Every week, North Star will take some time out of our schedules to bring you our favorite reads from the past week.

Jeff Van Wychen

China’s Twilight Years

China’s economy–which until recently appeared to be an unstoppable juggernaut–will be hampered in future decades by an aging population which will cause China’s workforce to shrink. While the United States has its own demographic issues to deal with, it will avoid the severity of the problem faced by China and other rapidly aging nations, thanks largely to immigration.

Stephanie Fenner

Student Loan Debt Vexing for Many Grads, But There Are Options

There are options for students who have trouble repaying their loans, but a new article from MPR notes that a new study found 94% of student loan borrowers don’t know the terms of their repayment plans. That could also mean they don’t know their options. This article profiles Minnesotans struggling to repay their student loans.