The Curated Economic Anxiety
Newsweek's focus on rising costs across major US cities paints a bleak picture for everyday Americans. The article, like many others of its type, lists symptoms—higher housing, utilities, food—but rarely delves into the root causes with the necessary historical and economic context. This framing often positions inflation and cost-of-living increases as a natural economic phenomenon, rather than a
direct consequence of specific government and corporate actions. CASE A: The Current Framing of Cost of Living Increases Mainstream media, exemplified by this Newsweek piece, typically presents rising costs as an unmanaged, almost organic event. The language frequently avoids assigning direct responsibility, opting for passive voice or blaming 'market forces.' For instance, a common refrain is
'prices are rising,' rather than 'corporations are raising prices' or 'policy X contributed to price increases.' The implicit message is often: 'You, the consumer, must adapt,' or 'Government must intervene with minor adjustments.' CASE B: The Curiously Absent Context of Corporate Profiteering and Wealth Concentration What's often missing from these analyses is a critical examination of corporate
profits and wealth distribution dynamics. From 2020 to 2022, corporate profits in the US soared to record highs, with many industries reporting their largest profit margins in decades (Economic Policy Institute, 2022). For example, oil and gas companies, food conglomerates, and real estate investment trusts (REITs) have posted massive earnings while simultaneously attributing price hikes to