economy
Economy and the area of production, distribution, trade, and consumption of goods and services.
The "HGTV Effect"
“History never repeats itself, but it rhymes...”— Mark Twain KEY POINTS IN THIS ARTICLE The housing market today is being driven, in large part, by those who are flipping homes. With 1 in 10 sales coming from house flippers, the highest level since—oh yeah—the housing bubble burst a decade ago. House flipping today is more profitable than in the past, driven in large part, not by rampant speculation, but through remodeling and updating older homes, which is very beneficial for communities. There does appear to be a media-driven aspect to all of this, propelled by the popularity of shows—particularly on the highly-ranked HGTV network—making all of this appear relatively "easy." Does this add-up to an "HGTV Effect?" If so, what does this portend for the housing market, and for the economy overall?
David WyldPublished 5 years ago in JournalScenes From the Retail Apocalypse
Remember the classic "death scene" from the movie Deep Blue Sea (can the movie actually be 20 years old now?), where Samuel L. Jackson's lead character offers sage advice to his cohorts, who are trapped under the ocean with him, along with a huge shark? The iconic actor delivers this sage advice, just before he shockingly gets eaten mid-soliloquy:
David WyldPublished 5 years ago in JournalHas Globalization Hurt Americans Workers?
Globalization, whether its effects have been positive or negative, is a fact of the current economy of the United States. The resources of the globe are so totally intertwined that it is near impossible to separate them. The capitalistic nature of the global economy is to blame. Every business in the world seeks to minimize costs in order to maximize profits. Because of this, there has been a shift in the global labor market. Trades that used to be the backbone of the American economy have been shipped overseas in many cases. Is this detrimental to the American worker? If you work in certain sectors of the economy, you would most certainly say yes. There are companies coming into the United States that are replacing these jobs and are providing more for their workers than any American firm would. This, truly, cannot be seen as detrimental.
Matthew EvansPublished 5 years ago in JournalThe Dangers of Donations
How easy is it to buy a new pair of shoes knowing that the proceeds will buy shoes for a child in a third world country? It’s the warm, fuzzy feeling of knowing each purchase makes a difference in the world. But what if that same purchase that appears to change someone’s life for the better actually does the opposite? What if that purchase ultimately destroys another country’s economy? TOMS shoes found itself in this very predicament. When Blake Mycoskie travelled to Argentina in 2006, his life changed forever. His heart was broken by the amount of children living without shoes, causing pain and disease. He immediately sprung into action, creating the “One-for-One” concept that buying one pair of shoes will give another pair to a child in need. The idea was genius and his business, which originated as “Tomorrow’s Shoes” as the idea, was to donate the pair of shoes the next day, took off in sales. Over the next few years, Mycoskie also added bags, coffee, and sunglasses to his company’s catalogue, making each item a different form of his “One-for-One” concept. Mycoskie’s ideas, business, and products were highly successful, but what was the impact on those third world countries he initially was trying to reach? The results were not as positive. Constant donations of shoes actually began to wound the struggling economies he was trying to assist, and suddenly Mycoskie’s pure intentions were not enough. While many companies and organizations strive to aid and support third world countries, those same groups often do more harm than good to the impoverished economies by taking away jobs and business opportunities.
Maggie HannaPublished 5 years ago in JournalThe Collapsing Job Market
I have a saying: Corporations paying minimum wage are basically telling employees that they would pay them less if they could legally do so. Many American workers are making minimum wage or slightly above it. The reality for them is that seven or eight dollars an hour is impossible to truly live off of. Across the country, that barely pays for rent, never mind food, a car note, or car insurance. There is just not enough money there. In the meantime, greedy employers literally make billions on the backs of their workers. And it gets so much worse.
Tim Ellerbe IIPublished 6 years ago in JournalWhy You Should Start Taking Social Security Benefits at 62
Ah, Social Security. It's a boon for all those who want to retire or just cut down on work during their old age. After paying into it for decades, every American citizen will get the change to qualify for payouts that can help them live a comfortable lifestyle in retirement.
