebraska, Indiana, Louisiana, North Dakota, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Wisconsin. According to Zandi’s analysis, these states are currently benefitting from stronger trade, tourism, and energy sectors. Zandi highlighted that even though the whole U.S. is not in recession yet, these state differences show uneven recovery from past slowdowns, like those tied to high prices or trade issues Like what you see? Check out similar content at www.fascinatingworld.org/politics-and-government #economy #gdp #recession #usa #map

Titanoboa, Andrewsarchus, Deinotherium, South American Giant Sloth (Megatherium), Liopleurodon, Opabinia are six remarkakable animals from Earth’s past that are now extinct Titanoboa, the largest snake ever known, lived around 60 or 70 million years ago in the warm rainforests of South America, and there, it grew up to 48 feet (15 meters) long and weighed over a ton. To sustain life, this snake primarily feasted on crocodiles and large fish Andrewsarchus, which is known mainly from a single enormous skull that was found in Mongolia, was a wolf-like meat-eater from about 45 million years ago. It may have been the biggest carnivorous land mammal ever and might have even reached 18 feet in length! Deinotherium was a strange elephant relative that inhabited Africa, Europe, and Asia from 20 million to one million years ago. It probably stood up at 15 feet tall and had long tusks curving downward from its lower jaw, which it used to strip bark and dig for plants Megatherium, the giant ground sloth of South America, lived until about 11,000 years ago and was the size of a modern elephant. It probably weighed somewhere around four tons and walked on four legs, while also being able to rear up on its hind legs to reach high vegetation Liopleurodon was a gigantic marine reptile of the Jurassic seas that lived about 140 or 150 million years ago. Its massive size, combined with its powerful jaws filled with sharp teeth, made it one of the top ocean predators of its time Finally, we have tiny Opabinia from the Cambrian seas, and it’s the oldest creature on this list (by a large margin). It had five eyes and a long flexible nozzle with a claw, and it swam with side flaps in an alien-looking body unlike anything alive today Like what you see? Check out similar content at www.fascinatingworld.org/other-articles #History #prehistoric #extinctanimals #education #photo

Back during the 1400s, in the medieval and early modern periods, Europe was disintegrated in a patchwork of different political entities, each with its own rules and ambitions. Feudal kingdoms, like France and England, were the “big” players, and they were built on a system where kings granted land to nobles in exchange for loyalty and military support. Smaller principalities, such as Bavaria or Tuscany, operated similarly, though on a smaller scale, but they were often caught between larger powers. Meanwhile, city-states, which includes Venice, Florence, and Genoa, performed well as independent hubs of trade and culture, governed by wealthy merchants or local elites. All of these distinct political entities fiercely competed with each other for economic dominance. Meanwhile, ecclesiastical states, like the Papal States, blended spiritual authority with political power, which added another layer to the complex European landscape During this time period, in which Europe was fragmented, there were many rivalries. England and France repeatedly fought with each other, most famously during the Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453), over territorial claims and royal succession. The Catholic Church, a unifying force, was itself fractured by the Great Schism (1378-1417), with competing popes undermining its authority. In Italy, which may seem like a unified country today, things were much different a couple hundred years ago, like the entirety of Europe. City-states such as Milan and Florence fought wars and formed shifting alliances, driven by trade routes and regional influence. The Hanseatic League, a network of northern merchant cities, competed with kingdoms like Denmark for control of Baltic trade. These conflicts were more about prestige, wealth, and survival rather than just obtaining land. Smaller states often played larger ones against each other, forming temporary alliances to avoid being swallowed up. This constant tension kept Europe in a state of uncertainty, with borders and loyalties always shifting The Holy Roman Empire (HRE) stood as a prime example of Europe’s fractured nature. Spanning much of central Europe, it was less a unified state and more of just a loose collection of hundreds of semi-independent territories, including duchies, counties, and free cities. The emperor, who was elected by key princes, held symbolic power but lacked centralized control. Each territory had its own laws, rulers, and agendas, and they often chose to ignore imperial authority. By the 15th century, the HRE was so weak that it was described as “neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire” Despite the fragmentation, many of these small territories managed to survive and even thrive! Venice grew rich from trade with the East, with its doge ruling a republic that outlasted many kingdoms. The Swiss Confederation, which was a loose alliance of cantons, gained independence through a strong military, holding back larger powers like the Habsburgs In contrast, the Kingdom of Bohemia faced internal religious strife, like the Hussite Wars, which foreshadowed later conflicts like the Reformation. These cases show how Europe’s fragmentation allowed for both prosperity and instability. Some rivalries led to cultural and economic growth, but the overall lack of unity left the continent vulnerable to internal wars and external threats, like the Ottoman Empire’s advances in the east Like what you see? Check out similar content at www.fascinatingworld.org/history #history #europe #15thcentury #education #photo

