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Vicky Kalfayan

BBC News - Cycling gets £94m push in England - 1 views

www.bbc.co.uk/uk-23657010

shared by Vicky Kalfayan on 04 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • A number of English cities and national parks are to share a £94m cash injection to promote cycling.
  • The money is to improve existing and fund new cycle routes. The government says it also wants to cut red tape to facilitate cyclist-friendly planning.
  • "a cycling revolution".
  • ...14 more annotations...
  • This government wants to make it easier and safer for people who already cycle as well as encouraging far more people to take it up and business, local government, developers, road users and the transport sector all have a role to play in helping to achieve this."
  • The government has also announced a feasibility study to look at creating a new national cycleway
  • Ministers hope to emulate nationwide the popularity of cycling in London - where the number of cyclists has doubled over the past 10 years, according to one estimate.
  • "Far more people prefer to drive, walk or catch the bus - in fact government statistics show that in 2012, just 2% of journeys in Britain were by bike."
  • "This is fantastic news for those living in the succe
  • this level of investment must be maintained and extended to all parts of the UK, including rural areas."
  • urge MPs of all parties to speak up for cycling in Parliament in September, calling for the funding needed to transform Britain's streets into a continental-style Cycletopia,"
  • "We now
  • he said.
  • "No amount of cynical spin from David Cameron will make up for the fact that, immediately on taking office, he axed Cycle England, the Cycle Demonstration Towns scheme and the annual £60m budget to support cycling that he inherited.
  • "Since then he has axed targets to reduce death
  • s and serious injuries on our roads, reduced traffic enforcement,
  • cut the THINK!
  • "Tragically the number of cyclist deaths are now at a five-year high, reversing the progress that was starting to be made,
  • Alan Cheung on 13 Dec 13
     
    You may not use this article since I've used it in class. Must find your own.
dgeorgiev15

BBC News - UK new car sales highest since 2007, SMMT says - 0 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...business-25632668

shared by dgeorgiev15 on 07 Jan 14 - No Cached
  • UK car sales in 2013 recorded their best year since 2007
  • attractive financing deals have tempted buyers
  • three-quarters of sales to private buyers now involving some kind of financing package.
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • Most cars built in the UK are exported.
  • Thousands of new jobs were created in the industry as both Jaguar Land Rover and Bentley expanded their operations in the UK.
  • UK economic activity holds up well through 2014 and beyond
azuccolo15

BBC News - No change on North Lincolnshire housing grant ban for smokers - 1 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...uk-england-humber-25154871

shared by azuccolo15 on 09 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • A council has said it will not change its policy on refusing housing grants to tenants who smoke, despite spending just 10% of the available budget
  • North Lincolnshire Council is responsible for distributing government money to help people affected by the removal of the spare room subsidy
  • The change in housing benefit rules was introduced in April and has been dubbed the "bedroom tax" by Labour
  • ...5 more annotations...
  • The authority's payment ban also applies to social housing tenants who subscribe to satellite television channels
  • Under the changes, 14% is deducted from housing benefit for people with one spare bedroom, and a quarter for two or more.
  • The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provides £25m per year in Discretionary Housing Payments to allow local authorities to provide support for tenants affected by the change.
  • "If their spending includes satellite television. If it includes smoking then what we say to you is we can't give you extra taxpayers' money to support you to continue to make those life choices.
  • He said: "I find it quite shocking that the council are saying they're not going to use the money to support people if they happen to be in a contract for satellite TV, which they might have taken before the bedroom tax came in to effect, or they are smokers
  • Victorita Paun on 11 Dec 13
     
    Good article for externalities! Enough room for commenting on the underlying economic concepts.
  • azuccolo15 on 06 Jan 14
     
    MLA Citation: "No Change on North Lincolnshire Housing Grant Ban for Smokers." BBC News. BBC, 2 Dec. 2013. Web. 12 Dec. 2013. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-25154871 This article best applies to the microeconomics section of this course. To be more specific, it is a good example of negative externalities and how governments try to combat them, as well as the idea of subsidies.
Sara Lair

