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Annabelle b

Belarus puts restrictions on foreign internet sites - 0 views

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    This article discusses how there is a new law in Belarus that restricts the citizens of public use of foreign websites. "That would make it illegal for firms like Amazon or eBay to sell goods to customers in Belarus." This shows how the citizens in Belarus don't get the same opportunities to purchase things online as everyone else does around the world. The government is restricting public access of purchasing goods for the citizens of Belarus. Breaking the law has consequences "Fines for breaking the law range as high as 1m Belarus rubles ($120)."
Stephen b

Our Tragedy of the Commons: Austerity That Doesn't Work - 0 views

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    This article talks a lot about the recent "fiscal cliff" that congress or some government branch put together to ensure that the two United States parties, the democrats and the republicans, tried to come to some sort of agreement on where cuts can be made to try and fix the deficit. What's interesting about this article, more than the content itself, is the site it links to which talks a lot about how individual cities are doing their part to try and fix up the country. The fact is, the US has gotten some very bad grades lately (whatever that means), so mayors and representatives are getting citizens to invest in projects that will cost a lot of money but will go a long way toward a better future. Fixing up public resources, like water ways and levies, is crucial to trying to build a better community, even if the effects are long term. This is probably the closest we'll see to a sustainable economy.
Pieter d

India tackles public defecation - 0 views

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    I know this may be a very ridiculous selection, but it points out one very obvious and necessary resource that many rural and suburban Indians do not possess, namely, a toilet!! The fact the even toilets can be considered a scarce resource was interesting, and helped to cement the idea that literally everything can be thought of as a scarce resource. The opportunity cost can be thought of as the other public works that Indians won't get because the government has to spend money on toilets. This also shows an example of economic growth, as the basic livelihood and welfare of Indian citizens may now increase, thanks to improved public hygiene.
Maya m

Water tragedy - 0 views

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    This article talks about the pollution of the water, and how most counties' water resources are getting more and more public since "one cannot own water". This is exactly what tragedy of the commons is. Since no one owns the water, people can do whatever they want there, without further (or a lot of) consequences. Also, it makes it harder for the government to regulate the resource in case of crisis.
Jan d

Almost half of the world's food thrown away, report finds - 1 views

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    This article truly scares you with all the facts about food. It is a pity how mass food production turns out to be 50% inefficiently allocated and at the same time huge consumer of water for growing the crops. If all food produced was adequately allocated, there would be probably enough food for all people and therefore it would be almost completely accessible for general public. At the same time also water could be consumed more effectively instead of wasting it for pointless excess in food production which turns out to be industrial waste. Water - meaning the drinking water was never a Common, however nowadays it all appears this situation is getting only worse and taking into account its fruitless use, some measures should be taken designed with sustainability in mind.
Jan d

The Gas Tax Is Running Low. But What Should Replace It? - 0 views

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    In this article it is about "how the excise tax on gasoline and diesel fuel has been the main source of funds for building and maintaining the nation's roadways. It has paid for most of the four million road miles currently in service" By imposing taxes, governments obtain certain tax revenue which is used for supporting national infrastructure (roads), public services and subsidies for other things. But gas tax is not sufficient anymore. So, there are myriad discussions across political fields how to alter current tax policy. There are several options: taxing the miles (the question is how to tax the miles) toll roads (but they would hardly replace the gasoline tax), adjusting tax to inflation, taxing oil instead of gasoline or taxing cars. It seems resolving this issue is a hard nut to crack for the U.S. government.
Sebastian a

increasing excise taxes might decrease deaths from noninfectious diseases - 0 views

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    according to the article, increasing excise taxes, encouraging smoke-free public places,and reducing salt and trans fat in food might help decrease deaths from noninfectious diseases. It would make sense because, if excise taxes are imposed, demand will slightly fall. Also if smoke-free places are encouraged, non-smokers will not have to be exposed to smoke all the time.
David s

Tigers on the Rebound - 0 views

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    Just like overfishing in the sea, over-hunting on land is a tragedy of the commons. The tiger population in the world is endangered. However, it is now on the rebound as a result of the implementation of harsher legislation in some of the more prominent countries with tigers. This is an example of the ability of recovery.
Stephen b

