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By: Mr. Blanton
A core question–probably the question–in economics is: why are we wealthy? You can think of wealth as money, but you would be wrong. More money doesn’t mean more wealth. More money, more problems. Just ask Zimbabwe or Biggie. It is better to think of wealth as a measure of social welfare–are our collective living standards improving or not? Framed in that way, what is remarkable about most of human history is not the presence of wealth, but its absence. Poverty, not riches, was the norm. The great historical change in human economic history–the “Great Fact” as economist Dierdre McCloskey refers to it–came with the British Industrial Revolution and the spread of industrialization across the globe. Albeit unevenly and not equally, the Industrial Revolution sparked a deep structural change in how human economies functioned that broke the cycle of poverty. Human societies became increasingly wealthier such that incomes and standards of living sustainably rose over time; we live in a wealthier world because of the Industrial Revolution. If wealth is so important and the British Industrial Revolution helped to generate it, what caused the Industrial Revolution? Economic historian, Joel Mokyr, was recently awarded half of the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences, colloquially referred to as the Nobel Prize in Economics, for his answer to that question. To understand the significance of Mokyr’s answer, we need some context. Research on the history of the Industrial Revolution has tended to fall within two broad categories of explanation: institutions as cause and exploitation as cause. The institution’s explanation argues that “good” institutions are crucial for economic growth. Imagine if people feared that their property would not be protected, there would be little incentive to invest for the future. But the fact that institutions exist to protect property–police, courts, intellectual property protections, to name a few–helps to guarantee that people will take positive and productive risks with their money, transforming it to investment. Not all investments pay off, but some do. The ones that pay off tend to pay off big. Without institutional protection, no pay off, no growth. Some historians argue that Great Britain increasingly adopted the right kind of institutional protections, especially after the Glorious Revolution, that led to the right investments and to the Industrial Revolution the next century. Good institutions encourage risk taking. Glorious Revolution, bang, Industrial Revolution. Others argue that exploitation–colonization and slavery–was an unearned source of investment that facilitated the Industrial Revolution. Extraction is the key. It was the unjust and violent transfer of resources from the exploited to the exploiter that changed the game. Such exploitation merely shifted resources around, but did so in a way that privileged some and hobbled others. This perspective tends to interpret economic success as a result of exploitation and economic failure as a result of being exploited. Great Britain, as one of the premier European colonizers, exploited and extracted its way to increased domestic investment, planting the seeds of the Industrial Revolution. For Mokyr, however, neither of these views does the job completely. Exploitation happened, undeniably; institutions matter, no doubt. But neither explain the well-spring of innovation. Spain was also a significant exploiter and colonizer. Yet, they didn’t industrialize like Britain. Why? They didn’t do much with their extracted wealth. Smaug sitting on his pile of gold is still just sitting on a pile of gold. Spain wasn’t much different. For Mokyr, it was the cultivation of the right kind of culture–a culture open to change, to innovation, to the rigor of scientific thinking and curiosity–that moved the needle. James Watts’ steam engine changed economic history. But perhaps what meant the most to Watts wasn’t low taxes or British colonization, but the existence of scientific clubs, the dissemination of information through early scientific journals, and the willingness to put any and all ideas to the test. The Scientific Revolution changed how ideas were generated and tested, and that process of idea generation, Mokyr argues, mattered more than exploitation or institutions solely. In economics lingo, Mokyr sees culture as a positive externality. The cultivation of an open, curious, and scientific culture in Britain had positive (and massive) economic spillover effects. Here’s an example: the cost of transporting goods and people fell substantially thanks to the steam engine. It wasn’t perfect, as most technologies aren’t. But as the technology improved, steam ships helped facilitate economic integration, and trade barriers between countries started to fall. By the late nineteenth century, the global economy was more economically integrated than ever before. The steam engine doesn’t deserve all the credit, but it mattered–a lot. No Scientific Revolution, no steam engine. Who is right? It’s a matter of debate. Still, Mokyr’s conclusion that the right kind of culture was essential to the story of the Industrial Revolution might be an important lesson for our own economic future.
