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{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9088699817657471, "language": "en", "url": "https://ricesolarenergy.com/solar-energy/solar-energy-industries-association.html", "token_count": 618, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.1513671875, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:7b7da003-78ee-48fb-9f4f-2148944736e0>" }	Is solar a growing industry? Currently, the US solar industry employs about 242,000 people and generates tens of billions of dollars of economic value. … In 2018, solar generated about 1.5% of US electricity. Of all renewable energy generation, solar PV is expected to grow the fastest from now to 2050. Which state generates the most solar power? What does SEIA stand for? Solar Energy Industries Association What is bad about solar farms? Land Use. Large utility-scale solar panels take up a lot of space, which can result in environmental degradation and habitat loss. … Solar farms can also inhibit local vegetation growth and damage agriculture. Unlike wind energy, solar panels aren’t able to share the land they occupy for other uses. What are the 2 main disadvantages of solar energy? The Disadvantages of Solar Energy - Location & Sunlight Availability. Your latitude is one of the main factors in determining the efficacy of solar power. … - Installation Area. … - Reliability. … - Inefficiency. … - Pollution & Environmental Impact. … - Expensive Energy Storage. … - High Initial Cost. Does solar have a future? In the immediate future, silicon solar cells are likely to continue to decrease in cost and be installed in large numbers. In the United States, these cost decreases are anticipated to increase the solar power produced by at least 700% by 2050. Where does solar power work best? For the summer, most of the United States, with the exception of the extreme pacific northwest, is ideal for placing solar panels. The western and southwestern US is best, with the desert regions obviously receiving the most sun. But most all of the US can benefit from solar power throughout the summer. Where is the biggest solar farm in the US? What percentage of energy comes from solar? About 63% of this electricity generation was from fossil fuels—coal, natural gas, petroleum, and other gases. About 20% was from nuclear energy, and about 18% was from renewable energy sources. What is U.S. electricity generation by energy source?Energy sourceBillion kWhShare of totalOther biomass waste20.1%Solar721.8%Photovoltaic691.7%Solar thermal30.1% Can I make money from a solar farm? To get the required amount for building solar farms and other installations, solar income funds will be the major source. It allows investors to make some profits while achieving the goal of going solar. You will get a share of the profit earned through the production of electricity. Do solar farms kill birds? Save this story for later. America’s solar farms have a bird problem. … Nobody really knew.” But simply getting the data on avian deaths at solar facilities proved challenging. In 2016, a first-of-its-kind study estimated that the hundreds of utility-scale solar farms around the US may kill nearly 140,000 birds annually.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9730574488639832, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.bringclaritytoyourfinances.com/money-management-for-children-under-five/", "token_count": 417, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": -0.0081787109375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:16308d83-9cf0-4647-a46f-36cb4b88af12>" }	Last week we discussed a LearnVest article about money management lessons from children’s summer activities. These tips were for grade school and beyond but you don’t have to wait for grade school to introduce financial planning to your children. LearnVest also offers advice to start the smallest children on the path to sound money management. Connecting Money and Work: The article quotes Danny Kofke, author of A Bright Financial Future: Teaching Kids About Money Pre-K Through College for Life-Long Success!, as saying that even three-year-olds can “do a few basic chores around the home for pay.” Now lest this starts a debate over whether children should be paid for chores, he adds that some chores should be done (for no money) because everyone in the family needs to contribute. Paying kids for some chores can be part of a conversation about how you also work to earn money. Children learn about different jobs but it is possible that they may not connect work to earning money. You can talk about jobs that people do to earn money. You can also note that sometimes people work for no money (parenting, volunteer work). Budgeting and Saving: Children who are not yet in kindergarten can start learning about budgeting. You can help them figure out how much of their earnings (allowance, gifts from relatives) they should spend, how much they should save for something they want, and how much they can give to charity. You can do this by having them divide their money into separate containers or by using a product designed for this, such as the Money Savvy Pig. Estimating Costs: You can start early getting children to understand that different things cost more than others. You can have them guess how much items in different price ranges cost, “you may also want to expand the conversation, talking about why a bike might cost less than, say, a car or even a house.” This can lead to discussions of why people have to work and save to buy certain things.