Skip to main content

Home/ Fall 2012 Challenges Assignment/ Group items tagged trade

Rss Feed Group items tagged

burmangabriel

Fiscal cliff: Obama, Boehner trade proposals - 1 views

  • prevent economy-damaging tax increases on the middle class at year's end, conferring by phone after a secretive exchange of proposals.
  • to reduce his initial demand for $1.6 trillion in higher tax revenue over a decade to $1.4 trillion
  • The longer the White House slow-walks this process, the closer our economy gets to the fiscal cliff," he said, declaring that Obama had yet to identify specific cuts to government benefit programs that as part of an agreement that also would raise federal tax revenue
  • ...14 more annotations...
  • attempts to avert a "fiscal cliff," across-the-board tax increases and cuts in defense and domestic programs that economists say could send the economy into recession
  • numerous proposals Obama has made to cut spending, including recommendations to cull $340 billion from Medicare over a decade and an additional $250 billion from other government benefit programs
  • Republicans "sent the White House a counteroffer that would achieve tax and entitlement reform to solve our looming debt crisis and create more American jobs
  • a deal to prevent damage to the economy,
  • Republicans struggle with Obama's demands to raise taxes, but Reid has privately told his rank and file they could soon be feeling the same distress if discussions grow serious on cuts to benefit programs
  • we need to strengthen Social Security, we need to strengthen Medicare for future generations, the current path is not sustainable because we've got an aging population and health care costs are shooting up so quickly
  • Republicans want to curtail annual cost-of-living benefits for Social Security and other government benefits, as well as raise the age of eligibility for Medicare from 65 to 67 beginning at some point in the future
  • president seems to think that if all he talks about are taxes, and that's all reporters write about, somehow the rest of us will magically forget that government spending is completely out of control and that he himself has been insisting on balance,
  • Obama's plan would raise $1.6 trillion in revenue over 10 years, in part by raising tax rates on incomes over $200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for couples. He has recommended $400 billion in spending cuts over a decade.
  • seeking extension of the Social Security payroll tax cut due to expire on Jan. 1, a continuation in long-term unemployment benefits and steps to help hard-pressed homeowners and doctors who treat Medicare patients
  • Obama last year signed legislation to cut more than $1 trillion from government programs over a decade, and was proposing $600 billion in additional savings from benefit programs.
  • health care law that Obama signed into law showed savings of $100 billion. Much or all of that funding came from Medicare, even though Obama's aides insisted during his successful campaign for re-election that he had not made any cuts in that program
  • Boehner's plan, in addition to calling for $800 billion in new revenue, envisions $600 billion in savings over a decade from Medicare, Medicaid and other government health programs as well as $300 billion from other benefit programs and another $300 billion from other domestic programs.
  • It would trim annual increases in Social Security payments to beneficiaries, and it calls for gradually raising the eligibility age for Medicare from 65 to 67, beginning in a decade
  •  
    1) Which proposal do you think is better? More cuts or more taxes 2) Do you think that going off the "cliff" is less detrimental than picking the other parties proposal?
  •  
    1.) More taxes because people in the lower bracket income won't get affected as much. Thus, not further hardening their way of life. 2.) No. they believe the measures negatively affect them. It would affect defense spending, domestic spending and taxes negatively. All the citizens of america will get affected. No exceptions.
  •  
    1. I believe more taxes would benefit the economy more because it would be geared more towards the higher income earners that have the foundation to deal with the taxes opposed to the lower incomes earners that already struggle. 2. Not exactly because going off the "cliff" affects several important factors such as federal tax, boarder tax, domestic spending, etc. Thus, it would seem that going off the "cliff" serves the economy and citizens more negatively than siding with the other parties' proposal.
A SN

Tom Thorne's ejournal: Economic stagnation in US means whoever wins the US Presidential... - 1 views

  • The real threat to Canada is not who is in the White House but what they do about the mounting US Government debt now at $16 Trillion plus. To this point there is no will apparent to cooperate for a solution.
  • The real threat to Canada is not who is in the White House but what they do about the mounting US Government debt now at $16 Trillion plus. To this point there is no will apparent to cooperate for a solution.
  • The real threat to Canada is not who is in the White House but what they do about the mounting US Government debt now at $16 Trillion plus. To this point there is no will apparent to cooperate for a solution.
    • A SN
       
      Represents the real threat to Canada; USA's economic stagnation
  • ...8 more annotations...
  • The real threat to Canada is not who is in the White House but what they do about the mounting US Government debt now at $16 Trillion plus. To this point there is no will apparent to cooperate for a solution.
  • If the US literally prints its way out of its economic mess, the mess will be compounded. 
    • A SN
       