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By: Sean Tang ‘28
With the threadbare trees on Commencement Lawn shedding their auburn layers, the signs of an increasingly valedictory fall are becoming more and more palpable. The fall term is ending in less than two weeks, with the long-awaited Thanksgiving Break lurking just around the corner. Rather uncoincidentally, the end of the fall term also marks another milestone: more than two months under the new 70-minute-block schedule for the Westy community. Since the start of the 25-26 school year, Westy has discontinued the previous 6-day schedule with 45-minute class blocks. Instead, the schedule was revamped to include longer, but quantitatively less 70-minute class blocks, which loosely imitates a 5-day schedule. A heavier emphasis has been placed on weekdays and rotating blocks on Friday and Saturday. These adjustments were presumably designed by the administration in the hopes of maximizing learning. The longer blocks may allow for discussion and lectures to go in more depth, theoretically fostering a more comprehensive understanding of any given subject. But after living through two months of the new schedule, the same question remains: has the schedule, in effect, achieved what it had set out to do? If a survey of 100 community members–among them 90 students and 10 faculty–is any indication, the transition has been met with a somewhat distinct chill. The results depict a community that is struggling to adapt to this adjustment, as nearly half—49%—of respondents reported feeling negatively about the longer class periods. Only 26% felt positively about the change, with 24% remaining neutral. But from what seeds may this grudge for the new schedule have originated? Some more statistics from the survey may reveal a part of the answer. When questioned on how mentally draining they perceived 70-minute classes to be, 66% of respondents noted that they found these classes either very mentally draining or extremely mentally draining; 54% of respondents thought 70-minute classes to be too slow in pace. Furthermore, out of 82 applicable responses, 76.8% of the community deemed their workload to be heavier than previous years, as opposed to lighter, an effect that goes against the objective for which the new schedule was created to achieve. Of course, the results of this survey do not account for the common trend for workload to naturally increase as they progress through high school; but the statistic holds significance nonetheless. What’s more, as it seems, the new schedule has posed a challenge to the mental and physical well-being of Westminster students, too. Multiple students have shared that they are unable to “pay attention to the same thing for 70 minutes,” and that they “feel like a zombie everyday,” especially on “the days [they] have 70 min classes—it’s mentally and physically draining.” However, it is important to remind ourselves that we are only a little over two months into this new, seemingly eccentric pace of life—and there is much that we can solve and improve as a community. Both students and faculty are still navigating through uncharted waters; solutions will become more discernible as time goes on. Freshwater fish regain their colors in a few weeks after initially losing them when first entering a new environment. As we gradually adapt to our new environment while mustering the collective effort to make it better, Westy, as a unified community, may regain its luster—more iridescent than ever before. Westy has had a brilliant sports season. With the cross country meet being held at Westy after many years, it was inspiring to see our runners truly give their all. The introduction of Varsity Girls Volleyball was also incredible. I had the chance to attend their Senior Day match, and it was amazing to see how strong their chemistry was, especially considering it was their first season playing together. It was equally exciting to watch our soccer teams compete so strongly.