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9829196929931641, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.gfapandc.com/blog/pay-yourself-first.aspx", "token_count": 698, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.24609375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:089f6759-49e9-4c5c-806d-a795c1578268>" }	Several years ago I was walking near Times Square in New York City. It is an amazing place both during the day and at night. Giant billboards flashing constantly, Broadway shows on nearly every block, music, cars and people everywhere. What a busy place, captivating in many ways. As I walked down the street I noticed an older man standing on the corner. He was well dressed, suit and tie, long coat, and holding a brown paper bag. As people would pass by him, he would reach into the brown paper bag and pull out a $100 bill. He would stretch out his hand to give the $100 bill to anyone passing by that would take it. Several people walked past him, ignoring him and not taking the money. Several others approached him and asked, “Is this for real?” As people began to realize it was “for real” a line began to form. As they lined up, he reached in and handed them a $100 bill one at a time with no strings attached. He was simply giving away the money he had earned over the years to others. If you were there that day, where would you like to be in that line? Would you be in the front of the line, middle of the line, or back of the line? I suspect most will say, "In the front of the line!” Why? Because you would not want him to run out of money before you got paid, correct? Let me ask you two important questions: - If that man had a contract to be there every day for the next 30 years, to hand out money from his estate to those who stood in line, how much insurance should he have on his life? - If you were the man holding the bag of money, would you pay yourself first? Or would you place yourself at the end of the line hoping there is enough left at the end of the day? The reality is.... YOU are "that man." You are the one who works hard and earns the money. You then come home and open the mail and begin to write checks giving out your money to all those in the line. The mortgage, car payment, utilities, groceries, and those who are in line to make sure that you hand them your hundred dollar bills each week, each month, each year. Yet, where do you put yourself in that line? Do you pay yourself first or last? Do you set aside 5%, 10%, or some flat dollar amount each paycheck to make sure you will always have enough money to meet your needs first? What about that insurance question? Do you have insurance on yourself, so that if you do not show up to work (in order to hand out the money) there will be money there for those who are dependent on you? Do you have life insurance or disability insurance to make sure there will be money there for those who are depending on you? Understand that YOU are that man. Pay yourself first, have appropriate insurance for life and disability, and make your finances a priority. Gateway Insurance Group, Inc. and Gateway Financial Advisors, Inc. can help. Please give us a call today to see how we can be your partner in your investments and insurance. Shane Westhoelter, AEP, CLU, LUTCF Gateway Financial Advisors, Inc. Gateway Insurance Group, Inc.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9691665172576904, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.kundrataxlaw.com/blog/2020/09/what-are-payroll-taxes/", "token_count": 333, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.0322265625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:c227c8f1-f573-435d-bedf-fb36c69d6622>" }	Most of us experience, or have experienced, payroll tax withholding but with more recent discussions about the topic, what exactly are payroll taxes? It is helpful for any taxpayer who is seeing their hard-earned dollars withheld every month to understand what payroll taxes are. What are payroll taxes? Payroll taxes are taxes paid by an employer on the employee’s behalf and are held back from the worker’s pay. If the worker is an employee, and not an independent contractor designation, the employer is required by law to withhold federal and state income tax, if applicable, for the employee. The amount that is withheld each month, or out of each paycheck, depends on the employee’s rate of pay, filing status and amount of claimed allowances. What are payroll taxes used for? There are several different types of tax that are withheld in payroll taxes including: - Federal income tax withholding: - State income tax withholding where applicable; - Social Security taxes; - Medicare taxes; and - Federal and state unemployment taxes All workers, unless they are classified as independent contactors, are subject to payroll tax collection which typically comes out of the worker’s paycheck before they see it or receive it. Determining if the worker is an independent contractor depends on the amount of control the worker has over how the work is performed. Independent contractors pay these taxes themselves. Payroll taxes impact most workers which is why it is important to understand what they are. Workers should also understand how employment tax law can help them with payroll tax concerns and other employment tax concerns they may have during the course of their employment.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9260479211807251, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.le-monastierpinmories.fr/other/business-finance/165461-the-economics-of-the-family-and-family-policy-francisco-cabrillo-download-fb2.html", "token_count": 972, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.150390625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:1dfcd5c7-4c67-44dd-91bc-2b4d5a0a2904>" }	- Author:Francisco Cabrillo - Publisher:Edward Elgar Pub (September 1, 1999) - Pages:193 pages - Subcategory:Business & Finance - FB2 format1302 kb - ePUB format1746 kb - DJVU format1640 kb - Formats:lit rtf azw docx The family is studied in this book using the basic methodology of economic theory: the analysis of conduct for utility maximization in. .Publication year: 1999. Contributors: Francisco Cabrillo. Subjects: Family-Economic Aspects. The family is studied in this book using the basic methodology of economic theory: the analysis of conduct for utility maximization in people