Stories about Economics & Business from August, 2007
Brazil: The side effects of a ban on outdoor advertising
Bruno Giussiani writes about São Paulo's radical ban on outdoor advertising: how it brought up a new identity to the city, and also removed the camouflage of some previously hidden realities.
Jamaica: Bilingual?
“The very worst thing to do is to pretend that no language difference exists, and to proceed as if you are being fully understood”: Francis Wade examines the language barriers that exist in Jamaica.
China: Interest Rate and Pork Price
Recently, the interest rate and pork price in China has been rising rapidly, the former is to cool down the stock investment. It is rather obviously the tactic of increase in interest rate is not working, as Youguc notices that people are more concerned with the increase of pork price...
Paraguay: The Soybean Wars
In conjunction with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, Charles Lane is in Paraguay blogging at The Soybean Wars about the “human, political, and environmental impact” of the soybean industry.
Brazil: “Rodeos” in the Amazon
Lou Gold, an American eco-spirit guy now traveling in Brazil blogs about [EN] northern Brazilian “rodeos”, the expanding economy of the Brazilian state of Acre, his own past growing up in the Midwest, and about the pros and cons of the “progress.”
Gambia: The religion of sycophancy
A Gambia Professor, Ba Banutu Gomez, leaves the US and returns to Gambia, but…: “What gets under my skin though is the tendency of African intellectuals returning home and all of a sudden converting to the religion of sycophancy to fit in the system.”
South Africa: Continuing education is working
The nonrequired writes about the success story that is continuing education in some African nations and how it can prevent the brain drain. Continuing education is paid for by companies and provided by local universities at an affordable cost. It has been succesfully implemented so far in countries such as...
Russia: An “Oasis of Nonchalance”
August 19 marked sixteen years since the beginning of the Soviet Union's collapse. On this day, LJ user galerist (Marat Guelman, gallery owner from Moscow) happened to post a sketch on his visit to a rich client's estate - a sketch that, in a way, highlighted some of the changes that have - and have not - occurred since 1991.
Tanzania: The future of the East African Community
By joining SADCC instead of Comesa, Tanzania has diminished chances of a regional integration: “This was until Tanzania opted out again to join South African Development Cooperation (SADC) , allying itself to what is clearly a grouping for Southern African countries.”
Russia: Pensioners Back to Work
Low pensions and not enough young people are the reasons why more Russian retirees are returning to work, reports Window on Eurasia.
Russia: Muslims the Majority in 2050
Window on Eurasia writes that, according to a Kremlin adviser, more than half of the population of the Russia will be Muslim in 2050.
Trinidad & Tobago: Costly Mistake
“For an event that is asking people to pay $100,000 per plate you would think that they would at least get the invitation right!” Now is Wow has a bone to pick with the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.
China: Guidebook On Being A Mistress
Wang Xiaofeng is reading a book about “second wife” or mistress (zh). It discusses about the phenomena of “second wife” in China from an economic view point. The writer was once a Taiwanese reporter who collected stories from Taiwan business circle.
Russia: “Mama, We're In Hell!”
A young Russian woman traveling from Helsinki to Moscow found herself in a railway traffic jam caused by the train derailment last week. She was so horrified by the sight of the Russian countryside that she called her mother on her cell phone and told her they were stuck "in hell." The blogger who posted this story has received 469 comments from his readers.
Zambia: Donor money for cars and iPods
Most people in Zambia want cars and iPods, writes Positively Zambian, but because of donor money available they set up organizations, which claim to fight poverty.
South Africa: Who will follow Google to South Africa?
Vinny expects more Internet companies to move to South Africa in the near future: “South African Internet usage has grown 120% in the past year, and it won’t be long until you see eBay, Yahoo & the others follow Google & Amazon’s recent foray (Amazon’s Cape Town office built EC2)...
Barbados: Face and Fix It!
Cheese-on-bread! lists what she considers to be a few of Barbados’ pressing concerns and wonders whether her fellow Bajans have what it takes to face and fix them.
Barbados: Chinese Labour
“Our government has obviously made some agreements with the Chinese, but Bajans are still in the dark as to what has been promised and agreed to by whom.” Barbados Free Press tackles the controversial issue of immigrant labour on the island.
Japan: 30-Million-Yen Platinum Gundam
James from Japan Probe wrote on the unveiled of a 30 milllion yen (about USD262,000) by a jewelry store in Fukuoka.
Environment: A sampling of Voices from South Africa
This time on this short edition, we will take a quick trip to South Africa where there is a vibrant blogosphere, to hear from three bloggers. One reminding us about Blog Action Day for the environment, another on bringing up eco-friendly children and another blogger shares their opinion of environmental...
Trinidad & Tobago: Faith and Tolerance
Caribbean Free Radio refers to an article by Nilanjana S. Roy to make a point about tolerance – religious and otherwise – and puts in her two cents’ worth about Trinidad & Tobago's 2007/2008 Budget.
