A global magazine about what makes sense—and why so much doesn’t.
Part essay, part reporting, part personal reflection.
It’s not about moving abroad. It’s about learning how to live better anywhere.
How It Works (and Why It Doesn’t) examines how societies succeed or fail at the basics: housing that’s affordable, streets that feel alive, healthcare that works, work that matters, and daily life that still makes sense. We connect policy, culture, and human behavior to show what functioning looks like—and how to rebuild it.
Founded and written by Valencia, Spain-based Rocco Pendola—a journalist, essayist, and freelance writer who explores what makes life work in a world that often doesn’t.
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People
I live and work full-time in Spain, where I write about life abroad, cities, and investing and personal finance. I’m no longer a U.S. resident. I am based entirely in the EU.