$4,000 Gold Is Changing Lives Across Central Asia

As the price of gold has hovered around $4,000 an ounce in recent weeks, the men in the small-scale mines north of the village of Soykechar in Uzbekistan have watched every bounce and slide.

They pull up apps on their phones that show various price points.

The local TV stations announce the price.

And, by word of mouth, they know the quote on the black market.

“We are trying to make better lives, and we can buy good clothes for the children, better food, and we can go to private hospitals,” said Doniyor, the 34-year-old machinery manager…