LAUREN DAVIES- SOC 448 news journal by https://padlet.com/lauren_davies992/lhcx3pj5fnvp Made with charisma en-us 2017-09-28 02:51:06 UTC 2025-09-30 01:02:07 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Growing.png #3-9/27 International Banks lauren_davies992 https://padlet.com/lauren_davies992/lhcx3pj5fnvp/wish/191921158     Researchers conducted an experiment where they measured net interest margins and returns on equity of seven international banks, in which they found most banks fall short on these measures when they go overseas. Factors that contribute to loss include legal expenses, sacrificing margin for market share, and heavier regulatory burdens.
    This article relates to our discussion of foreign direct investment. These banks go international to stake their place in the foreign market, and acquire various business assets. The goal is to gain profit by expanding internationally, but this article explains how these banks are doing more damage than good for themselves.


]]> 2017-09-28 03:02:47 UTC https://padlet.com/lauren_davies992/lhcx3pj5fnvp/wish/191921158 #1-9/27 Deregulation lauren_davies992 https://padlet.com/lauren_davies992/lhcx3pj5fnvp/wish/195422178
This article discussed an annual conference held by the federal reserves bank in kansas city. At this conference, several government officials touch base on various aspects that will help or hurt them in terms of economic growth. Some aspects thought to contribute to the decline of the economy included deregulation, protectionism, and trade.
I found that this article  and some of the problems it discusses relates to certain economic theorists. For example, Keynes would agree that deregulation would be a bad idea for a struggling economy. Whereas, Hayek believed a free market would be better in terms of growth, and would disagree with government regulation, and policies like protectionism.


]]> 2017-10-10 01:45:39 UTC https://padlet.com/lauren_davies992/lhcx3pj5fnvp/wish/195422178 #2-9/27 Inflation and Unemployment lauren_davies992 https://padlet.com/lauren_davies992/lhcx3pj5fnvp/wish/195429761 In this article, the author discusses how the odd phenomenon of low inflation and low unemployment seem to be coexisting. With this taking place, government officials are struggling to raise interest rates. While some support the raise of interest rates, others say to wait on raising them due to the fact that low rates enhance job growth by more people risk-taking.
This article pertains to Keynes teachings on macroeconomics. Aspects of Keynes macroeconomics include GDP and inflation rate. That being said, this article is interesting because it is discussing how low unemployment tends to drive up inflation, but is currently remaining stagnant. 

]]> 2017-10-10 02:49:00 UTC https://padlet.com/lauren_davies992/lhcx3pj5fnvp/wish/195429761 #4-9/29- GDP lauren_davies992 https://padlet.com/lauren_davies992/lhcx3pj5fnvp/wish/195434207 This article discusses how economists are becoming more skeptical of how accurate the GDP is at measuring the economy and its progress. It goes on to say there is no perfect measurement to take everything into account when calculating GDP, for example, certain aspects of the internet. 
GDP is used to measure the economy's total output, as discussed in class. As one of Keynes aspects of macroeconomics, it has some margin of error. The article goes on to explain that when the measurement was created in the 30’s, they were measuring very different things, so over time its been losing its accuracy.


]]> 2017-10-10 03:21:51 UTC https://padlet.com/lauren_davies992/lhcx3pj5fnvp/wish/195434207 #5-10/10 - recession comeback lauren_davies992 https://padlet.com/lauren_davies992/lhcx3pj5fnvp/wish/195736376 This article discusses how smaller cities have a much harder time making a comeback after a recession, than bigger metropolitan cities. The author states that the “the accumulation of human talent that is spurring investment and driving innovations that are fueling the prosperity of the nation as a whole.” is the driving force behind bigger city success.
This article reminds me of our discussion of overurbanization---how people flood to inner cities to find jobs and stake their place. This leaves little talent for smaller cities and companies that lie on the outskirts.