labor force participation at lowest level since 1978 - Sep. 6, 2013 - 0 views

money.cnn.com/...labor-force-participation

shared by Sara Lair on 16 Apr 14 - No Cached
  • The labor force participation rate -- the percentage of people over 16 who either have a job or are actively searching for one -- fell to 63.2% in August
  • In the latter half of the 20th century, the rate rose steadily for decades as more women were entering the workforce, eventually peaking at 67.3% in 200
  • We know there's a lot of hardworking people that want to be productive, we just don't have work for them to do
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • the main reason for its recent fall is a lack of good jobs.
  • 0. But the number has been on the decline ever since -- a trend that was accelerated by the Great Recession.
  • We're operating way below potential,
  • There are now 90.5 million Americas who don't work and are not counted as part of the labor force. This excludes kids under the age of 16 and non civilians such as those in the military or in prison, but includes just about everyone else.
  • Whatever the reason, the fact that just over 63% of the population is engaged in the workforce is problematic. It means that a smaller chunk of the population is paying for promised entitlements such as Social Security and Medicare. And if a smaller share of the country is working, it will also act as a drag on economic growth.
  • "We're not getting the economic growth or the tax payments that were expected when these promises were made
Iris Tilea

UK unemployment falls by 125,000 - 1 views

news.uk.msn.com/...unemployment-falls-by-125000-4

unemployment falls UK

shared by Iris Tilea on 15 Apr 14 - No Cached
  • UK unemployment falls by 125,000
  • Communications giant EE added to the good news by announcing 1,000 new jobs, on top of 400 new positions planned by TNT Post.
  • But 1.4 million people are in part-time jobs because they cannot find full-time work, a fall of 29,000 over the latest quarter but 46,000 higher than a year ago.
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • The jobless total was 2.34 million in the final quarter of last year, down by 125,000, giving a rate of 7.2%, while t he number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance dipped to 1.22 million in January, down by 27,000.
  • Employment now stands at more than 30 million, a rate of 72.1%, which is 0.6% higher than a year ago.
  • More than 900,000 young people are still unemployed and over 250,000 young people have been unemployed for over a year.
  • "Under-employment is now a bitter reality for millions of struggling families across the UK."
  • "Today's figures also show working people facing a cost-of-living crisis are over £1,600 a year worse off since David Cameron became Prime Minister.
  • the latest unemployment figures showed that the UK had a strong and flexible labour market, adding: " However, there are signs that the pace of improvement in the jobs market is slowing down. Although youth unemployment has fallen, the jobless level among 16 to 24-years-olds still stands at 917,000, which is far too high.
  • "Many people are also still working part-time, as they are unable to gain full-time employment."
Iris Tilea

BBC News - Mexico passes 'junk food tax' reform - 1 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...world-latin-america-24766027

shared by Iris Tilea on 03 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • tax reform bill imposing new levies on junk food and soft drinks.
  • aims to boost government revenue by increasing top earners' income tax.
  • extra cash will go on infrastructure and social security
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • Mexico recently surpassed the United States as the country with one of the highest obesity rates in the world.
  • 32.8% of adult Mexicans are obese, compared to 31.8% of Americans.
  • The law imposes a levy of 8% on junk food, after the Senate increased it from the 5% originally proposed; and creates a tax of one peso ($0.07; £0.04) on every litre of soft or sugary drinks.
  • The legislators also passed a controversial hike in value added tax (VAT) for border regions, from 11% to 16%.
  • Alan Cheung on 12 Dec 13
     
    This is a good article. There should be plenty to analyse and evaluate.
azuccolo15

Climate change risk to food supplies - 0 views

www.latinamericanpost.com/...e-change-risk-to-food-supplies

shared by azuccolo15 on 09 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • Climate change will pose sharp risks to the world’s food supply in coming decades, potentially undermining crop production and driving up prices at a time when the demand is expected to soar, scientists have found
  • rising temperatures will have some beneficial effects on crops in some places, but that globally they will make it harder for crops to thrive — perhaps reducing production over all by as much as 2 percent each decade for the rest of this century
  • The scientists describe a natural world in turmoil as plants and animals colonize new areas to escape rising temperatures, and warn that many could become extinct
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • While it did warn of risks and potential losses in output, particularly in the tropics, that report found that gains in production at higher latitudes would most likely offset the losses and ensure an adequate global supply
  • Hundreds of billions of dollars are being spent every year to reduce emissions in response to past findings from the group, though many analysts have said these efforts are so far inadequate to head off drastic climatic changes later in the century
  • On the food supply, the new report finds that benefits from global warming may be seen in some areas, like northern lands that are now marginal for food production. But it adds that over all, global warming could reduce agricultural production by as much as 2 percent each decade for the rest of this century.
  • During that period, demand is expected to rise as much as 14 percent each decade, the report found, as the world population is projected to grow to 9.6 billion in 2050, from 7.2 billion today, according to the United Nations, and as many of those people in developing countries acquire the money to eat richer diets.
  • Any shortfall would lead to rising food prices that would hit the world’s poor hardest, as has already occurred from price increases of recent years. Research has found that climate change, particularly severe heat waves, was a factor in those price spikes.
  • The agricultural risks “are greatest for tropical countries, given projected impacts that exceed adaptive capacity and higher poverty rates compared with temperate regions,” the draft report finds.
  • If the report proves to be correct about the effect on crops from climate change, global food demand might have to be met — if it can be met — by putting new land into production. That could entail chopping down large areas of forest, an action that would only accelerate climate change by sending substantial amounts of carbon dioxide into the air from the destruction of trees
  • Victorita Paun on 11 Dec 13
     