      Problems caused by overprinting money
  • Such an action is guaranteed to create inflation and a rise in interest rates charged to service the debt and also generally for business and lenders of all kinds.
  • Lenders will want more interest to cover the risk of carrying US Government debt loads expressed in diluted valued bonds and currency.
    • A SN
       
      The proves that the USA is in really bad debt.
  • Serious debt reduction is needed in the US Congress and Administration.  And there is very little wiggle room to cut US government expenditures. However failure to do so will mean in the middle range of time that the US will become more and more an economic lightweight and hence its world presence will be diminished. That is bad for Canada.
    • A SN
       
      If USA falls into a deeper economic stagnation Canada will be widely affected.
  • The US is making itself militarily and financially vulnerable. Canada, no matter how well we manage our financial affairs, will be forced into the same situation as our major trading partner.
    • A SN
       
      The US is losing it influence throughout the world. This is a problem.
  • It will be tougher for Canada to retain our natural resources.  Potential deals like the Chinese State taking over Nexen in our oil sands, will become more likely if we want to maintain our own economic performance independent of a financially errant US.
    • A SN
       
      problems caused by USA economic stagnation.
  • It really is time for the United States Government and its politicians to bite the economic bullet. Failure to do so means a downsizing of the United State’s influence on the world stage and that can only mean that Canada will need a more independent economic policy as China grows in influence. In short the lack of action on the economic front by our major trading partner is taking us more to Europe and into the arms of the Chinese Government’s hegemony.
    • A SN
       
      The consequences if the USA does not change.
  •  
    Questions: 1. Do you think that eventually Canada will have no choice but to sell its natural resources to the other world powers? Can this be a good change? 2. Canada and the USA share a lot of history and do a lot of activities together, do you think that being financially independent will make us rely less on the US ?
Erica Yeo

Crude Oil Rises on Gaza Conflict Amid Declining U.S. Stockpiles - Bloomberg - 2 views

  • boosting speculation that the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians of Gaza may disrupt crude supply from the Middle East.
  • Prices advanced earlier after American Petroleum Institute data yesterday showed crude inventories fell for the second week in three. An Energy Department report today is forecast to show supplies increased.
  • “Crude trade will remain choppy until we have some clarity on the Israeli-Gaza conflict,
  • ...5 more annotations...
  • Societe Generale SA raised its predictions for global oil prices next year,
  • Crude for January delivery was at $87.58 a barrel, up 83 cents, or 1 percent, in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 1:38 p.m. London time. The contract dropped $2.53 yesterday to $86.75, the biggest decline since Nov. 7. Prices are down 11 percent this year.
  • The bank increased its price outlook for Brent to $110 a barrel from $103 previously, according to an e-mailed report.
  • Crude stockpiles in the U.S. slid 1.9 million barrels in the week ended Nov. 16, the API’s report showed.
  • Gasoline slid 4.8 million barrels, compared with a gain of 1 million barrels in the Bloomberg survey. Distillates, including diesel and heating oil, declined 4.4 million barrels, compared with a projected 1 million-barrel decrease.
  •  
    1. What affect do you think the american stockpiles of crude oil have on the supply and demand graph of crude oil? 2. Since the middle east contributes to most of our oil resources, what are the possible solutions to the price increase of crude oil if the conflict between israel and palestine continues?
S C

5 Things to do when you're unemployed. Hint: It's not job hunting. | Penelope Trunk Blog - 0 views

  • the interview question: What happened at your last job?Here's the answer you should always give: “I left to do x.” And you fill in for x
  • what you should be really focusing on when you are unemployed: Learning and growing
  • Because this is what you are going to talk about in job interviews
  • ...13 more annotations...
  • when you talk about why you left the last company, you spin it in a positive light by talking about how you are excited about doing what you are doing. Your interview should include you telling a good story about focused personal growth, and no one will get stuck on why you left your last job
  • During one stint of unemployment, I worked for free for my boyfriend's company for a couple of hours a day. That way I didn't actually have a gap in my resume; a resume doesn't show part-time or full-time and it doesn't show pay or no pay
  • ocus on ambition and execution and not so much on work per se
  • The company that never got out of your parent's basement can sit on your resume as professionally as a stint in the Fortune 500. It's all about how you write the bullet points: talk about accomplishments and learning
  • Put your ideas out into the world and connect with people that way. This is why you want to be hired, right? For your ideas. So show them.
  • The reason that people who blog have great careers is that bloggers are always thinking about issues in their industry. Show that side of yourself to people. Blogging takes a lot of time, sure. Bu you have a lot of time. So use it.
  • Do you have a company idea? Try it now. During unemployment. There's nothing stopping you.
  • whether or not your company does well, you'll be able to talk about it in an interview as a huge learning moment
  • Blogging is a great way to keep up in your industry, network without looking desperate
  • High performers practice for interviews
  • Practice talking about yourself with everyone
  • So now you know what you're aiming for, but you need to talk about it with everyone — parties, at the gym, on the phone with friends. When they ask how you're doing, talk about what you're doing like you are in the job interview.
  • What's important to remember here is that no one can tell you what experience you can gain and what you can't. You don't need a job in order to learn cool stuff and be on cool projects. You control what you do with your time and you can make it useful. Talk about that. There is no reason to talk about why the last job didn't work when you can talk about the great things that leaving opened up to you
  •  
    Job hunting for 8 hours a day isn't the ideal way to get rehired. Instead, focus on spinning a positive light on negative questions your next interviewer might ask. For example, when asked why you left your last job, quickly get to why you're interested the one you'er applying for.
Nikita Klyuev

