THE MUSTS

World

hot topic in many many families

 What defines success: Effort or family background?

Inequality of opportunity is one of the most controversial and discussed topics nowadays. Some believe there is an “unequal race” for success. Others claim that it is all a matter of effort and meritocracy.

• In this clash of ideas, I was reading this week a new OECD report that has brought more data to the discussion table.

According to the study, more than 60% of income inequality in the organization's member countries is related to family and educational factors. In practice, this means that this inequality stems more from external factors than from a person's actual productive capacity.

The data show that parents' educational attainment and occupation are the biggest determinants of a person's economic future:

• The father's educational attainment accounts for 18.5% of income differences, while the mother's accounts for 15.9%.

• The occupation of both parents accounts for almost 30% of the total impact.

Conclusion: The organization argues that policies focused on early childhood education, social infrastructure, and equal regional access are essential for success to depend less on family heritage and more on individual merit/trajectory.

Personal Opinion: It is interesting to think that even with so much data from the organization's countries showing this, unfortunately, elected governments do not seem to agree…

What else in on

• Malta: The Prime Minister has made access to the country's gyms free for young people aged 16 to 21 for six months to encourage physical exercise. The most interesting thing is that the Prime Minister was a bodybuilder before becoming a politician. (Read)

• Maldives: After banning the use and sale of vapes last year, the Maldives Islands have passed a new law prohibiting anyone born in 2007 or later from smoking tobacco. The law applies to both tourists and residents. (Read)

• Brazil: The country ended the first half of 2025 as the second largest recipient of foreign direct investment in the world, behind only the United States. (Read)

• Egypt: the Grand Egyptian Museum finally opened with a grand ceremony last week after 32 years of construction. (Read)

• Netherlands: Center party wins elections and with the youngest and first openly gay prime minister in history. (Read)

• USA: With 51% of the vote, New York has just elected socialist and Muslim Zohran Mamdani as mayor. (Read)
  

 It’s not that deep by Demi Lovato: To be honest, if you told me a few months ago that I’d be writing a good review for a Demi Lovato album, I’d have told you to stop drinking. After her last few releases — and considering the avalanche of new albums lately — it didn’t seem likely. But here we are.

• Truth be told, I still haven’t finished listening to Rosalía’s new album (and I’d never write a recommendation for something I haven’t heard fully), but maybe that’s exactly why this one made the cut. Because It’s Not That Deep isn’t trying to be profound, or emotional, or “life-changing.” Its whole premise is in the title: it’s supposed to be light, fun, sexy — and it is. It feels like Demi finally gave herself permission to stop overthinking.

After a streak of questionable releases, this one was a surprisingly pleasant find during my trip to Brazil. It’s short, easy to play on repeat — perfect for Uber rides across São Paulo or when you just want to move a little. I don’t love the lyrics, but it’s not about the lyrics. I don’t love the message, but it’s not about that either. It’s about the vibe — and it nails the vibe.

Demi has long struggled with identity and self-marketing, and I still think some of that remains here. But at least now, she’s packaging it into something that feels honest — and, finally, marketable. If you’re into pop with a touch of electronic, 2015 club energy, and zero overthinking, this might just be your soundtrack of the week.

It’s not that deep. And that’s exactly why it works. (Rating: 7.5/10)

Hi there,

Lately, I’ve been talking with a few friends who are either quitting Instagram or seriously cutting down their screen time. And in those conversations, I’ve caught myself admitting something more than once: sometimes, I think I’d be happier without it.

Our clothes, the way we speak, how we behave, what we tolerate — have you ever thought about how much of that is shaped by Instagram, TikTok, Twitter?

• Trends arrive through influencer posts.

• Our slang changes as fast as our phone updates.

• The places we go, the food we eat, even the hobbies we pick have to be aesthetic.

• We can’t stand boredom anymore; dinner tables feel dull without a screen, and our nervous systems crave the next hit of dopamine.

And yet — I still believe what’s coming is better than what’s gone. But that doesn’t mean we can’t bring a few old habits back with us. Think about what you used to do before the internet became so omnipresent:

Did you visit friends more often? Wait for things with more patience? Read more books? Pay more attention? Feel less anxious? What if you did a bit more of that now? Would it make you feel better?

My intention this week isn’t to romanticize the past or spark chaos in your mind — it’s the opposite. It’s an invitation to reflect: How are you spending your time? Do you actually feel good spending it that way? And are the things you do, wear, or think really yours — or just what the algorithm told you to want?

What I am trying to do more often these days, once in a while, is asking myself: If I didn’t have the internet, how would I do this? How would it be done before?

You might find more creative, grounded, and authentic answers than you expect.

With love,
M.

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