    This particular article is in itself a commentary on the possible economic implications of climate change, and it does not leave much room for your own comments. There is a highs risk that you will be summarizing the article rather than responding to the information that it contains.
Sara Lair

New American Airlines CEO vows to make merger work - The Washington Post - 2 views

www.washingtonpost.com/...3-a7b4-4a75ebc432ab_story.html

shared by Sara Lair on 10 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • American Airlines and US Airways seem an unlikely couple, even to the man who will lead the combined company after their merger on Monday.
  • Will you still compete chiefly on price?
  • We know that something around 25 percent of our customers will go to the lowest price irrespective of time or inconvenience. In a low-margin business like ours, you can’t give up 25 percent of your customers, so we have to match on price.
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • What’s the new American’s frequent-flier program going to look like?
  • Nothing yet to announce. What we do know is this: Customers immediately will be able to combine their miles and use their miles to fly on a larger network.
  • Victorita Paun on 11 Dec 13
     
    This information highlighted by you lends itself to a short discussion on the law of demand and perhaps market structures and types of competition (the last two being topics which have yet to be covered - from what I understand). I do not believe it will be enough to meet the word count requiements for this assignment. However, there is a section in the article mentioning taxes and that may be a more consistent topic to comment on together with perhaps the explanation of your second excerpt selected above using demand elasticity.
dgeorgiev15

Iran oil exports rise as sanctions eased - Dec. 11, 2013 - 1 views

money.cnn.com/...index.html

shared by dgeorgiev15 on 12 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • An easing of sanctions has helped support a rise in oil exports from Iran
  • Iranian exports rose by about 10% in November
  • The IEA estimates Iran's oil exports rose by 89,000 barrels per day to 850,000 barrels per day last month as sales to China and Taiwan climbed
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • supplies from non-OPEC producers topped 43 million barrels per day last month -- thanks in part to the U.S. shale boom.
  • Victorita Paun on 12 Dec 13
     
    Good article for international economics, but not relevant to microeconomics.
sari lakis

260,000 graduates in minimum wage jobs - Mar. 31, 2014 - 1 views

money.cnn.com/...index.html

shared by sari lakis on 15 Apr 14 - No Cached
  • About 260,000 people who had a college or professional degree made at or below the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour last year,
  • - it's the smallest number since 2008. The worst year was 2010, when the number skyrocketed to 327,000.
  • the number of workers with college degrees is still more than double what it was in 2005,
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • Experts point to shifts in the post-recession labor market as the reason for so many college graduates in low-paying jobs.
  • Some 58% of the jobs created during the recent economic recovery have been low-wage positions like retail and food prep workers,
  • These low-wage jobs had a median hourly wage of $13.83 or less.
  • median household income has also dropped by more than $4,000 since 2000
  • And fast food worker Bobby Bingham, who got a bachelor's degree from University of Missouri in Kansas City, works four part-time low-wage jobs just to barely scrape by
  • The consensus among these workers is that they thought pursuing pricey degrees would buy them access into the middle class. But that has been far from the reality in the wake of the recession.
  • "My family told me, 'just get your degree and it will be fine,'" Bingham told CNNMoney. "A degree looks very nice, but I don't have a job to show for it."
Giovanni Perini