The Westy Varsity Girls Soccer team also made it to the NEPSAC Class A Tournament, earning the 4th seed. Attacking Midfielder Izzie Leone 27’ speaks about her experience in the Varsity Girls Soccer team. “Westy Girls Varsity Soccer is special to me because we aren’t just a team, we’re a family. On and off the field we have a bond like no other team I’ve played for. I truly love showing up for this team everyday.” I am very excited to watch them play and hopefully become the NEPSAC Class A Tournament Champion! As winter sports begin, we are all looking forward to ‘Avon Monday’. Avon Monday is a beloved Westy tradition where our Boys Varsity Hockey team faces Avon in an intense rivalry game. The energy during this game is unmatched, with Westminster students filling the rink, bringing loud cheers, school colors, and an incredible spirit that truly defines Westy. Winter athletics offer so much variety – from basketball and squash, to hockey and swimming, it gives every student a chance to participate, compete, or support. There are countless opportunities to get involved, whether you're playing on a team, cheering in the stands, or simply showing up to support your friends. Going to games, celebrating big wins, and sharing those exciting, emotional sports moments together are experiences that make the season so special. By: Nazar Tatus ‘27 As of September 11, 2025, it has been 1,296 days without any ceasefire in the war in Ukraine. What began as a quiet conflict in 2014 turned into a war of exhaustion, marked by violence, war crimes, corruption, and deliberate provocations of the West. The most recent and significant development occurred on the night of September 10th, 2025, when 22 to 25 Russian drones crossed into Polish airspace — Poland being not only a key member of the European Union but also a vital NATO ally. While some of the drones were taken down by the Dutch F-35s, which started patrolling Eastern Europe starting September 1st, the use of the defense was at least 3 AIM-9 rockets, whose cost already adds up to 1.2 million dollars, at the cost of one Russian drone, about $35,000. As the Polish minister of sovereign affairs stated, this violation of Polish sovereignty was not just a computer mistake but could have been a direct challenge to the alliance’s collective defense principle, enshrined in Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which states that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. This incident isn't the first time neighboring countries to Ukraine have found themselves being influenced by the air attacks, but it is the first time more than a dozen drones were found outside of the conflict zone. In the end, this is just a test to see both the Polish air defense and the reaction of the Western allies for the future. Russia’s pattern of checking the Ukrainian allies is clear when viewed against the backdrop of U.S. policy in 2025. For instance, after the U.S. administration delayed new sanctions and reduced the pace of advanced weapons deliveries in early 2025, because of the Trump-Zelenskiy conflict in the White House, Russian missile strikes surged. According to the European Security Monitor, missile attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure increased by nearly 40% in the first half of 2025 compared to late 2024. Starting in March 2025, Russia has been launching air raids nonstop every day, whose intensity increases not just by dozens, but by hundreds. This escalation followed a period when U.S. aid and diplomatic pressure on Russia had plateaued, demonstrating a clear correlation between Western hesitation and increased Russian aggression. Under the current U.S. administration, military aid to Ukraine has noticeably slowed compared to earlier years of the conflict. This reduction, coupled with diplomatic caution, raises concerns among NATO members about America’s reliability as a leader and protector. The drone incident over Poland illustrates how Russia is testing the boundaries of NATO’s collective defense. Similar provocations—such as missile strikes near the borders of other NATO members like Lithuania and recent sabotage along the Poland-Belarus border—underscore a broader pattern: Russia seeks to exploit any hesitation to weaken the alliance. In this sense, the war in Ukraine is not just a regional conflict but a strategic examination of global security frameworks. Russia’s increasing aggression is a calculated test to determine if NATO allies are truly battle-ready and if the U.S. can still be counted on as a dependable partner. The future of European security may well depend on how decisively the alliance responds in the coming months.   By: Yujin Lee ‘28
