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sari lakis

BBC News - Developing countries told 'tax tobacco to save lives' - 1 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...health-25192196

shared by sari lakis on 03 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • Poorer countries should consider adopting or raising tobacco taxes to help save lives, a group of leading economists says.
  • They suggest alcohol and sugar could also be taxed.
  • They give China as an example where a 50% tax on tobacco could prevent 20m deaths and generate $20bn over the next 50 years.
  • Alan Cheung on 12 Dec 13
     
    Interesting article here. I think there should be a few more areas highlighted, but that would be for you to make connections.
Isabella Sarmiento

Asian coconut crisis could benefit Central America - 1 views

www.newsroompanama.com/...d-benefit-central-america.html

shared by Isabella Sarmiento on 03 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • PREDICTIONS of A crisis in coconut production in Asia could open markets for Central American producers.
  • The UN Agency for Food and Agriculture (FAO) is warning of an impending crisis in production in Asian countries which are majorglobal producers, due to aging plantations, whose yields have fallen from 100 coconuts per tree year, to just 40.
  • Sector productivity is increasing by 2% a year, while global demand is growing by 10%. In Asia, the coconut palm that characterizes the landscape from the Philippines to India, is facing a crisis because ageing palm crops are less productive, reducing the harvest of the commodity which is used in food, fuel, soaps and cosmetics.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • This is because after sixty years, reforestation of the trees is advisable, and many were planted between 50 and 60 years ago, do not produce enough.
  • Alan Cheung on 12 Dec 13
     
    Relevant, but since it's referring to coconuts on a global scale, you may struggle to write about it in a micro context.
Isabella Sarmiento

US economist calls for minimum wage increase - BUSINESS - Globaltimes.cn - 2 views

www.globaltimes.cn/...829397.shtml

shared by Isabella Sarmiento on 03 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • Almost 60 percent of US minimum-wage workers are in either food service or sales, and the inflation-adjusted wages of workers in retail trade have fallen almost 30 percent since 1973, he noted.
  • : hiking the minimum wage has little or no adverse effect on employment, while significantly increasing workers' earnings," Krugman said.
  • the Economic Policy Institute estimated that an increase in the national minimum wage to 10.10 US dollars from its current 7.25 dollars would benefit 30 million workers, he said.
  • Alan Cheung on 12 Dec 13
     
    This is a good article. There should be plenty to analyse and evaluate.
anonymous

BBC News - Cumbria County Council proposes cutting bus subsidies - 1 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...uk-england-cumbria-25138484

shared by anonymous on 03 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • save £1.9m per year.
  • Forty-three daytime services, 17 evening services and 10 Sunday services receive subsidies - about 5% of the total services across the county.
  • 7p per passenger in subsidies while others cost more than £12 per person, according to council figures.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • £22,000 per year.
  • Alan Cheung on 12 Dec 13
     
    Relevant, but I am afraid you make take some of the information already presented in the article as your own evaluation.
anonymous

BBC News - E-tolls lead to South Africa traffic jams - 1 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...world-africa-25193478

shared by anonymous on 03 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • The "e-toll" system affects the ring road around Johannesburg and the motorway to the capital, Pretoria.
  • The government says the toll is need to pay for improved roads
  • fuel tax, VAT and existing tolls
  • ...5 more annotations...
  • monthly fee of 550 rand ($54; £33) to use the roads, while those who do not register pay up to three times as much if they do not pay within seven days.
  • e-toll gantries and a conventional, manned toll-gate.
  • Their car number plates are scanned by gantries over the toll roads and bills sent to their homes if they have not paid in advance.
  • Critics have described the system as "highway robbery".
  • The government says the e-toll is the only way it could have afforded to improve the congested roads around the commercial capital, Johannesburg.
  • Alan Cheung on 12 Dec 13
     
    This should be an interesting article for you to analyse and evaluate.
Martina Minkova

