2022年4月22日 星期五

The Daily: Fixing Student Loans

It doesn't have to be like this.

The big idea: Student loans don't have to be like this

The Daily strives to reveal a new idea in every episode. Below, we go deeper into one from our show on President Biden's student loan dilemma.

Stefani Reynolds/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Growing up, Rachel Cunningham had two dreams: to become a mother and to have a career in musical theater.

So a few years ago she set off to pursue the latter. She successfully graduated from the Boston Conservatory at the Berklee College of Music and moved to New York City to apply her degree. But Rachel is an American, so her dream came at a price: over $200,000 in student loan debt.

It's a cost so obscene that it has threatened to extinguish her first dream entirely. The "unbelievable, horrible, crushing weight" of the debt has forced Rachel, 26, to ask whether being a parent is even possible for her, especially after her industry was rocked by the pandemic. "I want it. But I don't know if I can afford it," she said. Rachel now works at a restaurant in the West Village.

For millions of young Americans like Rachel, student loan debt is the organizing principle of their lives, replacing the dreams they once had with an exacting pragmatism. Now, they spend their adult lives grimly policing their paychecks, their payments and even the prospect of a pregnancy. As you heard on Monday, the Biden administration recognizes that the skyrocketing levels of student loan debt aren't sustainable — and is currently grappling with how to address the problem.

So far, that's looked like pushing the problem off for another day, by continuing to pause loan repayment during the pandemic. But what happens if the day comes for structural reform? (And will that day come at all?) Below, we share comparative examples of what paying for university education looks like around the world, as a reminder that the status quo isn't fixed — and that other realities are possible.

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Our expensive status quo

The average annual price tag for attending a private, four-year American college is now around $50,000. This cost has tripled at public colleges and universities in the past three decades, and, similarly, the nation's student loan debt has also tripled in the last 13 years, now totaling some $1.6 trillion.

J.P. Morgan predicts that four years at a private college could cost as much as $487,004 in 2035. About a third of all student loan debt will never be paid off, according to the Department of Education's projections — and some economists think that's an underestimate.

As a result, in recent years, "cancel student debt" has become a popular refrain; what was once a politically radical demand chanted by activists is now a proposal championed by the top Democrat in the Senate. And President Biden, who campaigned to make community college free and accessible, and endorsed the cancellation of $10,000 in federal student debt per borrower through legislation, is being pressed to respond.

The policy options in front of him are fraught with equity, economic injustice and sustainability concerns. Long-term, structural change would require a comprehensive overhaul of our current system, not just temporary relief for those saddled with loans. And while policy analysts generally agree on a need for reform, determining which path to take is a contested matter.

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A league of our own

People in other developed nations, or even in older American generations, rarely have had to contend with the burden of extensive student loan debt. In other wealthy countries, university education is treated as a public good — much as K-12 education is already treated in the United States.

The United States prides itself on being a destination for higher education seekers from around the world. But are the tuition costs associated with that learning something to be proud of? Below, we highlight three systems where university tuition and student loan financing is approached differently.

Australia: Australia has much lower tuition costs than in the United States, which can range up to the equivalent of $8,300 per year, depending on the course of study. This results in average borrowing around $23,500.

Australian borrowers do not start making payments until their income exceeds the equivalent of about $33,000. Payments are collected automatically through the tax system and adjust themselves automatically with income — similar to tax withholding in the United States. Students can also choose to pay for tuition up front, but 85 percent to 90 percent take out an income-contingent loan instead.

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Automatic collection of income-based payments is a critical ingredient of a well-functioning loan system, Rohit Chopra, a senior fellow at the Consumer Federation of America told The Upshot. "When borrowers have the choice to repay through their employer, this cuts out much of the red tape and the distorted incentives of middlemen."

Sweden: Swedish universities do not charge tuition, and universities are funded by grants from the government. However, many students take out loans to pay for living expenses during college, and average student debt levels in Sweden were the equivalent of around $21,000 in 2018. This is comparable to the average debt levels in the United States, but students in Sweden are far less likely to default on their loans, thanks to low interest rates and a much longer runway for repayment.

Sweden "offers a simpler and more manageable repayment process for students," said Kevin James, founder and chief executive of Better Future Forward, a nonprofit focused on education finance reform. "In contrast, U.S. federal student loans offer a mishmash of subsidies and repayment plans that provide wholly inadequate protections to students relative to the money spent."

