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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.
  • getting around 33p a kilo for their wool - in the current strong market we're seeing prices at £1.08
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • a matter simply of "supply and demand
  • 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."
  • 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.
1More

BBC News - US car makers report disappointing December sales - 1 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...business-25590219
shared by Vicky Kalfayan on 06 Jan 14 - No Cached
  • Alan Cheung on 06 Jan 14
     
    When reading closely I see many of our beginning topics on demand discussed. Have fun with this one. Don't forget to highlight the relevant parts so I see what you are picking up from the article.
10More

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
  • 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.
  • Under the changes, 14% is deducted from housing benefit for people with one spare bedroom, and a quarter for two or more.
  • "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.
6More

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.
6More

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.
11More

BBC News - South West agricultural labour shortage fears - 1 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...uk-england-25181268
shared by Vicky Kalfayan on 04 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • Members of the horticultural industry in the South West fear labour shortages when Romania and Bulgaria become full members of the EU next year.
  • The Home Office said it wanted to encourage more recruitment from the UK.
  • For the past 10 years, Romanians and Bulgarians have been employed on farms as pickers under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (Saws), which allowed them to work for six months.
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • But when both countries become full members of the EU, they will be allowed to work in any British sector.
  • James Hosking, from Fentongollan flower farm in Cornwall, said before Saws was introduced the biggest problem for local growers was recruiting a sufficient number of pickers.
  • "In two or three year's time, we'll be back to where we were 10 years ago when we were all screaming that we couldn't get enough labour."
  • Romanians and Bulgarians account for about a third of the UK's seasonal farm workers.
  • The National Farmers' Union (NFU) said scrapping Saws would cause long term damage to the sector.
  • I can't get enough. The sad reality is that the majority don't want to get their hands dirty," he said.
  • "Nationality, colour, creed and gender really doesn't matter to me - I need pairs of hands and enthusiasm," he added.
  • Alan Cheung on 13 Dec 13
     
    Interesting article, but more relevant to macroeconomics.
18More

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.
5More

Astronaut Mark Kelly Joins Near-Space Tourism Company World View - Forbes - 1 views

www.forbes.com/...ace-tourism-company-world-view celebrity advertising substitutes demand
shared by Alex Iancu on 11 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • Tucson, AZ-based World View Enterprises, which aims to take people into near space altitudes via balloon, announced today that former NASA astronaut Mark Kelly is joining the company as its Director of Flight Crew Operations. The company announced that it will also begin taking reservations for its flights this week.
  • The cost for a trip will be $75,000. Pricey, but not nearly as expensive as a suborbital trip on a Virgin Galactic spaceship, which will cost about $250,000.
  • “ This is going to a very high altitude – only about 6 people have flown this high in a balloon before,”
  • Alex Iancu on 11 Dec 13
     
    Interesting Reading- Deals with demand and the factors that cause shift in demand.
  • Alan Cheung on 13 Dec 13
     
    Interesting article, but I'm not convinced you'll have enough to write 750 words. You may have to verbally go through with me what you are thinking (or use the brainstorming sheet on Moodle).
7More

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.
7More

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.
5More

BBC News - Jaguar Land Rover confirms Brazil car factory plans - 1 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...business-25247483 brazil car factory
shared by Andrei Vacarus on 08 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • capable of producing 24,000 vehicles a year.
  • JLR's sales in Brazil for the first ten months of 2013 have increased by more than 40% to 9,549 vehicles.
  • Producing cars locally means JLR will avoid Brazil's high import tariffs. Nor does JLR have to form a partnership with a Brazilian company, as it had to in China.
  • Andrei Vacarus on 08 Dec 13
     
    JLR invests in Brazil
  • Victorita Paun on 12 Dec 13
     
    Not really sure what the Micro-economic connections are here. Your previous article would be more appropriate for an IA on Micro-economics.
5More

Adam Sandler Tops Forbes' 2013 List Of The Most Overpaid Actors - Forbes - 1 views

www.forbes.com/...st-of-the-most-overpaid-actors adam sandler estimating business plan allocating resources opportunity cost
shared by Alex Iancu on 11 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • Adam Sandler is one of the few actors in Hollywood who can still demand a paycheck north of $15 million. That’s great for his bank account but not always so great for the studios that employ him.
  • Jack & Jill grossed $150 million but the film cost an estimated $80 million to make. Considering studios take home about half of box office receipts, that means only about $70 million flowed to Sony Sony, which also had to pay to advertise the stinker.
  • . We estimate that for every dollar Sandler was paid on his last three movies, the films returned an average of $3.40.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • The problem for Hollywood is that telling a hit from a miss before the movie is made is almost impossible.
  • Victorita Paun on 12 Dec 13
     
    This is a good article as it provides sufficient grounds to analyse and evaluate.
5More