BBC News - Wildlife groups criticise green farm subsidy move - 0 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...science-environment-25459562

bbc news wildlife groups farm subsidy

shared by Giovanni Perini on 04 Jan 14 - No Cached
  • Wildlife groups criticise green farm subsidy move
  • spending a bigger share on the environment despite a smaller overall budget for subsidies.
  • transferring 15% of grants away from direct payments for farmers and into protecting wildlife and helping the rural economy.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • "Farmers already pocket huge amounts of cash without having to farm in ways that reduce their effect on wildlife
  • Giovanni Perini on 04 Jan 14
     
    I think this is a good article for negative externalities of production (the impact of farming on wildlife) and the actions the government should take, as well as subsidies.
  • Alan Cheung on 06 Jan 14
     
    Interesting article too, but I think you may have more to write about with your wool article.
Giovanni Perini

BBC News - Sheep farmers in Wales boosted by wool prices - 0 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...uk-wales-25178650

shared by Giovanni Perini on 04 Jan 14 - No Cached
  • Sheep farmers in Wales boosted by wool prices
  • 35% of wool sold by the BWMB is now exported to China, double the percentage two years ago.
  • wool is lighter because of the dry, warm weather this summer, but also we unfortunately received losses of sheep in north Wales this spring after the heavy snow there. That has also had an effect."
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • a matter simply of "supply and demand
  • getting around 33p a kilo for their wool - in the current strong market we're seeing prices at £1.08
  • Wool producers have also reported greater demand for woollen goods.
  • "Because of an increase in the demand for our products we've had to increase production, and that means we've been able to absorb the higher cost of wool.
  • "We've bought new looms, taken on more staff and are making more products".
  • "It's encouraged people to appreciate wool," he said. "It's ecologically good, it's sustainable".
  • Giovanni Perini on 04 Jan 14
     
    This article is good for analysing the effects of supply and demand, how the higher prices is getting more people employed and the effects from there, as well as positive externalities of consumption and production because wool is ecologically good.
  • Alan Cheung on 06 Jan 14
     
    Yes, this article works as you stated. You'll have to explain carefully what ecologically good means when making connections to externalities.
Purush Cadambi

BBC News - American Airlines and US Airways merger finalised - 1 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...business-25307870

shared by Purush Cadambi on 07 Jan 14 - No Cached
  • The new airline, which will be known as American Airlines, will provide nearly 6,700 daily flights to more than 330 destinations in more than 50 countries.
  • It will have a combined workforce of over 100,000 employees.
  • Those slots were intended for low-cost carriers such as JetBlue and Southwest Airlines, in order to keep prices low for consumers who might be hurt by the increasing consolidation in the US airline industry.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • "The public, as well as investors, will benefit from a financially strong industry which can now invest to keep its product updated and in international markets competitive with foreign carriers."
Diogo Reino da Costa

High demand to limit Corvette supplies - 0 views

www.autonews.com/...and-to-limit-corvette-supplies

shared by Diogo Reino da Costa on 08 Jan 14 - No Cached
  • A greater number of exports will reduce the number of cars available in the United States.
  • The 2014 Corvette will be in short supply, with few unsold units on dealer lots until spring at the earliest.
  • production of the two-seat sports car will be capped at about 160 units per day on one shift.
  • ...8 more annotations...
  • Despite high demand for the redesigned sports car, GM will not add a second shift
  • "We've seen this again and again. You bring out a new Corvette and the demand is sky-high at the beginning, and then it tapers off,"
  • "It's not worth making that investment [of a second shift], even though for awhile we make a lot more money getting those cars out there."
  • GM produced 14,960 Corvettes in 2012 in the car's lone plant. If GM sticks to its current production plan for the redesigned 2014 model, output will nearly double to about 30,000 units for a full year.
  • GM has banked enough orders from dealers to keep the plant cranking out cars at 160 per day for at least the next six months.
  • A greater number of exports will reduce the number of cars available in the United States.
  • First, GM plans to offer the redesigned Corvette in nearly all 140 countries that sell Chevrolets.
  • GM spent $131 million to retool the Corvette plant to assemble the 2014 model, which uses a new frame, body and suspension.
  • Victorita Paun on 10 Jan 14
     
    Good choice of article. Make sure you have enough to discuss in 750 words.
Giovanni Perini