BBC News - PC shipments to see 'most severe yearly fall on record' - 1 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...business-25196031

shared by Martina Minkova on 03 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • ents of personal computers (PCs) are expected to see their "most severe yearly contraction on record" in 2013, according to research firm International Data Corporation (IDC).
  • Global shipm
  • Global shipments of PCs have been hurt by the growing popularity of tablets and smartphones.
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • One key growth area for PC sales has been emerging markets, but IDC said interest had been falling there and that shipments would likely decline into 2014.
  • Earlier this year, research firm Gartner said that a greater availability of inexpensive Android tablets was attracting first-time consumers in emerging markets and hurting PC sales.
  • Alan Cheung on 12 Dec 13
     
    Relevant, but not really micro. Since it's considering global sales, then it will be difficult for you to write in the micro sense.
Martina Minkova

BBC News - US Black Friday sales dip for first time in seven years - 1 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...business-25191657

shared by Martina Minkova on 03 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • Sales on the year's biggest shopping weekend dipped for the first time in seven years, according to the National Retail Federation.
  • Retailers blamed stagnant wages and economic uncertainty for keeping wallets shut, as they slashed prices to lure reluctant shoppers.
  • In total, the National Retail Federation estimates that US shoppers spent around $57.4bn this year, down 2.7% from $59.1bn last year.
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • Cyber Monday solution?
  • But if US consumers are unwilling to part with their dollars, international brands may take comfort in the increasingly global nature of Black Friday.
  • One beacon of hope for nervous retailers is that US consumers have spent more on online shopping than ever before.
  • a statement
  • Cyber Monday became the biggest US online shopping day of the year in 2011
  • Shoppers in Russia, South Korea, China, Germany and Sweden were the biggest spenders.
  • Alan Cheung on 12 Dec 13
     
    This is a good article. There should be plenty to analyse and evaluate.
Diogo Reino da Costa

BBC News - Qantas shares tumble on shock profit warning and job cuts - 1 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...business-25227315

shared by Diogo Reino da Costa on 05 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • Shares in Qantas sank more than 15% after the Australian airline issued a surprise profit warning and announced 1,000 job cuts.
  • The situation demanded urgent action and the airline would "do whatever we need to do to secure the Qantas Group's future", he said
  • He blamed record fuel costs, a strong Australian dollar and fierce competition from subsidised rivals.
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • Qantas said in a statement it expects to makes losses of up to A$300m ($271m; £165m) for July-to-December. Chief executive Alan Joyce said the airline was facing "immense challenges".
  • The Australian aviation market is one of the toughest of anywhere in the world, the carrier said.
  • rules restricting foreign investment in the carrier should be changed.
  • Qantas argues that these rules have hurt its growth, not least because its major rival Virgin has benefited from increased foreign investment.
  • Alan Cheung on 12 Dec 13
     
    Same situation with this article, I'm not sure what specific microeconomic topics you are drawing connections with. You may be better off finding another article.
Diogo Reino da Costa

BBC News - General Motors to withdraw Chevrolet brand from Europe - 1 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...business-25237227

shared by Diogo Reino da Costa on 05 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • General Motors, the US car giant, has said it plans to withdraw its Chevrolet brand from Europe and concentrate more on its Opel and Vauxhall brands.
  • The withdrawal will begin from 2016, the company said. Chevrolet would no longer have a "mainstream presence" in the region, largely thanks to "the difficult economic situation", GM said.
  • But it has been losing money in the region, where a mature and saturated car market, coupled with a fragile economy, has stifled growth. GM chief executive Dan Akerson said the decision would "allow us to focus our investments where the opportunity for growth is greatest".
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • "Europe is a key region for GM," he added.
  • Alan Cheung on 12 Dec 13
     
    I'm not sure I see what connections you are making with the topics we have explored under microeconomics. You'll have to talk this article out with me.
Octav Ivanescu

Price freeze imposed in calamity zones | Headlines, News, The Philippine Star | philsta... - 1 views

www.philstar.com/...-freeze-imposed-calamity-zones

shared by Octav Ivanescu on 05 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • MANILA, Philippines - The government has imposed a price freeze on basic commodities in areas placed under a state of calamity following the devastation wrought by Typhoon Yolanda.c
  • The price freeze will be in effect for a maximum of 60 days, unless lifted by President Aquino.
  • The price freeze covers rice, corn, bread, and fresh, dried and canned fish, as well as other marine products, fresh pork, beef and poultry, eggs, fresh and processed vegetables, root crops, coffee, sugar, cooking oil, salt, laundry soap, detergents, fire wood, charcoal, candles and medicine classified as essential by the Department of Health.
  • Alan Cheung on 12 Dec 13
     
