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Monthly Newsletter

*. February 2011. *. Monthly Newsletter. Quick Links:. Video Index Abstract Index. *. *. VIDEO INDEX. Freedom Fries: Big Mac Revolution in Russia Employment in 2011 Global Employment Trends 201: Weak Jobs Recovery to Continue 11 Promising Jobs 2011 Turning the Blue-Collar Green. *.

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Monthly Newsletter

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  1. * February 2011 * Monthly Newsletter Quick Links: Video Index Abstract Index

  2. * * VIDEO INDEX • Freedom Fries: Big Mac Revolution in Russia • Employment in 2011 • Global Employment Trends 201: Weak Jobs Recovery to Continue • 11 Promising Jobs 2011 • Turning the Blue-Collar Green

  3. * * • Bernanke’s Big Gamble • The Gradual Return of American Optimism • Greater Efficiency, Fewer Jobs • Saving a Fortune with Employee Wellness • Made in the USA, But Owned by China • Women Bringing Home the Bacon • Rising Food Prices • Giving Online with Causes • India’s Upcoming Era of Growth • Small Businesses Going Mobile ABSTRACT INDEX

  4. * * • Though the economy is recovering, it is doing so at a very slow pace. • In an effort to spur growth, the Fed will buy $600 billion in Treasury bonds over the next year. • Ben Bernanke hopes to lower interest rates, but he risks flooding the economy with cash and sparking heavy inflation. Bernanke’s Big Gamble Article indexVideo index

  5. * * • What is the key role the Federal Reserve plays in the U.S. economy? What do you think? • Why are critics of the Fed’s action concerned about inflation? Article indexVideo index

  6. * * • The Bush era tax cuts along with some provisions from the 2009 stimulus package were renewed by Congress and the president. • Passage of the new law spurred a feeling of optimism among business leaders. • Though stocks on the S&P 500 are up, American businesses could invest much of their newfound capital in foreign ventures. The Gradual Return ofAmerican Optimism Article indexVideo index

  7. * * • Was the extension of the Bush-era tax cuts a good idea? What do you think? • What is the greatest economic challenge facing the United States? Photo courtesy of NASA Article indexVideo index

  8. * * • After slashing more than 8.2 million jobs during the recession, U.S. companies continue to strive to do more with less. • Unfortunately, such vast efficiency improvements have all but closed the door on future hiring. • Former Fed chairman Alan Greenspan urges companies to be more innovative instead of focusing exclusively on cost cutting. Greater Efficiency,Fewer Jobs Article indexVideo index

  9. * * • What’s the primary danger of focusing on cutting cost rather than innovating? What do you think? • Why are the numbers of independent contractors and part-time workers continuing to grow? Article indexVideo index Photo courtesy of Adam Smith

  10. * * • Companies can save as much as $6 in health care costs for every dollar they put into an employee wellness program. • Wellness programs also help prevent employee turnover and can be partially funded by federal subsidies granted by the new health care law. • The most successful wellness programs are non-mandatory and operate onsite. Saving a Fortunewith Employee Wellness Article indexVideo index

  11. * * What do you think? • Why are managers a key to successful wellness programs? • Are the benefits of a wellness program limited to economic benefits? Article indexVideo index

  12. * * • Foreign manufacturers are setting up shop in the U.S. to bypass trade barriers and capitalize on subsidies of alternative energy sources. • At a South Carolina BMW plant, American employees earn half as much as their German counterparts. • From January 2010 through September, Chinese companies invested $2.81 billion in American assets compared to $1.73 in 2009. Made in the USA,But Owned in China Article indexVideo index

  13. * * • Why is the growth of foreign producers in the U.S. economy a positive sign? What do you think? • Are foreign producers required to follow U.S. laws and regulations? Article indexVideo index

  14. * * • Not only are women already the primary purchasers of a household, they’re also becoming the breadwinners. • For every two men who graduate from college or attain a higher-level degree, three women do the same. • Though a pay gap between men and women still exists, women are out-earning men on average in cities like Atlanta and New York City. Women Bringing Home the Bacon Article indexVideo index

  15. * * What do you think? • What seems to be the key to the expanding power of women in the economy? • What must companies remember in marketing to independent women? Article indexVideo index

  16. * * • In recent months prices of supermarket staples like milk, beef, coffee and sugar rose sharply. • The consumer price index for all items except food and energy rose just 0.8 percent over the last year, the lowest 12-month increase since 1961. • The food index rose by 1.4 percent last year, leading to price increases in supermarkets and restaurants. Rising Food Prices Article indexVideo index

  17. * * • What seems to be the key reason for the increase in food prices? What do you think? • Can restaurants raise prices yet keep customers in a tough economy? Photo courtesy Andy Cunningham Article indexVideo index

  18. * * • Of the $263 billion Americans gave to charity last year, only 5.7 percent of that cash was donated online. • The social media app Causes hopes to improve this by linking its 119 million users to thousands of charities across the world. • Causes operates as a for-profit company, asking that users give a 10% “tip” for every donation they make. Giving Online with Causes Article indexVideo index

  19. * * • Why have nonprofit organizations been slow to adapt to online solicitations? What do you think? • Does Causes being a for-profit organization raise issues about their intentions? Article indexVideo index

  20. * * • By 2030 India and China are estimated to account for 34 percent of the globe’s total economic output. • While China’s pool of work eligible citizens will shrink due to its one child policy, India’s will surge just as its economy expands broadly. • India’s crumbling infrastructure is a problem, though, and the country doesn’t have enough skilled laborers to combat it. India’s Upcoming Era of Growth Article indexVideo index

  21. * * • Why are low birthrate countries expected to see declines in GDP? What do you think? • Will India be able to face the major challenges facing its infrastructure? Photo courtesy Jason Diceman Article indexVideo index

  22. * * • Amazon earned more than $1 billion from purchases made on smartphones in 2009. • For small businesses, design issues and the array of devices available make migrating an online store to a smartphone tricky. • The mStore platform allows business owners to quickly construct a mobile store site for a sliding scale licensing fee dependent on site traffic. Small Businesses Going Mobile Article indexVideo index

  23. * * • What must retailers face in dealing with customers today? What do you think? • Why are companies like mShopper valuable in today’s economy? Article indexVideo index Photo courtesy Matt Gibson

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