]]> 2017-10-10 17:39:44 UTC https://padlet.com/lauren_davies992/lhcx3pj5fnvp/wish/195736376 #9-ethical investment lauren_davies992 https://padlet.com/lauren_davies992/lhcx3pj5fnvp/wish/210708995 Japans ethical investment accounts for nearly 3.5% of their total assets. The article states how this movement has worked its way down from top politicians versus individual ethical investors trying to work their way up. The author continues  on to state that if more companies focus on sustainability, then they will be sought out more for investment opportunities, and greater growth.
This article pertains to our discussion of fair trade. As we discussed in class, ethical products are a developmental strategy of selling products by using social justice. This is exactly what japan is trying to do, by focusing on ethics, they are bringing investment opportunities.

]]> 2017-11-28 00:30:41 UTC https://padlet.com/lauren_davies992/lhcx3pj5fnvp/wish/210708995 #8-Foreign aid lauren_davies992 https://padlet.com/lauren_davies992/lhcx3pj5fnvp/wish/210709969 A saudi led blockade cut off supplies to Yemen for basic human survival. Yemen faced a shortage of water, food, and medical supplies including cholera medication needed for an outbreak brought over by saudi Arabia. Director of Unicef stated that he was grateful for the contributions they were able to make, but it was still not enough for Yemen.
This article reminds me of our discussion of global foreign aid, as well as INGO's. Unicef is not an INGO, but a program by the united nations to provide humanitarian aid. In Swiss's article he says that foreign aid can be a way to globalize and bring international norms across seas to struggling countries.

]]> 2017-11-28 00:36:41 UTC https://padlet.com/lauren_davies992/lhcx3pj5fnvp/wish/210709969 #7-Carbon control lauren_davies992 https://padlet.com/lauren_davies992/lhcx3pj5fnvp/wish/210711648 Over two decades have gone by since a bill was passed to reduce carbon emissions. The article states that despite efforts to reduce carbon by using electricity or solar energy, carbon emissions have not changed hardly at all. The author goes on to discuss how the implementation of renewable resources will take a lot more effort to make a difference in carbon emissions, and the cost of power will increase drastically. 

This article reminds me of our discussion of global cities and our paper on global indicators. The united states and cities like new york are giant producers in US and world economy. When doing my global indicators paper, the CO2 emissions for the US were drastic and haven't changed much, which correlates with the articles point; despite efforts, it hasn't changed over time



]]> 2017-11-28 00:45:46 UTC https://padlet.com/lauren_davies992/lhcx3pj5fnvp/wish/210711648 #6-rise of rates lauren_davies992 https://padlet.com/lauren_davies992/lhcx3pj5fnvp/wish/210712431 This article discusses how the federal government intends to raise interest rates by the end of the year. Rates were lowered initially to promote economic growth, but with little change, they intend to raise them again, yielding any movement. The plan was to keep rates the same until inflation was back to 2%, but is not plausible given the small amount of change.
This article pertains to our discussion of financialization. If the Fed decides to raise interest rates then we will see an increased risk and cost of borrowing. As we discussed in class and also in Kwon and Roberts article, if financialization goes up, then so does income inequality. I believe that effects that this would have on the economy, would do more harm than good.


]]> 2017-11-28 00:50:56 UTC https://padlet.com/lauren_davies992/lhcx3pj5fnvp/wish/210712431 #10-Trade lauren_davies992 https://padlet.com/lauren_davies992/lhcx3pj5fnvp/wish/212000155 This article discusses the various barriers of trade, particularly on cheese in this case. It discusses how labelling and differences in labelling can affect trade and trade consumers. Barriers such as labelling standards, lower trade volume by almost 7%, as well as differing health standards that lower trade by almost 7.5%.
In the reading, Rauch describes trade as expanding the market over foreign boundaries. However, looking at this case, its difficult to see trade always being beneficial when there are different health standards on the same products. This inhibits trade. It also makes you wonder what other products aren't being traded due to differences in policies.]]> 2017-11-30 18:22:17 UTC https://padlet.com/lauren_davies992/lhcx3pj5fnvp/wish/212000155