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.
6More

The Effects of Minimum Wage From a Microeconomic Perspective | Chron.com - 1 views

smallbusiness.chron.com/economic-perspective-4859.html
shared by dgeorgiev15 on 12 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • minimum wage is revised from time to time to adjust for inflating prices
  • a minimum wage virtually eliminates companies' ability to negotiate wages for their lowest-level employees
  • According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the minimum wage increased about twenty four percent between 2007 and 2009, going from $5.85 to $7.25 per hour
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • every 10 percent increase in the minimum wage causes a five to nine percent decrease in youth employment
  • According to the U.S. Census, only around seventeen percent of minimum wage earners are supporting families on their own
  • Victorita Paun on 12 Dec 13
     
    This article is already analysing the economic concept so there isn't much for you to further explain or analyse. Choose an article that deals with an event from which you can extract the underlying economic concepts.
2More

Italian Banks' Woes Hurt Small Firms - WSJ.com - 1 views

online.wsj.com/...702304281004579221990901816358
shared by Marc M on 02 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • Mr. Fattorini's problem is much closer to home. His longtime bank, Banca Marche, lost more than €750 million ($1.01 billion) in 2012 and the first half of this year. As a result, the bank cut his credit lines last year, choking off the funds he needs to survive.
  • Alan Cheung on 12 Dec 13
     
    I would suggest you stay away from the Wall Street Journal. It provides too much economics language, which is your job to do for an IA. Besides, I'm not seeing any micro connection with this article. Where's your back up second article?
8More

In Typhoon Haiyan's Wake: Destroyed Rice, Coconut Crops, Fishing Industry - Forbes - 1 views

www.forbes.com/...coconut-crops-fishing-industry
shared by Iris Tilea on 03 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • much of the fertile rice-growing region of the central Visayas, as the region is known, is lost for this season at least and maybe  much longer.
  • much of the fertile rice-growing region of the central Visayas, as the region is known, is lost for this season at least and maybe  much longer.
  • farmers can no longer concentrate on farming
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • “Our farmers are small farmers,” he said. “They own on average eight tenths of a hectare. Their crop was 70% destroyed.”
  • Farmers typically had about 80 or so coconut trees on average, but they too fell by the thousands.
  • Stocks of fish in protected areas were lost, according to Juan Albaladejo, regional director for the bureau of fisheries, but fish remain plentiful in the surrounding seas.
  • The ones who are affected are the ones who are fishing, not the fish,
  • Alan Cheung on 12 Dec 13
     
    This is also a relevant micro article. My concern is whether you have enough to write 750 words.
8More

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.
5More

BBC News - Pace picks up for British industry and car production - 1 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...business-25030372
shared by Dorottya Szocs on 03 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • UK car production in October rose at the fastest pace so far this year, and British industrial output is at its highest since 1995, organisations have reported.
  • The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said the number of cars built in October was up 17% from 2012.
  • The growth was largely driven by demand for cars to sell in Britain rather than for export, the SMMT said. It reported 160,854 cars were built in the UK last month, with demand being driven by cheap finance deals and rising consumer confidence.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • "UK car manufacturing for the home market increased strongly in October," said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes. "With European demand showing early signs of recovery, we expect production to continue positively in the coming months."
  • Alan Cheung on 12 Dec 13
     
    Relevant, but I am just afraid you may not have enough to complete 750 words.
7More

Sriracha factory ordered to put a lid on smell after locals pepper city with complaints... - 2 views

money.cnn.com/...index.html
shared by Dorottya Szocs on 03 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • A judge in Los Angeles County has ordered Sriracha maker Huy Fong Foods to suspend operations at a plant in the city of Irwindale that local residents claim has caused an overpowering odor.
  • Irwindale claimed in a lawsuit that the stench was causing watery eyes, sore throats and headaches, prompting complaints from dozens of residents.
  • he judge's ruling orders Huy Fong to "immediately make changes in its site operations reducing odors and the potential for odors." The city has been pushing Huy Fong to install a new filtration system to address the issue.
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • "We want to find a balance between letting this business be a business and protecting our residents," Davidson said.
  • For most of its lifespan, Huy Fong has produced the Thai chili sauce without incident in Rosemead, Calif., but it shifted some production to Irwindale earlier this year.
  • The company produced 20 million bottles of Sriracha in 2012, or $60 million worth, all without the benefit of advertising. Consumer devotion to the brand has inspired cookbooks, embroidery, jewelry and a limited-edition flavor of Lay's potato chips
  • Alan Cheung on 12 Dec 13
     
    Very interesting article. It would be fun to see where you take this article. There should be plenty to analyse and evaluate.
4More

D.C. to vote on $11.50 minimum wage - Dec. 3, 2013 - 2 views

money.cnn.com/...index.html
shared by sari lakis on 03 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • City lawmakers are scheduled to vote to increase the District minimum wage to $11.50 an hour from the current $8.25. The hikes would be phased in over three years, starting at $9.50 in July 2014, and increase with inflation starting in 2017.
  • The federal minimum hourly wage is $7.25.
  • The federal rate serves as a bare minimum, but states or localities can go higher. It has not increased since 2009, when it settled at $7.25 under a pre-recession 2007 law.
  • Alan Cheung on 12 Dec 13
     
    This is a safe article for analysis and evaluation.
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