The PLACES Lab is a research group at Boston University that builds data tools to study land conservation. They mainly focus on how people own and protect private land for the environment. One key project, which was led by scientist Christoph Nolte, created the first high-resolution map of land prices across the contiguous United States, and using millions of sales records from a database called ZTRAX, along with details like parcel sizes and nearby home values, they predicted fair market values for over 133 million properties. This work, published in 2020, shows land costs at a tiny scale, astonishingly down to even individual lots! It helps governments and groups figure out real expenses for buying land to save forests or wildlife Land prices vary a lot based on where you are. In urban areas like New York City or San Francisco, even small plots can cost millions per hectare (one hectare = 10,000 square meters or ~107,600 square feet) because of high demand for building and living space. Suburban spots, such as those outside Chicago or Atlanta, often fall in between. Although they are more affordable than city centers, they are still pricier than far-off rural fields due to easy commutes and schools. Cheaper land hides in remote rural zones, like parts of the Midwest or Southwest, where farming or open space keeps values low, sometimes under $1,000 per acre (one acre = ~0.40 hectares). These patterns come from the map’s data, which ties costs to jobs, roads, and nature nearby The project shines a light on conservation challenges as well. Public land, owned by the government, covers about 40% of the U.S. and stays mostly free from sale (think of national parks or forests that protect biodiversity and offer recreation). Yet, saving private land often means buying it or adding easements to stop development, and the map reveals how past estimates lowballed these costs by up to 25%. The PLACES Lab pushes for smarter planning, like targeting cheaper rural spots for wildlife corridors while tackling urban edges where sprawl threatens habitats. Climate change adds urgency, and rising seas or wildfires could shift values, thus making coastal or forested areas more precious over time Like what you see? Check out www.fascinatingworld.org/finance #map #land #usa #education #photo

Across all the major cities in the United States, Chicago’s street grid system probably stands out the most, mainly because of its organized and clean-cut layout. Even when we take a look at the aerial photos, this iconic layout can be seen. The grid system began with James Thompson’s 1830 plat for the small settlement near the Chicago River. This established a rectangular pattern that expanded as the city grew rapidly from a frontier town to a metropolis. In the 1850s, blocks with a dimension of 660 feet by 330 feet were standardized, and it was made sure that there were major streets every half-mile. The grid system was reinforced after the 1871 Great Fire and extended through 1889 annexations, with the 1909 Burnham Plan refining its address system centered at State and Madison Streets The simplicity and scalability of Thompson’s original plat allowed Chicago to grow systematically, which is basically what allowed the city to accommodate waves of immigrants and industrial expansion. In addition, the standardized block sizes facilitated efficient land use, which made it easier for developers to subdivide plots and for residents to navigate the city. After the Great Fire of 1871 destroyed much of downtown, workers were able to rebuild quickly and uniformly because the grid provided a reliable framework. The fire also led to infrastructure improvements, like wider streets and better bridge connections across the Chicago River (the river had previously interrupted the grid’s flow in some areas) The 1889 annexations drastically expanded Chicago’s boundaries by incorporating surrounding towns and extending the grid across a larger area. This growth cemented the grid’s role as the city’s backbone, and streets like Halsted and Western still serve as key arteries every half-mile. The Burnham Plan of 1909, created by Daniel Burnham and Edward Bennett, built on this foundation by introducing diagonal boulevards, such as Michigan and Ogden Avenues, to improve connectivity and reduce congestion. The plan’s address system, which used State and Madison as the origin point, gave Chicagoans a logical way to locate any address, with each block roughly corresponding to 100 address numbers. Even though Chicagos’ street grid system looks pretty orderly on the surface, it actually faced (and still faces) many challenges from natural and human factors. The Chicago River’s branches forced deviations, creating irregular blocks in some areas, while neighborhoods located near the river’s forks retained pre-grid street patterns. As the city got bigger and bigger over time, the grid adapted to include expressways like the Kennedy and Dan Ryan, which sometimes cut through neighborhoods but aligned with the grid’s logic. Today, Chicago’s grid system covers 234-square-miles! Like what you see? Check out similar content at www.fascinatingworld.org/history #history #streets #chicago #education #photo

