The housing boom and subsequent bust that caused the financial meltdown of 2008 in the U.S. had many origins. I’d argue that a main cause that has not received much attention was America’s commitment to accommodating the car. Urban planning changed radically when, after World War II, cars became the norm in America. No longer […]
The effect of walkability and bikeability on real estate value Read More 👉
Despite good intentions about contributing to a healthier environment, the European Union recently enforced a law that heavily restricts aircraft emissions, and has subsequently been met with tremendous opposition. The law essentially requires all aircraft operators touching down or taking off in Europe to offer a permit that illustrates the craft’s emissions levels throughout the entire
New EU Law Promotes More Efficient Aircraft Emissions, Stirs Controversy Read More 👉
Thanks to a couple of communist revolutions during the 20th Century the economic map of the world has been polarised between capitalist and socialist thought. Now, at the start of the 21st Century, we’re faced with the problem of how to build a sustainable economy and the whole capitalism vs socialism issue raises its head
The Misconceptions of Capitalism vs Socialism | Building a Sustainable Economy Read More 👉
Mandatory CSR spending moved a step closer this week after and announcement by the Indian Ministry of Corporate Affairs that it had received no objections to the controversial Clause 135 of the Companies Bill 2011. This helps clear the way for the bill to become law sometime next year. Clause 135 states that all businesses
Mandatory CSR spending a step closer Read More 👉
A new federal program looks to expand the focus of domestic solar energy production in the US.
The New Federal Focus on Solar Power Read More 👉
Put aside the giant lie that helped Mitt Romney score political points in the last debate about the supposed $90 billion Obama has invested in green energy (actual figure: 1/3 of that), or the 50% of the companies invested in having gone out of business (actual figure: 1%). Even if, as many political pundits put
As if BP’s oil spill never happened Read More 👉
Seldom in the history of politics has “truth” been a steadfast policy, but that does not excuse Mitt Romney’s debate performance last Wednesday, which has been dubbed “a field day for fact-checkers” by National Public Radio for the sheer number and depth of extreme distortions he spun for the American people. Jeremy Bloom of Red,
Whoppers about “green energy” Read More 👉
SC Johnson, maker of Windex, might have tossed the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back in relation to greenwashing. SC Johnson was sued by consumer activists over their “Green List” label, which they placed on products that had no verifiable sustainability credentials. Trouble was, it looked like a 3rd party, independent label that *did*
Federal Trade Commission cracks down on Greenwashing Read More 👉
A group called Stop Costly Food Labeling (SCFL) is fighting Prop 37, California’s ballot initiative that would require genetically engineered food (GMOs) to be labeled as such. The group, mainly funded by biotech companies and GMO food distributors, is pouring millions of dollars into the campaign, begging the question: what are the economics of GMOs?
The Economics of GMOs Read More 👉
Yes, yes…another day, another incredibly well-executed, painstakingly researched, critically-praised study published that just flies in the face of everything Republicans blindly promote at the urge of their billionaire overlords believe in. Ready for the big surprise? Tax cuts for the rich don’t help the economy. They make the rich richer and promote income inequality. As
SHOCKING NEWS: Tax Cuts for the Wealthy Only Help the Wealthy Read More 👉
Happy Anniversary, American Jobs Act! It was just a year ago Saturday that Obama introduced you to congress, and the country. As the economy continued to sputter along (albeit, in a positive direction) following the 2008-2009 crisis and the emergency injection of funding from the Stimulus Act, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle came
The Anniversary Party Read More 👉
It’s hard to pinpoint when, exactly, American politics became so negative, but it’s pretty clear that the days of bipartisanship started dying somewhere around the time of the Eisenhower Administration. The 2012 campaign season has been perhaps the nastiest so far, and the lack of respect given to opposing political viewpoints has become the norm,
No one’s saying that its never been better. No one’s saying that Obama waved a magic wand and made it all alright. No one’s saying that our economy has never been stronger, that we can all now relax and ease on into an era of unprecedented prosperity and comfort… But the republicans need a better
Republicans Fail Basic Math Read More 👉
With the election 2 months away, both Democrats and Republicans are spending the majority of their time trying to sway the last remaining undecided voters (as well as rallying their bases, of course). Both political parties are now fully embracing the idea that they and their policies are the best for the middle class. Rhetoric
The Effect of Election 2012 on Your Taxes Read More 👉
The worst drought in recent history is making life uncomfortable for many farmers across America’s grain belt. While the diminishing supply of corn has sent the prices of corn skyward, livestock farmers and those farmers not lucky enough to have a crop at all this year have really suffered. Some progressive farmers have already diversified,
Midwestern farmers, facing drought, see a future in wind farms Read More 👉
Europe is on the verge of plunging into a double dip recession. As the debt woes of the 17 eurozone countries continues to threaten any growth emanating from the continent, it looks more likely that the 27 country strong European Union will regress economically rather than progress. Eurostat, Europe’s official statistics agency, disclosed that the
Europe edges closer to recession and indirectly poses dangers to the US Read More 👉
With attacks on his record as a vulture capitalist seeming to have an effect, and after his “Listen and learn” trip to England and Israel that was supposed to make him look presidential, but instead turned into a “insert foot in mouth” trip, GOP nominee Mitt Romney’s popularity appears to be waning. He managed to
Mitt Romney announces his first policy plan if elected President Read More 👉
First, context: Homo sapiens is an actively interdependent species of agents with responsibilities as collaborative participants in this web of life: all our destinies are intertwined. There is, in any healthy community a social contract, and its acknowledgement is emerging more and more vocally from our society’s closets and into our front yard again. Thank
Love Letter to Banksters Read More 👉
The theme of the Irish economic rehabilitation continues as the country has successfully staged an auction to sell long-term bonds to investors. This is the first time the island has been able to do such an operation since entering the EU-IMF program in November 2010. In total, €5.2bn was raised, with €4.19bn of that money
Success for Ireland in bond markets as first long-term bonds are auctioned off Read More 👉
Albert Einstein once said ”Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” That quote definitely applies to the political leaders of Europe. Almost half a decade on from the inception of the global financial crisis, they have doggedly stuck to their failure of a policy that is austerity. And
Europe’s turning point on the way? Stimulus finally comes to Ireland Read More 👉
It’s hard to avoid the news of climate change these days. There are epic heat waves. There are power outages. There are droughts. Huge floods in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Record number of storms in the Gulf of Mexico this year. Crazy wildfires in Colorado and Utah. But yet…where is this all in the national debate? Aside
When will the impacts of climate change become “news” again? Read More 👉
Yesterday, I profiled a survey of the small business community showing that the specter of regulation being the bain of business as we know it is really just a financial boogeyman. Small businesses don’t fear regulation the way that the big polluter-controlled U.S. Chamber of Commerce would like us to believe. Add to this, the
The world built on financial quicksand Read More 👉
Besides taxes, the most frequently used franken-word in economics is likely regulations. The specter of increased regulations is often thrown around by polluting companies, their lobbyists, and the politicians they support in order to swing public opinion away from environmental and health protections. It works, but I think mainly because it’s a word that most
What do small businesses think of regulations? Read More 👉
The most recent poll measuring economic outlook among Americans shows about a 21% jump since the poll was last conducted. In October 2011, only 39% of Americans said they thought the economy was going to be better in a year than it is now. The most recent figure is 60%. The poll, conducted June 28-July
Poll shows jump in optimism on economic outlook: other results mixed Read More 👉