How to Know When to Tax and When to Spend - 0 views

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    You don't have to read much of this article to understand the gist of what the author is saying. As we all know, the business cycle fluctuates like a sin graph, except, at the same time, the real GDP steadily increases as more innovations are made the things can be done for cheaper. Paying attention to those ups and downs are important for governments because, when the downs occur, the government needs to put in more spending to cover for private industries and to try and stimulate the economy. However, what the US government has failed to do now-a-days is lower spending when the economy has built its way back up and above where it was before. This isn't because US citizens will start mass protests in the streets against a higher sales tax or less funding for the public education system, but because officials want to ignore the fundamental concept that, just like the economy went down before, so shall it in the future times.
Nikolai n

Inflation of 89.7 sextillion per cent! - 2 views

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    This article talks about ZImbabwe, and the hyperinflation they are experiencing at the moment. The inflation has gone so far that the government currently is owner of an amount of Zimbabwe's currency equal to 217 dollars. The economy in Zimbabwe hit rock bottom around a decade ago, after longtime President Robert Mugabe seized white-owned farms, which prompted international sanctions, damaged investor confidence, damaged tourism, and caused other economic problems.
David s

Brazil Eases Fiscal Policy as it Plans to Increase Spending - 0 views

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    This article talks about how the government is aiming for a federal budget surplus this year, and how the government needs the states to ease fiscal policy to do so. The goal is more public spending.
Pieter d

Innovative Fiscal Policy, Please? - 0 views

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    The article talks about the importance of budget planning and spending.
Stephen b

The politics of good economics - 0 views

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    While there was a lot of economic lingo in here that I didn't completely understand, what I did pick up was the use of price increases to help the government make more money. The government makes its money off the financial interactions between households and firms. This is done through income tax, sales tax, etc. Starting to sound familiar? So, by increasing the price on diesel, the government ensures that large transactions will be made between the household and the firm, meaning they get a bigger chunk of dough. But the political motive behind this is that the government can now use the extras cash-money to fund public programs and what not for social benefit.
Liselotte r

FISHERIES ARE CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF THE "TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS" - 1 views

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    This article talks about Fisheries as classic tragedy of the commons example. It goes on to explain that since fish migrate to mate or lay eggs it is more difficult to set a private zone for certain fisheries. This often leads to some areas being over fished. The article then goes on to explain that their has been more effort made in order to privatize the commons, as experts have seen results of economic and ecological benefits from this practice.
Stephen b

E-cigarettes appeal to those who want to kick the habit - 0 views

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    For the past century or so, cigarettes have been an inelastic product. Due to their addictive properties, changes in the price have had a minimal effect on market demand, allowing tobacco companies to rake in boat loads of cash. In the early 1900s, big tobacco hit its peak in sales with the ability to advertise in color and through whole new mediums (newspaper, radio, TV, etc.) It was at this time that the American public and many other nations, although I don't which, started to recognize the dangers of smoking and the government begin creating restrictions. Though cigarrettes now have prices that fluctuate like gas, can't have ads on radio or television, and can't be sold to minors, consumer demand has still remained for them because of how powerful the addictive effects of nicotine are on the human brain. However, now there is an alternative to conventional smoking which replaces deadly secondhand smoke with clean water vapor. E-cigarettes are a trend that is sure to build demand and will cigarettes and cigars as elastic as a rubber band.
Andreas k

The End of Elastic Oil - 1 views

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    This article describes how oil has become less elastic through the past years. It also discusses the balance between the scarcity of oil and the demand being supplied and the quantity demand. Oil is still in the ground, and it has been supplied frequently the past ten years, but there is some economical decisions to make to set the standard for the future of oil.
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    The demand of oil has been increasing over the past year which is playing a role on the demand and supply balance. Because the demand in oil is increasing, the price of the oil would also increase. It takes longer for oil to be drilled from the ground which causes the oil to take longer time and a change to the response in price. "In economic terms, the oil supply is becoming less elastic as new oil supplies come increasingly from unconventional oil." The demand for oil reflects on how much we need oil in our everyday life. Individual people can reduce the amount of oil they use by using public transportation, if where you want to go is close by. This saves gas and oil because you do not need your car and the bus would carry a lot of people.
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    This article describes the change in oil prices on the population. The article states that the supply of oil is becomming less elastic and therefore there is a increase in price. The way to win oil becomes harder, because deeper holes have to be made to extract it from the earth. The article furthermore looks into changes from an economical point of view. It looks at examples of what can be changed and where changes have been made.
Sebastian a

norway's gender quota makes boards more proffesional. - 0 views

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    Norway has imposed a new set of laws which require at least 40% of Plc. board members to be women in order for the firm to be for professionally and globally focused.
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