A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, the business of survival—those companies that survive the coronavirus crisis will need to master a new environment. Plus, how to reopen factories after covid-19 (9:23) and Venezuela’s navy battles a cruise ship, and loses (17:41).
Category Archives: Finance
Medical Care: Federal Efforts To End “Surprise Billing” (NEJM Podcast)
Though U.S. legislation targeting the problem of surprise medical bills advanced out of key congressional committees in 2019 with support from leaders in both parties, Congress ultimately failed to pass a law to end such bills.
Erin Fuse Brown is an associate professor of law at Georgia State University. Stephen Morrissey, the interviewer, is the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal.
Video Interviews: Nobel Prize Economist Paul Krugman (Oxford Union)
Dr. Paul Krugman is a Nobel Prize-Winning economist, and a regular commentator for the New York Times. Though academically recognised for his contributions to international trade theory, he writes about a wide range of economic issues, and is well known for making economic theory accessible to non-academics through his columns and numerous popular books. A liberal, Dr. Krugman is a fierce opponent of the modern Republican party, though he previously served as an economic advisor in Reagan’s White House.
ABOUT THE OXFORD UNION SOCIETY: The Oxford Union is the world’s most prestigious debating society, with an unparalleled reputation for bringing international guests and speakers to Oxford. Since 1823, the Union has been promoting debate and discussion not just in Oxford University, but across the globe.
Economics & Finance: “Economics For People” With Cambridge Author & Professor Ha-Joon Chang (New INET Video Series)
In the new series “Economics For People” from the Institute for New Economic Thinking (INET), University of Cambridge economist and bestselling author Ha-Joon Chang explains key concepts in economics, empowering anyone to hold their government, society, and economy accountable.
Lecture 1.1: The Nature of Economics
Lecture 1.2: Five Reasons Why Economics Is Political
Lecture 2: What Is Wrong With Globalization?
To view more videos: https://www.ineteconomics.org/perspectives/videos/economics-for-people
1970’s & 80’s Economics : Former Chairman Of Federal Reservce Paul Volcker Dies At 92
From a Wall Street Journal online article:
He became one of the most unpopular Fed chairmen in history for pushing interest rates as high as 20% to break the soaring inflation that consumed the U.S. economy in the 1970s. But his actions succeeded in bringing inflation, making Mr. Volcker one of the most successful central bankers in history.
Paul Volcker, who defeated runaway inflation as Federal Reserve chairman in the 1980s, establishing the importance to the economy of an independent central bank, and whose “Volcker Rule” became a controversial element of postcrisis banking regulation in the Obama administration, has died at 92 years old.
Mr. Volcker died Sunday at his home following a long illness, his family said.
Mr. Volcker served in government across Democratic and Republican administrations for almost three decades in roles guiding monetary policy and overseeing the nation’s financial system.
Future Of Grocery: Ahold Delhaize Digital “Nano Store” Uses Debit Card To Enter, Leave With Items
From a Grocery Dive online review:
Shoppers have to use a debit card at the door to gain entry to the store. Then they can shop for products and just walk out. Upon exit, customers can verify their purchases against the receipt. No cash is accepted.
“This speaks to the original design thinking behind NanoStore: to make a plug-and-play modular store so it can be easily placed and moved where people need it the most,”
Albert Heijn first unveiled the fully digital store under its AH To Go name in September at its headquarters in Zaandam in the Netherlands, where it was open only to employees. The move to Schiphol Airport gives the company an opportunity to pilot the technology with consumers in a highly trafficked area.
To read more: https://www.grocerydive.com/news/ahold-delhaizes-nanostore-heads-to-the-airport/568170/
Online Shopping: “Amazon, Target, Walmart – The One-Day Shipping Battle” (WSJ Podcast)
Wall Street Journal corporate bureau chief Marcelo Prince explains the competition between retailers Amazon, Target and Walmart to provide one-day shipping to customers during the holiday season.
Future Of Money Podcast: Digital Payments Become The Norm Reducing Need For Cash (The Economist)
As digital payments become the norm, will there be a need for cash? The Economist’s Finance editor Helen Joyce takes a look behind the scenes of the future, from Sweden to Shanghai. She explores how digital payments will transform the economy, and how they risk leaving some people behind.
Future Of Home Buying: ZeroDown Buys The Home, You Pay Monthly To Complete Purchase Later
From a HousingWire.com online article:
Real estate startup ZeroDown, which launched earlier this year, boasts a unique business model. Aiming to help more people become homeowners in the pricey San Francisco Bay Area, the company removes several of the largest hurdles from the homebuying process, namely the down payment and mortgage, and buys homes for its customers outright.
But it doesn’t give the properties away. Rather, the company buys the house with its own funds, without requiring its customers to put down a down payment or assume a mortgage, then leases the property to the customer for a period of as long as five years.
To read more click on the following link: https://www.housingwire.com/articles/49937-real-estate-startup-zerodown-secures-100-million-to-buy-san-francisco-homes-for-its-customers?utm_campaign=Newsletter%20-%20HousingWire%20Daily&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=76098861&_hsenc=p2ANqtz–haCZ6Ij9bSwQwBZTqEGO12hhm6HCNa4G5lr3AeeJRbRjpsAJPIMAF8Ko0NPhdW_Nn8Vmg3s35rhQhmcODtqhIch-f1A&_hsmi=76098861
Future Of Homebuilding: Crowdfunding Site “Small Change” Helped Raise Equity To Build Modular Home In Pittsburgh
From a SmallChange.com project listing:
Small Change raised $82,000 in equity to help construct Plattform at 930 Mellon, a Passive, highly energy efficient and modular house which replenishes a long vacant lot in the Highland Park neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
With the help of a successful crowdfunding raise on Small Change, Plattform at 930 Mellon will be the first of three houses to be built on three vacant lot in Pittsburgh’s Highland Park neighborhood.. Designed to Passivhaus standards by Laura Nettleton of Thoughtful Balance, the modular house will be prefabricated and 85% complete before ever reaching the site.
To read more click on the following link: https://learn.smallchange.com/plattform-at-930-mellon/
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