Located in England, Windsor Castle, or Windsor for short, was built around 1085 by William the Conqueror, and started as a basic wooden fort on a hill above the River Thames. It was one of nine forts around London, meant to protect the city and control the nearby area. The administration chose the castle’s spot primarily because it was close to London and near good hunting grounds in Windsor Forest. In the beginning, it had a simple design with a wooden keep and dirt walls, but it was strong enough to be a key military base and a place for the king to stay. Over time, kings like Henry II in the late 1100s started replacing the wood with stone, thus making the castle tougher and more permanent. This early work eventually set the stage for Windsor Castle to become a major royal home In 1216, during the First Barons’ War, Windsor Castle was tested when rebel barons attacked it to challenge King John. However, the castle, held by the king’s men, didn’t fall, and its strength as a defensive fort was starting to become very clear. In 1272, Edward I was king, and he added more walls and towers to make the castle even stronger. Later, in the 1300s, Edward III made even big changes, turning Windsor into more than just a simple fort. He rebuilt parts of it to look grander and started St. George’s Chapel for the Order of the Garter, which was a group of knights he created. This made the castle a mix of a military base and a fancy royal home. Through the Middle Ages, other kings kept adding to Windsor’s size and comfort In the 1600s, Windsor Castle saw rough times during the English Civil War. It was used as a prison for King Charles I before his execution, and later, the Parliament’s army used it as a base. By the 1800s, kings and queens like George IV and Queen Victoria made it their favorite home. They fixed up the inside, adding nice rooms and decorations to make it fit for royal events and visitors. Victoria, who ruled from 1837 to 1901, spent a lot of time there, and the castle became a central place for the royal family and government business. These changes turned Windsor into a grand palace while still retaining its history Today, Windsor Castle is still a working royal home and a huge attraction for tourists. In 1992, a fire damaged parts of the castle, but it was carefully rebuilt by 1997. It’s home to over 150 people, including royal staff, and has more than 1,000 rooms. Queen Elizabeth II lived there often in her later years, and it’s still used for large-scale events like state dinners and ceremonies. The castle has changed a lot since its simple wooden start in 1085, but its core, including the stone walls, towers, and St. George’s Chapel, still go way back in time. With 2025, the castle has reached 940 years of existence, meaning it has “witnessed” both COVID-19 and the Black Death pandemic that wiped out one-third of Europe’s population in the 14th century! Like what you see? Check out similar content at www.fascinatingworld.org/history #history #windsorcastle #england #education #photo