    This is an interesting article. It would be fun to see how you take this and apply it to what we have covered thus far.
Octav Ivanescu

Syria's oil supply decimated as demand grows: OPEC - 1 views

www.cnbc.com/101021567

shared by Octav Ivanescu on 05 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • The conflict in Syria has more than halved the amount of oil the Middle Eastern country can supply, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said on Tuesday.
  • The influential oil exporters' group also said that demand for oil had risen this year as the picture for the global economy improves. OPEC revised its demand forecasts up by 25,000 barrels a day in 2013.
  • A subdued improvement in developed world economies, such as the U.S. and Europe, has offset a slowdown in emerging and developing economies, according to OPEC.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • Syria is expected to have one of the largest declines in oil supply this year, as conflict continues to rage in the country.
  • Alan Cheung on 12 Dec 13
     
    Good article, but oil tends to be overused by economics students. So, it essentially gets boring.
Majdah Fareed

Fast-food protests return amid push for wage hikes - The Washington Post - 1 views

www.washingtonpost.com/...3-8d24-31c016b976b2_story.html

shared by Majdah Fareed on 06 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • advocacy groups and Democrats are hoping to build public support to raise the federal minimum wage of $7.25. That comes to about $15,000 a year for full-time work.
  • I’m relying on aid, and $7.40 is not able to help me maintain taking care of my son. I’m a single parent
  • The industry competes aggressively on being able to offer low-cost meals and companies have warned that they would need to raise prices if wages were hiked.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • Service Employees International Union, which represents more than 2 million workers in health care, janitorial and other industries, has helped put their wages in the spotlight.
  • Alan Cheung on 12 Dec 13
     
    This is also a good article to analyse and evaluate.
Majdah Fareed

Car production drops 20.2% in November - BuenosAiresHerald.com - 1 views

www.buenosairesherald.com/...duction-drops-202-in-november-

shared by Majdah Fareed on 06 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • 20.2 percent in the month of November compared with the same month last year
  • car manufacturing industry produced 62,186 vehicles in November, the ADEFA’s report revealed, a figure which also signifies a 17.7 percent decline in relation to October’s production level.
  • a decline in demand in the Brazilian car market
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • the car industry still managed to roll out 746,085 vehicles, a 6.1 percent increase so far this year
  • Even as November registered the most significant year-on-year variation in production,
  • February‘s production was down 2.3 percent from the previous year, August levels slipped 12.2 percent and in October the amount of Argentine vehicle manufactured fell 4.8 percent from the same month last year.
  • domestic and international sales saw increases since the beginning of the year in comparison to 2012, with domestic levels up 18 percent and exports 9.5 percent higher.
  • Alan Cheung on 12 Dec 13
     
    This is a good article. There should be plenty to analyse and evaluate.
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.
Jeremy Christianopoulos

Rotto businesses want ferry subsidy - The West Australian - 1 views

au.news.yahoo.com/...-businesses-want-ferry-subsidy

shared by Jeremy Christianopoulos on 05 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • subsidy on the growing cost of a ferry ticket to attract more people to the holiday island.
  • State Government's control of the island
  • pushing a same-day return ticket down to $30 in winter, with the help of a State Government subsidy
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • The current day trip for an adult is $75 return from Fremantle with Rottnest Express. A day return trip from Hillarys on Rottnest Fast Ferries comes in at $84
  • "If that was the price wouldn't you say: 'Let's not go to Hillarys or somewhere else in Perth, let's go to Rotto have a beer and lunch and come back at five o'clock'," he said.
  • a simple measure that would automatically improve patronage.
  • The prices include a $16.50 landing fee, which blows out to $21.50 for an extended stay.
  • estimated to be more than $5 million annually.
  • Mr Papandroulakis said he had informal talks with Premier Colin Barnett on the subsidy issue.
  • Rottnest Express director Glenn Gaynor said his company offered 40,000 heavily discounted tickets per year, at prices that often left them operating the ferry service at a loss.
  • Victorita Paun on 11 Dec 13
     