Scotland: Tuition is free for Scottish students at universities in Scotland. The Student Awards Agency Scotland, a government entity, covers the full fees of eligible Scottish and E.U. nationals who apply; the payments are sent directly to the college or university.

To qualify, students must have chosen a course that is funded by the agency and meets certain residency criteria. The Scottish government also sets the tuition rate for these students. For the 2019-20 academic year, tuition is as high as 1,820 British pounds ($2,300), depending on the program.

Because university was essentially free for me, I had a lot more freedom to pursue my interests, including further education and academic work.

— Olga Loza. Undergraduate tuition: £7,280. Loans: $0.

The verdict: While no system is perfect, experts who spoke with The Upshot agreed that the best student loan repayment system is one that is simple, that is based on students' incomes, that spreads loan payments over longer periods and that's able to collect payments automatically through the tax system.

Such a system is a far cry from what's in place in the United States. While structural reforms are on the Biden administration's radar, looking beyond our borders for inspiration could help us replicate success instead of reinventing the wheel.

Do you recognize this choir?

This week on "Still Processing," co-host Wesley Morris spoke to his friend Hanif Abdurraqib, a poet and music critic, about TV theme songs — and the now ubiquitous "skip intro" button.

Wesley and Hanif run through some of their all-time favorite theme songs, from "Three's Company" and "The Jeffersons" to "Orange is the New Black" and "White Lotus." They discuss how TV themes not only help you settle into the world of a show, but, over time, can become "an elemental part" of who you are. Every time we hit "skip intro," we're denying "the possibility of having this connection with a show that becomes bigger and more meaningful than the show itself," Wesley says.

At the end of the episode, Hans Buetow, a producer on the podcast, shows Wesley and Hanif a video of a choir singing the "Good Times" theme song. It's a rendition so powerful that it moves Wesley and Hanif to tears (you can watch it here). While they have confirmed that the singers are backstage at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills, Calif., they haven't been able to identify just who they are.

So, we'd love to know: Do you have any information or ideas about who this choir might be? If so, please email the team at stillprocessing@nytimes.com.

On The Daily this week

Monday: America's two-year experiment in debt deferral has had unintended consequences.

Tuesday: Why President Vladimir V. Putin's framing of the war has set the country up for a dark phase domestically.

Wednesday: Part 1 of the story of one family seeking gender-affirming care in the midst of a political storm.

Thursday: Part 2 of the custody battle that raised a political storm in Texas.

Friday: What are the stakes in France's upcoming presidential election?

That's it for the Daily newsletter. See you next week.

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2022年4月20日 星期三

The T List: Five things we recommend this week

A new Paris hotel near the Jardin des Plantes, vibrant Turkish slippers — and more.

Welcome to the T List, a newsletter from the editors of T Magazine. Each week, we share things we're eating, wearing, listening to or coveting now. Sign up here to find us in your inbox every Wednesday. And you can always reach us at tlist@nytimes.com.

COVET THIS

Whimsical, Hand-Drawn Wallpapers

From left: Palms on Palms wallpaper in Egret and Whimsy Chairs wallpaper in Ecru.Courtesy of The Cartelier

By Aileen Kwun

T Contributor

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"Everything is a canvas," says the fashion illustrator Carly Kuhn, whose playful doodles and minimal contour drawings have featured in prints, magazines and, recently, an outdoor mural at the Row shopping district in downtown Los Angeles. "I like the different personality that my art can take on when it's applied to a new space." Kuhn credits her love of improvisation and people-watching to her previous stints as a television producer and aspiring sketch comic. She would "create little moments on the page" in her down time — the wobble of a turtleneck, a pair of fine brogues, the pattern of a woman's dress — and post them to her Instagram account, The Cartorialist, alongside a mood board of influences like vintage beauty advertisements and the storybook character Eloise. Kuhn's big break came in 2014, when a serendipitous repost by Sarah Jessica Parker went viral, attracting collaborations with brands like Prada and Oscar de la Renta. This month, she debuts a design studio for interiors, The Cartelier, with a collection of wallpapers featuring dainty shoes, occasional chairs, red lips, cocktail glasses or palms rendered in charming, hand-drawn imperfection; textiles will be added later this year. Says Kuhn, "The idea is that I've come in and doodled on your walls." From $90/yard, thecartelier.com.