whose aim is to achieve the greatest possible satisfaction with limited resources and imperfect information. This method of maximization under constraints has been seen to be very fruitful in the analysis of all types of economic behaviour and can also be usefully applied to the study of the family. In many cases, this approach is complemented with the use of game theory. Francisco Cabrillo then develops the analysis to include a discussion of the economics of family policy, an area not widely discussed in the existing literature, with special reference to the European Union. He makes use of simple and clear analytical models, such as neoclassical optimization and game theory, to explain the rationality of individual behaviour in the family and the responses to the incentives created by public policies. This comprehensive and authoritative book offers a global approach to the modern economics of the family, family law and family policy. Beginning with the division of labour in the family, this book deals with the economics of marriage, the demand for children, inter-generational relationships, and the economics of inheritance. The family is analysed using the theory of utility maximisation assuming that individuals wish to achieve the greatest possible satisfaction with limited resources and imperfect knowledge. The family is analysed using the theory of utility maximisation assuming . Francisco Cabrillo, 1999. The family is analysed using the theory of utility maximisation assuming that individuals wish to achieve the greatest possible satisfaction with limited resources and imperfect knowledge. The family is examined from both long and short term perspectives, and it is assumed that the family is cooperative with incentives for altruistic behaviour greater than in any other social group. This comprehensive and authoritative book offers a global approach to the modern economics of the family, family law and family policy. The Economics of the Family and Family Policy," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 1499, November. in The Economics of the Family and Family Policy in The Economics of the Family and Family Policy. The Economics of the Family and Family Policy ; doi:10. An excellent analysis of economics and family policy. This book will become a standard reference work on many of the issues dealing with parenting and the production of valued goods and services. Folbre develops a new way of thinking about the economics of child rearing, that of treating children as an investment rather than a consumption good. Although Folbre characterizes her approach as institutional economics, she has really added to a wide variety of economic fields beyond that. Sheila Kamerman, Columbia University School of Social Work). Download books for free. The departure point for this book is the authors' belief in the need for a systematic analysis of the incentive structures facing key players in the courts and litigation process. They focus not only on structures pertaining to the common law tradition, but offer analysis of issues not normally found in the North-American literature, such as the Latin notary and the selection and values of judges in civil law systems. They further propose an ample list of considerations for a reform agenda. Economics of the Family. That is the standard assumption in economics and the basic tenet of the. unied framework of this book: individuals make rational decisions based on stable preferences, and decisions. change only when the environment changes. by Martin Browning, Pierre-André Chiappori, and Yoram Weiss. New York: Cambridge University Press 2014. Moreover, changes in the environment are most often conveyed by. changes in relative prices. We are reminded of the famous quip by James Duesenberry, Economics is all about. how people make choices. Sociology is all about why they don’t have any choices to make (NBER 1960: 233). Family economics applies economic concepts such as production, division of labor, distribution, and decision making to the study of the family. It tries to explain outcomes unique to family-such as marriage, the decision to have children, fertility, polygamy, time devoted to domestic production, and dowry payments using economic analysis. The family, although recognized as fundamental from Adam Smith onward, received little systematic treatment in economics before the 1960s
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9558227062225342, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.techradar.com/sg/news/what-is-a-smart-city-and-how-does-one-plan-for-it", "token_count": 1438, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": -0.0341796875, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:b7f06826-199c-4a3b-a370-6792093a1875>" }	Cities around the globe are expected to continue to attract an ever increasing portion of the world’s population. By 2050, more than two thirds of us will live in urban areas according to a 2018 research from the United Nations. By 2030, the world is projected to have 43 megacities with more than 10 million inhabitants, most of them in developing regions. To tackle the long list of challenges that such a massive influx of population brings, the concept of smart cities was brought in. Mastercard, best known for its credit card services, has a not-so-obvious interest in getting smart cities off the ground. We interviewed Mastercard’s Vice President of Global Cities, Sapan Shah, about a project the financial giant has been working on, ahead of the launch of the Emergent City installation at Goodwood’s Festival of Speed. - 5G and smart cities: everything you need to know - How businesses can unlock smart city success - Open standards: making our cities smarter Let’s start by a less-than-smart question. What is a smart city and how does one plan for one? Smart City was a term coined to mean cities that use technology and automation to provide better infrastructure. We think about this a bit differently