TSX advances, commodities rise on strong Chinese trade data - 0 views

  •  
    Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. and Suncor Energy Inc. added at least 0.9 percent as crude rose to a three-month high. Yamana Gold Inc. gained 4.5 percent as gold rose the most in six weeks. The market today is moving primarily on the Chinese data, so gold is up and crude is up which is very good for the Canadian market," said John Kinsey, fund manager with Caldwell Securities Ltd. in Toronto. His firm manages about C$1 billion ($1.01 billion). "Those are the two areas that have been dragging." Yamana climbed 4.5 percent to C$17.06 and Eldorado Gold Corp. advanced 3.3 percent to C$12.61 as gold futures for February delivery gained 1.4 percent to $1,678 an ounce in New York, the biggest gain for a most-active contract since since Nov. 6.
ShiyuandCristina SC

Canada's organic food certification system like 'an extortion racket,' report says | Ca... - 2 views

  • Annual organic agricultural sales in Canada exceed $2.6-billion, by recent estimates, with supermarket chains joining alternative stores in stocking an ever-widening array of organic-labelled products.
  • Canada’s legislated organic certification process is an invitation for fraud and abuse, the report argues, with consumers paying an often hefty premium for a designation that requires no proof.
  • In response to the organic industry’s growth, Canada enacted a labelling requirement: Since 2009, products making an organic claim must be certified by an agency accredited by the Canada Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • The organic certification industry’s “dirty little secret,” they write, is that “organic crops and livestock are not tested in Canada before they are certified, thus making organic certification essentially meaningless.”
  • The CFIA said organic products are subject to its regular chemical residue monitoring program, along with all other food products. The federal agency, itself, does not provide certification, but rather accredits private businesses to do it. Most are for-profit businesses.
  • “There are a large number of consumers who have misperceptions of what organic means, attaching to it things that generally aren’t true,” Mr. Campbell said in an interview.
  • The analysis did find organic food was 30% less likely to contain trace levels of pesticides, with the researchers saying it was uncommon for any food in the U.S., organic or conventional, to have unsafe levels.
  • But the Frontier Centre authors say that without proof, organic authenticity should be questioned. When large amounts of money are involved, they say, such things as honour systems and the like cannot be relied upon.
  • “The certification bodies are responsible for verifying that organic operators are producing organic products in accordance with Canada’s organic standard,” the CFIA said in a written response.
  •  
    1. Is it fair and better for organic food "businesses" to undergo their own inspections or should the government be responsible for our food safety? 2.The market failure mentioned in this article is an informature market failure. The definition of an informature market failure is when one side of the market has more information than the other. What are some visible solutions to this market failure?
  • ...2 more comments...
  •  
    1.) It is not fair for organic food businesses to inspect their own goods. By doing that, it will create bias in the inspection results. The government specifically the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) should be regulating the quality of every type of food that can be consumed by human beings. This minimizes bias in the results. 2.) There should be an open relationship within the market the sets the equality information in the market. Technically, trade should be fair, no secrets are valid. If they do not comply with this, law suits can be filed. E.g. fraud, copy right, etc.
  •  
    1. No i don't think it's fair that only the businesses themselves inspect themselves because in doing so, you'd assume that your products are good and therefore put less effort in inspecting them. The government should has some responsibility in inspecting the food because they need to make sure it's safe for people to eat, if they aren't careful with the things they're letting people consume they will run into a lot of health problems. More health problems mean more money to be used. 2. A visible solution to this market failure is to share information so this way it's fair for everyone.
  •  
    * It is not fair for organic food companies to inspect their own products since they will obviously never reveal anything bad that could potentially damage the company. It would be like a student marking his own quiz or test, they would do anything they could to benefit their mark. This is why governments should be responsible for our food safety. * A visible solution would be that companies must to share all the information they are aware of with the consumers.
  •  
    1. It would not be the best idea for businesses to inspect their own food because there is a high possible margin of bias and committing unethical acts such as labeling their foods safe when they aren't are likely to occur. The government should be responsible because they would inspect each business in the same manner without bias and utilize the same procedures, ensuring fair inspections. 2. Visible solutions to this market failure would include sharing product information and inspection information to all producers and consumers.
Brijesh Patel