WEAR THIS

Suits Crafted Outside of the Gender Binary

Two sets from Suited Atelier, the designer and editor Ash Owens's new line of elevated basics and tailored suits.Dominik Tarabanski

By Coco Romack

T Contributor

There's a power that comes with wearing a suit shaped to one's body and tastes, as the designer and editor Ash Owens observed while apprenticing under Rocco Ciccarelli, the storied Queens tailor who cut Thom Browne's first shrunken set over two decades ago. Yet it wasn't until Owens's own coming-of-gender that they fully grasped the garment's ability to draw out deeply felt selfhoods. "Suiting was such a transformative thing that really allowed me to feel confident in myself — and to show up for myself," they say. Owens intends to make this custom experience more approachable and budget-friendly with a new clothing line, Suited Atelier. In addition to boxy cropped button-downs and laboriously handmade sets, which Owens has fashioned privately for clients since 2019 (the renowned house DJ Honey Dijon is one devotee), the brand lets shoppers customize any of its preset, seasonless suits by selecting details like button location and sleeve length. They come in limited-run colorways and traceable fabrics: One chalky gray pinstriped suit is constructed from recycled wool respun by an Italian mill, while a sleek maroon kilt can be worn over pants or alone. Owens hopes, too, that eliminating binary sizing will facilitate better conversations about fit, form and, ultimately, emotion. "I want to learn more about what people want to feel in their clothing," they say. Suits from $1,498, suitedatelier.com.

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VISIT THIS

A Place to Slide on Turkish Slippers

From left: Sabah's new NoHo boutique and a pair of the brand's Lale Baba by LAR slip-ons ($225).Left: Elise Grace Wilken. Right: courtesy of Sabah

The Manhattan-based entrepreneur Mickey Ashmore of the footwear, leather goods and accessories brand Sabah has been fine-tuning and expanding his vibrant takes on traditional Turkish slippers since he started the company nearly a decade ago after living in Istanbul. Now, he's bringing that sense of experimentation to a New York flagship, Sabah House, in one of NoHo's historic brick Bleecker Street buildings. Here, he'll sell his own shoes, board games and other products (including those by select makers and partners) in a handsome space outfitted with imported vintage Turkish carpets, a mosaic-tiled bar and lots of warm oak shelves and benches made by a family of Cape Cod woodworkers. Ashmore, who loves entertaining guests and friends alike, aims to create a spirit of conviviality at the boutique by offering visitors tea, wine or just a place to relax as they try on classic leather slippers or one of many upcoming collaborations. The latest, available in May, is footwear designed with the textile artist Laris Alara Kilimci, of the Istanbul-based LAR Studio, her fabrics in geometric shapes and bold colors forming the uppers. Though Sabah still makes many of its items in Turkey, Ashmore recently expanded production to El Paso, Tex., and will thus be able to fill this spot with even more limited-edition pairs. sabah.am

SEE THIS

An Exhibition on Surrealism's Magical Roots

From left: Leonora Carrington's "Portrait of Max Ernst" (ca. 1939) and "The Pleasures of Dagobert" (1945)© Leonora Carrington, by SIAE 2022

By Gisela Williams

T Contributing Editor

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At the outbreak of World War II, the celebrated art patron Peggy Guggenheim set out to purchase one work per day, many of them by Surrealist artists such as René Magritte and Max Ernst (whom she went on to marry). Her collection is the starting point for a new Surrealism exhibition at her namesake museum in Venice, where co-curator Gražina Subelytė's years of research into the key artists' interest in magic and the occult led to the show's singular perspective. Mystical figures and symbols appear in iconic paintings like Victor Brauner's "The Philosopher's Stone" (1940) and Salvador Dalí's "Uranium and Atomica Melancholica Idyll" (1945), as well as an eerie portrait of Ernst as a shaman with a split tail by Leonora Carrington, who studied witchcraft; relevant sources and projects are offered, such as the original 1948 edition of Kurt Seligmann's history of the occult, "The Mirror of Magic," and several playing cards, also used for tarot readings, from a deck handcrafted in the 1940s. The first large-scale show of its kind, the display is actually the latest of Surrealism's forceful resurgence across the cultural realm, from Schiaparelli's fall 2022 runway to a popular exhibition at the Met that's just arrived at the Tate Modern in London. As it did a century ago, interest in the movement represents an understandable reaction to a destabilizing era. "Surrealism and Magic: Enchanted Modernity" is on view through Sept. 26 at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, guggenheim-venice.it.