at Mastercard. Use of any new technology needs to ensure that we bring the entire community along to create inclusive, connected and dynamic places to live. Hence instead of ‘smart cities’, we talk about ‘connected and inclusive cities’, which have a singular goal of improving the quality of life for all their residents and visitors. The potential of cities to be the next driver of global progress is greater than ever, but so is the need for cities to focus on what it means to be connected and inclusive. It means improving efficiency so that local governments provide better service to their citizens. It also means promoting economic growth and development that proactively seeks to address the most serious needs of the city, the distressed areas and those communities at risk of being left behind. And it means ensuring inclusion by enabling greater access to the networks that people need to have productive and meaningful lives, which includes financial security. Why did Mastercard launch the City Possible Initiative? What’s in it for them? When one thinks about Mastercard, the global power of our network and ability to create trusted relationships between total strangers halfway around the world comes to mind. Anyone carrying a Mastercard from any city in the world can go to any retailer, anywhere in the world and transact with them. Much of what we are doing through City Possible is focused on applying our technology, our understanding of networks and markets, and our capacity to organize ecosystems to partner with cities, mayors and city managers. By organizing this network of global cities, businesses, non-profit and academia and by developing solutions together, we can solve many common urban challenges. This approach also speaks specifically to our commitment to being a force for good in the world and to ‘doing well by doing good’. More broadly, if we can help cities mayors accomplish the objective of driving prosperity in their communities, then people will have better jobs, live better lives and will be more likely to participate in the formal financial economy. This in turn helps our core business grow. Aren’t smart cities already a reality? What is it that Mastercard is proposing that’s not already on the decks? The term smart city suggests a destination, a case of either you are or you aren’t and for us, it’s not that black and white. Through our work with mayors and city leaders, we recognize that cities are all at different stages on their journey to becoming more connected and more inclusive. What we’re also seeing is that cities across the world have more in common than we think. Despite location or language, cities around the world are all grappling with the same societal, political and environmental issues that come with accelerated urbanization. Yet all too often cities are operating in isolation and reinventing the wheel. We believe that collaboration is the cities’ untapped superpower. Cities will only accomplish acceleration and efficiency at scale by building on each other’s progress, in partnership with the private sector and academia. The vision for City Possible is to facilitate this space for collaboration, to provide a path to scaleable solutions, and ultimately to make tech work for people. Mastercard is uniquely positioned to be the orchestrator of this ecosystem given our core company strengths: creating partnerships, developing leading edge technology and providing critical insights. Emergent City is just an artistic installation at the moment, what plans are there to take it from the abstract to reality. City Possible is very much a reality today. Launched at the Smart City Expo in Barcelona in November 2018, already more than 25 cities have joined the network and that number is growing rapidly, with participants representing all continents and city sizes. Earlier this year, Belfast became the first UK city to join the global network. Through the global network, we are engaging member cities on a wide range of relevant topics from urban mobility to use of data in policy making and together solving some of their most pressing problems. For example, cities like Dublin and London are testing an Economic Development Platform, using Mastercard data analytics to assess the city’s economic health at a hyper-local level and make more informed policy decisions linked to tourism, events and retail. ‘The Emergent City’ exhibition at the Goodwood FOS Future Lab is a multi-layered installation that explores the concept of the city of the future. We have collaborated with Stanza to ask people to re-imagine the possibilities for cities and urban centers. The integration of open-data sources, sensor networks and media feeds in the installation demonstrates how cities have become inter-connected hubs of information, innovation and communication. In many ways ‘The Emergent City’ embodies the philosophy of City Possible, as it provides a space for people to interact, collaborate and share best practice and consider the future of cities in new ways to make them more inclusive, connected and dynamic places to live. What are the biggest challenges, in your view, when it comes to the planning of smart cities? One of the key challenges is the complexity of various city-systems. Given the complexity, often the solutions are siloed in nature where interventions by the public and private sectors address issues in isolation or in a short-term form. The other key challenge for cities has been the lack of ability to learn from the experiences of other cities. Each city ends up making the same sort of mistakes, which hinders rapid progress. Industry players and vendors have also traditionally led the urban innovation landscape (and the development of new solutions) and these solutions haven’t always helped cities achieve their goals. That is changing now with cities leading the innovation process and working hand in hand with industry partners to design solutions that have citizen’s needs at their heart.