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measures the total monetary value of all final goods and services produced within a state’s borders over a specific period, usually one year. GDP is important in economics because it can reveal a lot about a state’s economic activity and overall economic health. A higher GDP typically reflects a larger, more productive economy, driven by factors like population size, industry diversity, and resource availability. For example, states with major metropolitan areas or developing industries like technology, finance, or manufacturing tend to have higher GDPs, while smaller or less industrialized states contribute less to the national economy GDP per capita divides a state’s GDP by its population, and it shows the average economic output per person. It can also serve as a general indicator of the living standards in the state, but it does not account for income distribution, cost of living, or non-economic factors like quality of life. In 2024, New York led with a GDP per capita of $117,332, followed by Massachusetts ($110,561) and Washington ($108,468). These states benefit from high-value industries and clustered populations in cities, though high GDP per capita can also reflect higher living costs, as seen in states like New York and California. On the other side of the spectrum, we have states like Mississippi ($53,061), which show lower per capita figures. This is primarily due to their reliance on lower-wage sectors like agriculture Nominal GDP, measured in current U.S. dollars without inflation adjustment, highlights the raw economic output of a state. As shown in the slideshow, in 2024, the top five U.S. states by nominal GDP were California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Illinois. These states account for a significant portion of the U.S.’s total nominal GDP of $29.184 trillion, with California alone contributing about 14%. Large populations and diverse economies, like tech in California, energy in Texas, and finance in New York, drive their nominal GDP up, while smaller states like Vermont ($45.7 billion) and Wyoming ($53.0 billion) have far lower nominal GDPs due to smaller populations and less economic diversity Like what you see? Check out similar content at www.fascinatingworld.org/finance #usa #economics #gdp #education #photo

In October 2022, a juvenile bar-tailed godwit tagged as 234684 completed the longest recorded non-stop migration by any bird. Incredibly, the bird, which was just five months old, flew 13,560 kilometers (8,425 miles) from Alaska, United States, to Tasmania, Australia. Bar-tailed godwit 234684 flew for over 11 days without resting or feeding. This journey surpassed previous records, including a 2020 flight of approximately 12,200 kilometers (7,580 miles) from Alaska to New Zealand by another bird, which also lasted 11 days, and a 2007 trip of 11,500 kilometers (7,145 miles) in eight days. These birds are able to make such long trips across the Pacific Ocean because of their incredible endurance and fat reserves accumulated prior to departure. Once they take off, the birds shrink non-essential organs like their digestive system to maximize energy efficiency Godwits belong to the genus Limosa in the sandpiper family Scolopacidae and are large, long-legged shorebirds known for their distinctive upturned bills used to probe mud for invertebrates. There are four species worldwide: the bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica), black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), Hudsonian godwit (Limosa haemastica), and marbled godwit (Limosa fedoa). They lay eggs in northern wetlands and tundra but then migrate to coastal areas in temperate and tropical regions. Bar-tailed godwits from Alaska can cover annual round-trip distances of over 29,000 kilometers (18,020 miles). Conservation efforts focus on habitat protection along flyways, as threats like wetland loss affect their global numbers Like what you see? Check out similar content at https://www.fascinatingworld.org/post/the-bird-that-can-fly-for-ten-days-nonstop #bird #bartailedgodwit #flight #education #photo

Of the income taxes that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the United States collects, 29% goes towards healthcare, 16% goes towards Social Security, another 16% goes towards national defense, 12% goes towards paying interest on our national debt, 8% goes towards income security, 4% goes towards benefits for veterans, 3% goes towards transportation, 2% goes towards education, 1% goes towards foreign aid, and 9% goes towards other expenditures In the fiscal year 2024, the IRS collected $2.4 trillion in income taxes, and the breakdown is based on averages of the most recent data and reports we could find There are many acronyms and initialisms in this slideshow, so here’s what they stand for and mean in the United States: • CHIP: Children’s Health Insurance Program, which is a federal-state partnership that provides low-cost coverage to children in families with income too high for Medicaid but too low for private insurance • ACA: Affordable Care Act, which is a healthcare reform law enacted in 2010 to expand insurance coverage, reduce costs, and improve healthcare quality • R&D: Research and Development, which refers to the innovative activities companies, or, in this case, organizations and government programs, undertake to create or improve products, processes, or services • SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which is a federal program that provides food-purchasing assistance to low-income families through electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards • FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which is the Department of Education’s form used by students to apply for financial aid for college tuition and expenses • USAID: United States Agency for International Development, which is the principal American agency that administers civilian foreign aid and development assistance worldwide • MCC: Millenium Challenge Corporation, which is an independent government agency that provides grants to developing countries to promote economic growth and reduce poverty through policy reforms Like what you see? Check out similar content at www.fascinatingworld.org/politics-and-government