VISIT THIS

A Hotel Near the Botanical Gardens in Paris

Left: a room at the new Hôtel Orphée with wood shelving and warm colors. Right: a guest bathroom featuring the same terra-cotta ceramic tiles that will appear in the hammam downstairs.Hervé Goluza

By Lindsey Tramuta

T Contributor

As big a draw as the Jardin des Plantes has always been for travelers to Paris, the surrounding neighborhood is remarkably limited in its selection of quality hotels. That changed with this month's opening of the 44-room Hôtel Orphée, a seventh property from Orso, the collection of Parisian hotels by the husband-wife duo Louis and Anouk Solanet. The couple have earned a reputation for bringing on different creative talent for each property and letting their visions run wild; for Orphée, it was Eloise Bosredon, the French designer-architect behind the Levantine pastry shop Maison Aleph and Kinasé, a Japanese sake boutique. "We liked that Eloise hadn't worked on many hotel projects and wasn't conditioned by the constraints that can often go with them," Anouk says. Bosredon cleverly balanced the property's 19th-century bones with a penchant for modernism: Art Deco shapes on headboards and hallway rugs, as well as arched doorways and an earth-tone palette, are strong signatures, while some rooms contain Okoumé wood storage units that channel Le Corbusier's Cabanon. There's no on-site restaurant, but the lower level will soon bring appealing substitutes: a hammam on one side and an intimate lounge on the other, kitted out with plush couches, dim lighting and a sharp selection of cocktails and bar snacks. Rooms from around $140, hotelorphee.com.

FROM T'S INSTAGRAM

In a Storied Milan Building, a New Headquarters for Loro Piana

The Bul-Bo Soft floor lamp, which sits to the right of a pair of teak Piazzetta armchairs upholstered in a cotton jacquard, was originally designed for the Olivetti Residential Centre in Ivrea, Italy, in 1968 and was rereleased by Loro Piana in collaboration with the lighting brand Axolight last year.Allegra Martin

The imposing palazzo that sits at Via Moscova 33, constructed in the late 19th century and known as the Cortile della Seta, in Milan's well-heeled Brera district was once the nexus of the local silk trade. As of last month, it became the headquarters for Loro Piana, as well as the site of the 98-year-old brand's second store devoted to interiors. Originally from Trivero, the Loro Piana family has been working in wool since the early 1800s. Pietro Antonio Loro Piana founded the namesake brand in 1924, but it wasn't until the 1970s, when two of his grandchildren, the brothers Pier Luigi and Sergio Loro Piana, took the helm that it began to resemble its current state. With its new location, Loro Piana seems to be turning the page on yet another new chapter. When Via Moscova 33 became available following a lengthy structural renovation led by the local firm Asti Architetti, its rich past made it an obvious choice. Francesco Pergamo, Loro Piana's director of interiors, hired the Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen — known for such clean-lined projects as Casa M and Antwerp's elegant August hotel — to design the space. "He has very pure taste," says Pergamo. Read more at tmagazine.com, and follow us on Instagram.

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2022年4月19日 星期二

Parenting: American Children Can Handle a Little More Freedom

Just watch "Old Enough!"
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Jessica Grose On Parenting
For subscribersApril 19, 2022

NEWSLETTER PREVIEW

This is a preview of the Jessica Grose On Parenting newsletter, which is normally reserved for Times subscribers.

Journalist and novelist Jessica Grose explores what it means to be a parent today, analyzing the health, economics and culture of the American family.

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Eleanor Davis

The Japanese reality show 'Old Enough!' should inspire parents to let kids do more

An aggressively adorable reality show that's been on for decades in Japan recently hit Netflix. It's called "Old Enough!" and it depicts Japanese little ones, some as young as 2, taking their first solo journeys (the show's original title is translated as "My First Errand"). These tiny children are shown toddling by themselves to the grocery store, to their grandmother's house to pick something up or to a local farm to yank an enormous cabbage out of the ground.

Sometimes they get distracted from their appointed mission and start playing, and they often notice and interact with the camera operators, who appear in the background of many scenes. But the narrative is basically the same every time: A child overcomes fears or hesitations by running an errand, learning to politely ask questions of supportive and kind adults when help is needed to figure out how to pay for lunch or cross a busy street. And the kids are brimming with pride after accomplishing their tasks.

In addition to being utterly charmed by how cute the show is, my response was: This wouldn't fly in the United States. If there were an American version, parents who allowed their children to appear would …

END OF PREVIEW

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