Well Educated canadians have no future - 0 views

  •  
    Some 6.4 per cent of Canada's total workforce-1.2 million people-now consists of part-time workers under 30 who wish they could work full time. university-educated Canadians experienced a relative increase in unemployment between 1997 and 2005 and a corresponding dip in relative wages, according to a federal government study. By contrast, those with a college, or even a high school education, managed to improve (or at least maintain) their outlook, relative to other workers. In fact, the only group that experienced a similar relative increase in unemployment during the period were those Canadians without even a high school diploma. Employers increasingly expect workers to pay for their own retirements. That's not easy when you don't have money. A survey by the Bank of Montreal found that only about 10 per cent of Canadians aged 18 to 34 had given any thought to retirement planning. Job security is also increasingly scarce. Stung by the 2009 recession, employers in industries ranging from retail sales to information technology are preoccupied with building a flexible workforce In an effort to close the gap, the federal government is planning to bring in as many as 3,000 foreign skilled workers this year by De-emphasizing the university-educated and focusing instead on welders and electricians. Economists say the market will eventually sort itself out. Wages and benefits in the trades should become more attractive as desperate employers try to woo new workers.
Erica Yeo

Canadian Consumer Debt Poses Recession Risk, Moody's Analytics Report Says - 0 views

  • With Canadians so deep in debt, it would be extremely difficult for domestic spending to pick up slack in the economy if things started to go downhill. That could result in a serious downward spiral in employment levels, household spending and the quantity and quality of credit outstanding, the report says.
  • "Households are spending money they assumed would be coming, then they realize they've run over the cliff because income from exports from these trading partners is not materializing and that's translating to weaker jobs.
  • domestic consumption is usually the more steady contributor to economic growth compared to exports and investment. But this time, household debt is out of control.
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • Slowing income growth, coupled with a coming rise in interest rates
  • debt service costs will start to eat up a bigger portion of their take home pay, the report says.
Cristina Raileanu

Suncor Weighing Spending Cuts on Oil Discount: Corporate - Bloomberg - 0 views

  • C$11.6 billion ($11.8 billion) oil-sands project the first major spending reduction among Alberta energy pr
  • West Canada Select, traded at a record $42.50 a barrel less than U.S. crude on Dec. 14.
  • C$2.5 billion a month because of the lower prices, according to an estimate by Houston-based investment bank PPHB Securities LP. The discount has helped erode Canadian oil profits and hurt companies’ shares.
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • Steam Tar
  • ncor Options
  • rom 2011, according to the average of 20 estimates. ‘Train Wreck’
  • Pipeline Opposition
  • ation
  • Narrowing Gap
tyler wiliams

Broadbent Institute makes income inequality its first focus - 0 views

  •  
    Most of the income gains of the past three decades, the report argues, were realized by only wealthy Canadians. The paper suggests that social and economic rights be added to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms alongside Canadians' political and civil rights, in order to fulfil its "security of the person" provision. For every dollar increase in national earnings over the last 20 years more than 30 cents have gone to the top one per cent while the remaining 70 cents have been shared across the other 99 per cent of Canadians. The final section of the report is prescriptive, outlining several ways to combat growing income equality: -Good jobs: changes to economic policies to promote the growth of middle-class jobs, including trade and foreign investment policies that protect labour rights and environmental standards and strong investments in child care, public education and skills training. -Income supports: changes to the government programs targeted at low-income Canadians and those in short-term need, such as employment insurance, Old Age Security, the Canada Pension Plan, provincial welfare systems and other income supports and tax benefits targeted at low-income families with children and the working poor. -Expanding public services: the report argues that for the majority of Canadians public services are a good deal; The value of education, health care, child care and other public services annually exceeds the taxes paid by middle-class and low-income Canadians. At the same time, some reforms are needed, it acknowledges. -Fair taxes: changes to Canada's tax system are necessary, it argues, pointing out Canada's taxes as a share of national income (31 per cent) are below the average of the world's industrialized countries (34 per cent), squeezing funding for public services.
1 - 10 of 10
Showing 20 items per page