    In responding to this article there is room to evaluate the impact of the subsidy and the reasoning behind it, but you want to make sure that will be enough to meet the word limit and provide you with at least one diagram.
Jeremy Christianopoulos

As drought takes tragic toll, Queensland families must decide to stay on farms or leave... - 1 views

www.couriermail.com.au/...story-fnihsrf2-1226751757275

shared by Jeremy Christianopoulos on 05 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • 15,000ha near Cunnamulla.
  • 3000 of his lambs die of starvation and with them went any income for the next year.
  • "Tens of thousands of lambs have been lost."We are losing an industry."
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • heatwave earlier in the year
  • $10,000 a month on feed.
  • 250 farmers in 30 shires affected by drought, 25 per cent said water issues were now critical.
  • 68 per cent of respondents saying the financial impact was worse than previous drought and 85 per cent said the environmental impacts were the same of worse than the last drought that lasted eight years.
  • Victorita Paun on 11 Dec 13
     
    The article is a good choice for a discussion on supply.
azuccolo15

Parliament Congratulates Gallant Farmers … As Dr. Owusu Afriyie Pleads For Ch... - 0 views

thechronicle.com.gh/nge-in-fertilizer-distribution

shared by azuccolo15 on 09 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • Dr. Akoto Owusu Afriyie has suggested to government to move from the Invoice System of distributing fertilizers to farmers, to the Pass Book System
  • The Invoice System, according to Ranking Member for the Food and Agriculture committee in parliament, had accounted for increased smuggling of fertilizers in the last five years, whilst compelling farmers to purchase fertilizers at black market price.
  • “Change the system of distribution of fertilizers, during Kuffour’s regime, it was based on a card slip and every farmer has a pass book and there was sole distributor in the district and beyond. You go with your pass book and sign to receive two bags for which you pay the subsidized price
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • Continuing, he said farmers do not get fertilizers to buy and even if they do, they pay black market price which was far more than the market price
  • For instance, he said this year, government had imported 180,000 tonnes of fertilizers but argued that the amount that would go to farmers was not known because under the invoice system of distribution, beneficiaries of the subsidized fertilizers could not be traced and recorded
  • And is our proposal to the government to increase their allocation to the ministry
  • He urged the government to channel a large chunk of the revenue that would be generated from the oil and gas sector into the development of agriculture in the country
  • The Atwima-Nwabiagya South MP urged his colleague MPs to use their positions to help solve the challenges the farmers faced in the countr
  • Mr. Abu, on his part, stressed the need to make the farming profession lucrative in order to reduce the retention rate and attract the youth.
  • “It is important that our farmers are encouraged to remain in Agriculture and adopt scientific and modern practices of farming to enable them increase their production and productivity every season to reduce hunger and poverty,” he said.
  • Victorita Paun on 11 Dec 13
     
    Also a good article for a discussion on subsidies, their role and consequences.
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.
azuccolo15

Japan to oppose fishing subsidies ban in TPP trade negotiations | The Japan Times - 1 views

www.japantimes.co.jp/...-ban-in-tpp-trade-negotiations

shared by azuccolo15 on 09 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • Tokyo plans to oppose a U.S.-proposed ban on fishing subsidies in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks that Japan will join from July, due to the numerous adverse effects it might have on the nation’s fishing industry, government sources said Saturday
  • If the interdiction is implemented by the 11 current TPP member states, the government will call for its scope to be limited to subsidies that would unquestionably lead to overfishing, as the Japanese fishing industry heavily depends on this source of funding, according to the sources.
  • The government’s position also reflects concern the ban may include subsidies for the construction of ports and other infrastructure, hindering recovery efforts in coastal regions where the 2011 earthquake and tsunami ravaged local fishing industries
  • Victorita Paun on 11 Dec 13
     
    This article more suitable for for Section 3 - International Economics
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