Recently, President Trump has imposed global tariffs on several countries. Professional economists have been investigating the global effects of tariffs on the economy and trade market. Tariffs have pros and cons. Some economists claim that tariffs are beneficial, while others assert the effects they can cause on consumers and the economy are detrimental. This article will investigate the pros and cons of tariffs globally. For people who do not know the concept of tariffs, tariffs are taxes imposed by a government on goods and services imported from other countries. Simply put, tariffs add extra cost to the goods that are from foreign countries. For example, let’s imagine there is a store that sells fruits and vegetables. They buy 1500 apples for $1500 from French farmers, and another 1500 apples for $1500 from farmers in the United States; however, France is a foreign country. So, the fruit store that bought apples from France has to pay 34% percent of the price of the apples to the United States government. Therefore, the store pays 34% percent of $1500, which is $510 to the U.S. government, since they have to pay for buying products from foreign countries. Because of this, the store lost $510. Now, they have to make more money. They decide to increase the price on the French apples. French apples used to be one dollar, but now, their price has risen to $1.10. As the price of French apples increased, fewer people started to buy French apples, because apples from the United States are still one dollar. United States apples are not foreign products, so stores did not have to pay for tariffs when they bought apples from U.S. farmers. Why would governments impose tariffs? Increasing prices might look like tariffs only have negative effects, but utilizing tariffs can bring various benefits for the United States. For instance, let’s say I am a U.S. farmer. I sell my apples from my farm to the same fruit store mentioned above; however, many people used to buy French apples. But, due to tariffs, French apples are now more expensive than my apples. People start buying my apples because they are cheaper. Just like this example, increasing tariffs can help domestic producers to make more profit. Furthermore, the U.S. government can increase its revenue. Every time a foreign exporter exports their products to the U.S., the government gets to earn more money through tariffs they get from importers who buy from the foreign country. On the contrary, unlike the U.S., many other countries face damaging outcomes of tariffs, because of the impact it causes to consumers and the economy. One of the most immediate impacts of tariffs is a rise in consumer prices. In many cases, the economic burden of increased tariffs are ultimately borne by US consumers. Imported goods in the United States range all the way from electronics to everyday groceries. An increase in prices can contribute to inflationary pressure, forcing central banks to raise interest rates. These effects will potentially slow the economic growth and increase borrowing costs of businesses and consumers and interest rates, resulting in one of the biggest cons of imposing tariffs. By: Simon Stambough ’26
A new tension has arisen within the United Kingdom over the past few months. A movement called Operation Raise the Colours has taken England by storm, and the Saint George’s and Union Jack flags have been painted, hung, and raised throughout the country. Despite what might seem to be a presentation of pride for one's country, this event may actually be targeting incoming migrants. It is no secret that immigration numbers have been rising in the UK. The UK’s net immigration in 1993 was -1,000. But now, in 2024, the UK has seen a net immigration of 431,000. However, despite this drastic increase in immigration, the UK Reform Party, headed by Nigel Farage, has pushed for tighter legislation against migrants attempting to come into the UK, but the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has denounced these plans, calling them “racist” and “immoral”. So what about the flags? The group that claimed responsibility for starting the movement by hanging the flags on light poles said that they were a “group of proud Englishmen with a common goal to show Birmingham and the rest of the country how proud we are of our history, freedoms and achievements". When the flags were taken down due to safety violations, it sparked outrage, with the movement catching wind on social media, causing protests and vandalism of crosswalks and roundabouts, with many having their white paint covered with a red cross. But, as the Saint George’s and Union Jack flags have been used to demonstrate the far right's goal of anti-migration, people are now calling into question if this is more than a movement of nationality. These huge demonstrations have been described as: “making some minorities feel less safe" and "not patriotic, it just feels like an excuse for xenophobia". The demonstrations have also led to fears of white supremacy and to some migrants feeling detached from their new country. Some are even arguing for a redesign of the current flag. With this new divide, the UK Reform Party looks very strong, while the Labor Party’s popularity has plummeted, as shown in a recent poll. No matter what happens, the two-sided nationalist demonstrations will always be looked back on as a divisive topic across the UK. Britain Flag Controversy Read Articles https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/british-court-throws-terror-related-095703115.html https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c626vxyxgj6o https://politicsuk.com/what-is-operation-raise-the-colours/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/283287/net-migration-figures-of-the-united-kingdom-y-on-y/ https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/keir-starmer-calls-reform-migrant-policy-racist-and-immoral/ar-AA1Nska1?ocid=BingNewsSerp https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c930xypxpqpo?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Bmicrosoft%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D By: Angelina Mertz ‘29