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9115354418754578, "language": "en", "url": "https://apal.org.au/grower/managing-the-business/procurement-and-supply-chain/", "token_count": 422, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.154296875, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:47db183c-1a7d-470c-bd19-04b673fca352>" }	Procurement and Supply Chain Growers with a firm grasp of leading-edge procurement and supply chain practices can leverage significant savings in costs and time. The Procurement Cycle is generally known as a six-part process, involving: - Strategic planning: ensuring the purchasing decision benefits your business in the long-term rather than only serving your immediate needs. - Needs identification: analysing exactly what is required in order to source the right product or service at the right time. - Tendering/Sourcing: Analysing the market to shortlist the best suppliers, or inviting suppliers to bid for your business. - Evaluation and selection: Choosing the right supplier and evaluating benefits beyond the lowest price. - Negotiation and award: Negotiating and agreeing upon contract terms. - Contract management: Setting up KPIs and milestones to ensure the supplier delivers to contract. Procurement can bring value to your organisation through: - Discovering and working with new suppliers - Analysing your spend to understand costs such as over-ordering and duplication - creating better contracts - Increasing your negotiating and purchasing power - Driving innovation in the supplier base - Gaining other benefits beyond getting the lowest price, such as environmental benefits Supply chain optimisation means thinking beyond the farm gate because growers are ultimately assessed on what the end-customer is willing to pay. Growers therefore need to assist other parties by sharing information that will optimise scheduling and maintain fruit quality all along the supply chain. This may involve: - Providing crop forecasting to packing houses to assist with labour scheduling - Using crop forecasting to order the right number of boxes - Helping purchasers (such as supermarkets) plan for customer demand - Reviewing transit arrangements to ensure your product reaches the end-customer in an optimal state - Using sophisticated tracking (IoT devices) to identify the good and bad players in your supply chain - Providing end-customers with data about the provenance of the product.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9439750909805298, "language": "en", "url": "https://bijlibabu.com/thread.php?id=75", "token_count": 229, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": -0.06494140625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:fdd87ccb-5ce4-47d8-9f02-12a774f0090e>" }	nishant · 13-Aug-19 · 04:08 AM Administrator · 196 ATR, ABR and Thru Rate are used to indicate the per-unit rate of electricity in terms of tariff decided by the Regulator, being sold out to the consumers and revenue received. they are measured in Rs./Unit. Let's have a look on full form of these abbreviations and its defination: Thru Rate = Revenue Realized/Input Energy. There is a very slight difference in ABR and ATR. If all consumers of the different categories are billed perfectly and accurately, ABR will be the same as ATR. So, ATR is nothing but ABR (Average billing rate) with a 100% accurate billing. ABR = Current Assessment/Billed Energy. The aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses shall also be measured using the average billing rate (ABR) and through rate. Note that ABR should be with accurate billing for getting an accurate result. AT&C Loss = (1-Through Rate/ ABR)x100.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9456714987754822, "language": "en", "url": "https://dailysandesh.com/make-yourself-familiar-with-the-principles-of-financial-management/", "token_count": 1020, "fin_int_score": 4, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": -0.03857421875, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:15819dde-188d-46a3-80bc-5791309bd2c3>" }	Financial management is the science of managing money wisely while achieving current and financial goals. But to learn this science, we need to follow some management principles. They help us get better in how we handle money, expenses, income, debt, and everything related to money. An interaction with significant financial management principles can help you make considerable life changes. Stable finances lead to you a better tomorrow and a safer future. Think rationally about money It is really of no use if you learn the thousands of principles, they are worthless if you are going to take emotional decisions. Technically, emotions have nothing to do with the money related things. Even if you are doing it for the family, the right type of prioritisation is necessary. - You want to invest for your kids every month for their future. But this month, your child wants a birthday gift, which may make you compromise in that monthly amount. What should be the decision in such situations? Either you ask the kid to wait for some time, or get a cheaper gift or say NO directly and save the money as usual. The principle of rationality says that you should not listen to your child for his well-being in the future. - A marriage anniversary luxury candlelight dinner can be replaced with a home-cooked meal and a calm home atmosphere. If you both have to save for a deposit to get the best deals of car loans in Ireland, financial principle asks you to avoid the expensive dinner. Can you do that? Well, it has to be done. Rational also denote strong determination. It means, never stops chasing a financial goal because of the distraction caused by temporary desires. A weekend trip sounds more impressive than investing money monthly in mutual funds, but hey is the logic. Of course, weekend fun is fine, but you can plan it later or downsize it with a smaller budget. First, improve current situations then