Stories about Economics & Business from September, 2009
Trinidad & Tobago: Digging a Hole
“It’s like a jamette woman in a rumshop shouting she does go to chuch!”: B.C. Pires blogs about issues of governance in the Trinidad & Tobago government.
Czech Republic: Temelín Nuclear Power Plant
The Journeys of Captain Oddsocks writes about the Temelín nuclear power plant, which has been in the news recently “because of a controversial and overpriced contract awarded to a shady company whose former director was recently jailed for planning the violent abduction of his replacement.”
Trinidad & Tobago: Thinking & Drinking
Trinidadian blogger Andre Bagoo republishes an article he wrote in which he “began to think in earnest about the reasons why I drink.”
China: Mooncake
Uln found the gift economy of moon cake during the mid autumn festival in Shanghai amazing.
Myanmar: New Currency Note Issued
The government of Myanmar had announced on state television and radio that a new currency note of 5000 Ks. will be issued starting from October 1st, 2009.
Brazil: Socio-digital Inclusion through the Lan House Revolution
The poorest and most excluded population of Brazil have increasingly more access to the Internet through Local Area Networks. But, has the digital inclusion promoted by lan houses across the country affected human development in Brazil?
B.V.I.: Heritage Tourism
Repeating Islands reports that the British Virgin Islands are exploring the benefits of heritage tourism.
Trinidad & Tobago: The Price of Progress is High
“As if the stink of the uselessness of the building weren’t enough…here comes talk that toxic fumes from the Performing Arts Academy are making people in the neighbouring buildings fall sick. Yes, this is progress at its best”: Trinidadian Attillah Springer says the whole thing “is a tragic kind of...
Hungary: Political Talk Show Taken Off Air
GV Author Marietta Le of Remainder of Budapest and Eva S. Balogh of Hungarian Spectrum write about Nap-kelte, a morning political TV talk show that was taken off air last week, some 20 years after its launch in 1989.
Israel: Cafes Discourage Digital Workers
“How do we handle fast shifts in the economy and in people's behavior?” asks Ami Vider of Tel Aviv Tomorrow, reflecting on how businesses respond to the physical presence of digital workers.
Israel: Dealing with Israelis During the Holiday Season
“Every fall, millions of Israelis stop what they are doing (aka “working”) and spend several weeks watching and sending Shana Tova (Happy New Year) greetings to one another.” Gila Weiss of My Shrapnel offers a crash course on what you need to know about dealing with Israelis during the holiday...
Bermuda: too wobbly for business?
Vexed Bermoothes investigates why a major insurance company is moving its headquarters from Bermuda to Ireland. “So what’s bothering the international executives?… Work permit issues. Wobbly political environment. Uncertain future tax status.”
Jamaica: utilities hardship
Stunner's Afflictions notes the coincidence that the same day Jamaica's power company raised its rates, the Bank of Jamaica introduced the new JA$5,000 bill, the country's highest denomination banknote. “Now we can cover more bills with less notes. That's the only good way of looking at it.”
Harvard Forum – Faith and focus
Ethan's final live-blog post from the Harvard Forum about internet and communications technology ICT for development with concluding thoughts from several participants.
Botswana: Churches targeted by crime syndicates
Are international criminals targeting churches in Botswana?: “There are fears that some churches in Botswana may fall prey to international crime syndicates who launder money under the guise of donations and sponsorship.”
Harvard Forum – What do we need to know?
Today's conversation starts with discussions of “knowledge gaps”, open questions we need to answer through research so we can understand what's succeeding and failing in our field.
India: The Paradox Of Poverty
Smart Alec comments on the paradox of poverty: “India is indeed a rich country with a lot of poor people in it. And it’s these poor people who make rich India rich, give it its wealth of poverty. India cannot afford to give up its lucrative poverty; it must perpetuate...
Harvard Forum: ICT4D and, and, and
Ethan brings the live-blog from day one to a close after questions and lively discussion with conclusion from Mike Best who suggests there's no way to summarize these discussions… with anything but an observation that the field is filled with “ands”.
Harvard Forum: Are we satisfied with what we've got?
The live-blogging continues, as Michael Spence helps identify questions that are top research priorities for the ICT for development field with input from Yochai Benkler, Rohan Samarajiva, Hernan Galperin, Alison Gillwald, and Bill Melody.
Ukraine: Fundraising to Help Street Children
Scenes from the Sidewalk announces a “virtual fundraiser” to help “transform the lives of [Ukrainian] street and at risk children and reintegrate them back into families and society.”
Harvard Forum: Markets, Mobiles and the ability to make culture
The live-blog continues with panel presentations on ICT for development by Ronaldo Lemos, Anita Gurumurthy, Ophelia Mascarenhas, and Lawrence Liang.