BBC News - Guernsey taxes on alcohol, tobacco and fuel to rise in budget - 2 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...world-europe-guernsey-24445235

shared by Giovanni Perini on 06 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • Guernsey taxes on alcohol, tobacco and fuel to rise in budget
  • The increases will add 21p to a packet of 20 cigarettes, 40p to a typical bottle of spirits and 2.3p to a litre of petrol.
  • The income tax allowance is to rise by less than inflation, meaning an increase of £11.20 a year in income tax per wage earner, relative to the Retail Prices Index.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • As well as a permanent increase in the value of the bands determining the rate of duty to be paid, there will also be a temporary reduction of the rates paid on the lower bands.
  • Alan Cheung on 12 Dec 13
     
    Topic wise, this is no different than your previous article. I think the previous one is more focused.
Giovanni Perini

BBC News - Under-age drinking crackdown called for - 3 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...health-25047079

shared by Giovanni Perini on 06 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • Under-age drinking crackdown called for
  • Over a four-year period, just 16 people were convicted in the UK of buying alcohol for a child, it added.
  • The Institute of Alcohol Studies said tackling irresponsible shop promotions and minimum pricing would better tackle the UK's drinking problem.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • "The real way to tackle to the problem of drinking in the UK is to address the bigger issues, such as pricing, through policies such as minimum unit pricing," she added.
  • Alan Cheung on 12 Dec 13
     
    This is a good article. There should be plenty to analyse and evaluate.
Valeriu Moraru

BBC News - Brazil's economy shrinks 0.5% in the third quarter - 1 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...business-25200934

shared by Valeriu Moraru on 04 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • Brazil's economy shrinks 0.5% in the third quarter
  • Brazil's economy fell into contraction in the third quarter, with output shrinking by more than analysts had forecast, according to official state figures.
  • The Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) said that Brazil's economy shrank by 0.5% in the quarter, compared to the previous one. Analysts had expected Brazil's economy to shrink by just 0.2%.
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • Andre Perfeito, chief economist at Gradual Investimentos, said he would lower his projections for next year to 2.4% or 2.5% from 2.7%.
  • "It shows that we were not able to grow despite various economic stimulus measures," he added.
  • Victorita Paun on 12 Dec 13
     
    This article lends itself to International Economics topic than Micro-economics. Perhaps not a good choice for this particular IA.
Valeriu Moraru

BBC News - Detroit judge rules bankruptcy process can proceed - 1 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...business-25203691

shared by Valeriu Moraru on 04 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • Detroit judge rules bankruptcy process can proceed
  • A federal judge has ruled Detroit should be granted protection from its creditors, marking the largest public bankruptcy in US history.
  • Detroit is now expected to submit a plan to rid its balance sheet of $18bn (£11bn) of liabilities.
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • Now, the city's emergency manager, Kevyn Orr, is expected to present a plan by the end of this year for how the city will deal with its more than 100,000 creditors.
  • City officials say they hope Detroit can emerge from bankruptcy by the end of 2014.
  • Alan Cheung on 13 Dec 13
     
    I don't see any micro topics we have covered in class connected to this article.
Dursun N1

BBC News - UK construction growth fastest since August 2007 - 1 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...business-25201692

shared by Dursun N1 on 04 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • UK construction growth fastest since August 2007
  • UK construction picked up speed in November with output rising at the fastest pace in more than six years.
  • "Construction activity continues to spring back to life during the final months of 2013."
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • Last week, official data showed the sector grew at 1.7% in the third quarter compared with the previous quarter.
  • UK could soon recover the ground lost during the crisis: "These survey indicators are suggesting something like a 1% rise in GDP
  • If this sort of pace can be continued into 2014, then the level of UK output will have risen above its pre-crisis peak by next summer."
  • Victorita Paun on 12 Dec 13
     
    Good choice of article. Make sure you can use the information it provides is enough to supply 750 words of analysis and evaluation.
Dursun N1

BBC News - Australia growth rate falls short of forecasts - 1 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...business-25210896

shared by Dursun N1 on 04 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • Australia growth rate falls short of forecasts
  • gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 0.6% compared to the previous quarter and 2.3% year-on-year.
  • Australia's economy has also been hurt by a global slowdown which has seen its mining boom wane recently.
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • "Mining investment is coming off, maybe not as quickly as people have been worrying about, but it's that growth transition, the pick-up in the non-mining side, where the evidence is still mixed,"
  • The numbers come just a day after Australia's central bank left its key interest rate unchanged at a record low 2.75%
  • Some analysts suggested that if growth continued to remain weak, the bank may be prompted to cut rates further to try to boost the economy.
  • Victorita Paun on 12 Dec 13
     
    Good article for International Economics but not Micro-economics.
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