Iggy PaulsenPublished 6 years ago in JournalLiving in Dallas, TX (Economics)
I am here to share a story about living and working in Dallas, Texas. People want to move here because they see that there are a lot of money opportunities here, but what they don't see is that it's also hard to find jobs here. Yes it is a lot of money flowing around, but the reality here is...it depends if you get the opportunity or not. Particularly for black people, it's hard here in Dallas. You have some employers here that are "secretly racist." They don't say any racist slurs but they ask you a lot of questions and then they rush you to the next question, not letting you answer much. One thing is for sure: they are not smiling at you because they are not happy to see you. They treat you differently than the other candidates. Here is another problem we face as job candidates: being bilingual. These days, you can't pass up a post that says "bilingual required." It's way too many!! It's hurting a lot of people who don't speak Spanish. You don't hear a lot of this because we have been trained here in Texas to not speak about certain things.
Antwanette HowardPublished 6 years ago in JournalFrequently Asked 401(k) Questions You Need the Answers To
Ah, the 401(k)—the modern corporate pension. Having a 401(k) is a smart way to make sure that you have enough money later on down the road, and if you're like many other Americans, it's also an epic retirement plan option given to you by the company you're employed by.
Iggy PaulsenPublished 6 years ago in JournalTop 5 Short Term Investments
When I was in high school, I took a consumer finance class. I have always been inclined to be business minded and I remember being very excited about the class when I registered. It only took me a few weeks to realize I was going to be sorely disappointed. One moment that accurately describes the entirety of the class was when the teacher shared an anecdote of a woman who she claimed was “the best investor she knew.”
Logan BakerPublished 6 years ago in JournalInvesting Methods for 2018
Buy the Dip (Quality Companies) If you believe the market is going to grind higher, it is important to consider following this method of trading. Throughout 2017, there has been a series of short-lived rotations out of different sectors. An example of this can be seen in the recent rotation out of technology, and into retail and oil. This rotation has resulted in your favorite technology stocks having lower prices. Another way stock prices can severely decrease is through earnings misses or analysts not liking a company's guidance. For these reasons, I choose not to participate in earning season buying. When purchasing a stock before its earnings, it’s like gambling, since your hoping it will beat earnings and analyst’s expectations. A company will have to do this in order for investors not to take profits on the news. In order to best implement this method, I would recommend buying half the number of shares you want to own when the stock drops a severe amount. Once the investment is made, the next trading days and maybe weeks are essential as you are able to most effectively add to your position. One of the best things about this strategy, is if the price suddenly goes up before you add in, you are still able to make money. In contrast, if the price goes down, you will still have the funds to add to your position and lower your average price. The most important thing is to believe in the stock and your investment, and if you do, you will be incredibly grateful for such a cheap price. This is likely going to be a great opportunity, as the market has immense potential to grind higher for this upcoming year. The key is to buy quality companies that still have great fundamentals and are solely a victim to the rotation.
Dylan BaldessariPublished 6 years ago in JournalInvesting Strategies for 2018
Portfolio Setup In order to have a successful year, some possible risks should be taken into account. These risks include foreign countries such as North Korea, political cannibalism, Fed rate hikes, and the unknown. In order to best minimize risk, you must diversify your portfolio. Investing in quality companies, ETF’s, Cryptocurrencies, and speculative companies-all having different volatilities-is the perfect way to invest for 2018. Trends have shown that the market will continually grind higher. With that being said, it is my recommendation to have three main accounts to best manage your money.
Dylan BaldessariPublished 6 years ago in JournalChristmas, Marketing, and Why I Almost Went Crazy at the Mall Today
The day I received my Marketing Degree, my Dad starting referring to me as a "Master Manipulator." I'd love to say it was affectionate, but I'm not sure it was. He would point his finger at me every time adverts came on the TV, unaddressed mail came through the letterbox, or "Sale" signs appeared in the local mall.
Sarah KatherinePublished 6 years ago in Journal