Have you ever stared at a test that you had spent weeks studying for and just blanked? Perhaps it was stress, or something was on your mind? Or maybe you’d gotten a score that didn’t truly reflect your skills or creativity? This is due to exam stress, which is a minor form of acute stress. How this works is that your brain perceives the exam as distress and triggers your body into releasing hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. Standardized testing can be defined as a benchmark assessment as well as an opportunity for teachers to observe how each student is growing. But how can they be sure that the test is an accurate depiction of someone's development while accounting for exam stress and other performance-altering factors? Inaccurate test results can start from exam stress, which is the tension one feels when working through a test or under pressure, to something as minor as a bad day. Exam stress is commonly found in perfectionists, those afraid of failure, and those who feel social pressure. There are benefits of exam stress or acute stress, such as the ability to concentrate better, but it comes with poor judgment, impaired perception, and therefore, worse performance. On a bad day, say something unexpected or traumatic has occurred. How is it that your mind is as sharp as it is on a good day? Additionally, standardized tests don't happen often, and “some kids even have test phobia because they have just this one chance at getting it right,” says Alissa Holland, an instructional coach from Massachusetts. The SAT is an example of a standardized test, and plays a major role in college admissions. What is it worth if it's not an accurate measure of college readiness, creativity, or life skills? Schools and universities should reconsider relying heavily on standardized testing accuracy, as there are a million different factors that affect someone's performance. By: Veronica Edwards ‘27 & Natasha Johnson ‘27
As we transition into winter on The Hill, the days grow noticeably shorter and the sunlight disappears earlier each evening. This Monday marked the first Daylight Saving Time of the year, and as I walked to dinner under the darkening sky at five o’clock, I found myself wondering about the origins of this practice. My curiosity led me to discover that the concept of daylight saving was first proposed by Benjamin Franklin, who suggested that people could conserve candles and money by waking up earlier to take advantage of natural daylight. Although Franklin’s idea was sensible, it was slow to gain acceptance. It wasn’t until 1916 that Germany and Austria-Hungary officially implemented daylight saving time during World War I. For us, daylight saving time signals the true beginning of winter. Life on The Hill during these colder, darker months can be challenging, but there are always ways to make it brighter. I suggest getting lots of exercise and setting short-term goals for yourself as motivation. Spend as much time as possible outdoors and embrace what little sunlight there is in the day. By: Suri Dong ‘28
A day to pause, A day to breathe, Today is for calm, let thoughts go away. The effort can wait, The noise can abate, Today is for calm, let worries decay. Let sickness end, Let the cough suspend, Yet heavy thought needs time to tame. Let tension decrease, Let sore cease, And rest is not a thing to shame. A gentle walk, Let the bird talk, A chance to heal, where we’ve tried hard. To close our eyes, Let worries die. To greet oneself with love and regard. Sunlight drifting through, Warm wind brushing through, A cup of tea, mellow and free from strain. Time passing slowly, No race to hurry, Embrace each moment with gentle gain. Let the smile stay on the face, Let the word turn with gentle grace, We’ll meet again when strength may stay. Care in health, Care in self, That’s why we take a Wellness Day. Joanna Halle ‘29
The Chapel, the crown jewel of the campus. A gem set in the quiet heart of Simsbury. The doors, welcoming all. The walls, echoing the earlier calls. The pews, remembering those who listened. The altar, at the Chapel’s head, bright and glistened. The Chapel, a safe-haven for students' quiet meditations. Witness to generations, carved into Westminster’s foundation. Remaining calm, in the storm of student life. Within the Chapel, voice rise with thoughtful talks, Speaking of stories, lessons, and their own walks. Offering their experiences to guide, Touching hearts with words that do not hide. The Chapel stands, both old and new. As Westminster’s crown of light, a steadfast view. A witness to laughter, tears, and song. A home for all, where we belong. |
