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Stay updated with insights on the slow economic recovery, Fed's actions, job market, tax cuts impact, efficiency vs innovation, employee wellness benefits, global investments, women's economic roles, and rising food prices.
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* February 2011 * Monthly Newsletter Quick Links: Video Index Abstract Index
* * VIDEO INDEX • Freedom Fries: Big Mac Revolution in Russia • Employment in 2011 • Global Employment Trends 201: Weak Jobs Recovery to Continue • 11 Promising Jobs 2011 • Turning the Blue-Collar Green
* * • Bernanke’s Big Gamble • The Gradual Return of American Optimism • Greater Efficiency, Fewer Jobs • Saving a Fortune with Employee Wellness • Made in the USA, But Owned by China • Women Bringing Home the Bacon • Rising Food Prices • Giving Online with Causes • India’s Upcoming Era of Growth • Small Businesses Going Mobile ABSTRACT INDEX
* * • Though the economy is recovering, it is doing so at a very slow pace. • In an effort to spur growth, the Fed will buy $600 billion in Treasury bonds over the next year. • Ben Bernanke hopes to lower interest rates, but he risks flooding the economy with cash and sparking heavy inflation. Bernanke’s Big Gamble Article indexVideo index
* * • What is the key role the Federal Reserve plays in the U.S. economy? What do you think? • Why are critics of the Fed’s action concerned about inflation? Article indexVideo index
* * • The Bush era tax cuts along with some provisions from the 2009 stimulus package were renewed by Congress and the president. • Passage of the new law spurred a feeling of optimism among business leaders. • Though stocks on the S&P 500 are up, American businesses could invest much of their newfound capital in foreign ventures. The Gradual Return ofAmerican Optimism Article indexVideo index
* * • Was the extension of the Bush-era tax cuts a good idea? What do you think? • What is the greatest economic challenge facing the United States? Photo courtesy of NASA Article indexVideo index
* * • After slashing more than 8.2 million jobs during the recession, U.S. companies continue to strive to do more with less. • Unfortunately, such vast efficiency improvements have all but closed the door on future hiring. • Former Fed chairman Alan Greenspan urges companies to be more innovative instead of focusing exclusively on cost cutting. Greater Efficiency,Fewer Jobs Article indexVideo index
* * • What’s the primary danger of focusing on cutting cost rather than innovating? What do you think? • Why are the numbers of independent contractors and part-time workers continuing to grow? Article indexVideo index Photo courtesy of Adam Smith
* * • Companies can save as much as $6 in health care costs for every dollar they put into an employee wellness program. • Wellness programs also help prevent employee turnover and can be partially funded by federal subsidies granted by the new health care law. • The most successful wellness programs are non-mandatory and operate onsite. Saving a Fortunewith Employee Wellness Article indexVideo index
* * What do you think? • Why are managers a key to successful wellness programs? • Are the benefits of a wellness program limited to economic benefits? Article indexVideo index
* * • Foreign manufacturers are setting up shop in the U.S. to bypass trade barriers and capitalize on subsidies of alternative energy sources. • At a South Carolina BMW plant, American employees earn half as much as their German counterparts. • From January 2010 through September, Chinese companies invested $2.81 billion in American assets compared to $1.73 in 2009. Made in the USA,But Owned in China Article indexVideo index
* * • Why is the growth of foreign producers in the U.S. economy a positive sign? What do you think? • Are foreign producers required to follow U.S. laws and regulations? Article indexVideo index
* * • Not only are women already the primary purchasers of a household, they’re also becoming the breadwinners. • For every two men who graduate from college or attain a higher-level degree, three women do the same. • Though a pay gap between men and women still exists, women are out-earning men on average in cities like Atlanta and New York City. Women Bringing Home the Bacon Article indexVideo index
* * What do you think? • What seems to be the key to the expanding power of women in the economy? • What must companies remember in marketing to independent women? Article indexVideo index
* * • In recent months prices of supermarket staples like milk, beef, coffee and sugar rose sharply. • The consumer price index for all items except food and energy rose just 0.8 percent over the last year, the lowest 12-month increase since 1961. • The food index rose by 1.4 percent last year, leading to price increases in supermarkets and restaurants. Rising Food Prices Article indexVideo index
* * • What seems to be the key reason for the increase in food prices? What do you think? • Can restaurants raise prices yet keep customers in a tough economy? Photo courtesy Andy Cunningham Article indexVideo index
* * • Of the $263 billion Americans gave to charity last year, only 5.7 percent of that cash was donated online. • The social media app Causes hopes to improve this by linking its 119 million users to thousands of charities across the world. • Causes operates as a for-profit company, asking that users give a 10% “tip” for every donation they make. Giving Online with Causes Article indexVideo index
* * • Why have nonprofit organizations been slow to adapt to online solicitations? What do you think? • Does Causes being a for-profit organization raise issues about their intentions? Article indexVideo index
* * • By 2030 India and China are estimated to account for 34 percent of the globe’s total economic output. • While China’s pool of work eligible citizens will shrink due to its one child policy, India’s will surge just as its economy expands broadly. • India’s crumbling infrastructure is a problem, though, and the country doesn’t have enough skilled laborers to combat it. India’s Upcoming Era of Growth Article indexVideo index
* * • Why are low birthrate countries expected to see declines in GDP? What do you think? • Will India be able to face the major challenges facing its infrastructure? Photo courtesy Jason Diceman Article indexVideo index
* * • Amazon earned more than $1 billion from purchases made on smartphones in 2009. • For small businesses, design issues and the array of devices available make migrating an online store to a smartphone tricky. • The mStore platform allows business owners to quickly construct a mobile store site for a sliding scale licensing fee dependent on site traffic. Small Businesses Going Mobile Article indexVideo index
* * • What must retailers face in dealing with customers today? What do you think? • Why are companies like mShopper valuable in today’s economy? Article indexVideo index Photo courtesy Matt Gibson