exploit new financial products Money management principles say it is foolish to explore more and more financial products if you are already making mistakes. It makes the financial life worst and derails your finances. - Think of the delayed payments of credit cards? You want to get a new credit card without planning properly to settle the current pending obligations. The world knows how monstrously the interest rate increases on credit cards and turns things into a worst-case scenario. - Always make necessary changes to rectify the past mistakes in the personal finances before you move further dreaming of another financial product. Perhaps this point also has to do a lot with self-discipline. Without that, no one can follow a prosperous, peaceful life. - In case you have a bad credit score and want to borrow funds for a car purchase, first, try to gather a bigger deposit. There are options available on car finance for bad credit people in Ireland. Take the deals with customisation as that offers smaller installments, pays them on time, and improves the credit score. The actual idea is that it is foolish to keep moving on with further financial decisions without doing something for the existing issues. To such people, the money world is never able to offer lucrative deals, and at the end of the day, your chances of revival get weak. Greed and investment never walk together The haste to get rich faster and buy a luxury materialistic life makes people take careless decisions. Investment is a promising tool to get a big profit in a small-time but not for all but only for the smart and patient players. Usually, people get either over-confident or careless about the consequences of investment decisions. - Never invest more than your risk appetite because that is nothing but just an act of foolishness that takes you to destruction. Once you face a loss, sometimes it is so big that revival becomes difficult. - You only go gambling with your destiny if you forget the tolerance limits of your personal finances. Such things take you nowhere. In fact, they only leave with the bad incidents of financial life that cause pain and restlessness. - Always take the advice of a financial advisor and apply it in accordance with your circumstances. Do not forget to pair the advice with future consequences of the decision. - To play safe invest in multiple products because every product is prone to some market generation threats and conditions. Greed to get faster results to make people invest in the options that are not suitable for their situations. It is something that cannot be done for the long-term. To get a higher return on investment, it is not wise to forget the factor of vulnerability. A right investment decision is the one that gives an easy acknowledgment to the current conditions of the investor. Also, it is essential to pay heed to future possibilities. The above principles are ubiquitous in their significance, and they can help you irrespective of geographical boundaries. But there is something familiar in all of them, they all want you to apply logic and only logic in every financial decision you make. It is not only a safe play strategy but also a morally correct behaviour towards your personal finances.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9472955465316772, "language": "en", "url": "https://factcards.nl/themes/research/top-sectors/logistics/", "token_count": 286, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.026611328125, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:90e89345-cea4-440f-8f33-c855d68d9a04>" }	The transportation of goods around the globe increases in volume and distance every single day. Holland plays a key role in the global market because of its well-structured logistics. The centre for world trade Logistics concerns the knowledge and expertise that is necessary for the efficient planning, execution, and flow of goods- and information-streams. For many centuries, the Netherlands has been a centre for world trade. With two significant European cargo mainports, Schiphol airport and Port of Rotterdam, less that one hour distant from each other, the Netherlands is a key logistics hub for the through-transportation of goods to the European hinterland, making it an attractive location for foreign companies. Global trade is expanding and the transportation of goods round the world continues to increase and there is therefore a need for logistics to be as sustainable and efficient as possible. Many new measures have been implemented to reduce the CO2 emissions produced by the sector, such as hybrid delivery vehicles for urban areas and ships using quayside electricity whilst in port. Through sustainable innovation, the Dutch Logistics sector hopes to be leading the rest by 2020. Logistics also plays a crucial role for virtually all other sectors; from the transportation of raw materials, right through to finished products. With a value added of 55 billion euros/year and 813.000 employees, the Logistics sector is a strong driver of the Dutch economy.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9577465057373047, "language": "en", "url": "https://gerardcambon.net/when-analysing-any-macro-environment/", "token_count": 304, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.037353515625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:134d3347-d86e-4064-8213-c4d97135c2f5>" }	When analysing any macro-environment, it is very important to identify the factors which in turn may impact the variables that can influence an organisation’s level of demand and supply. Nowadays, there are many radical and ongoing changes evolving in society, that create uncertainties in the external environment and can directly influence the function of an organisation. There are many marketing tools which aid organisations to assess the external environment in which they are doing business. One among these models is the PEST analysis. PEST analysis was introduced long time back by a Harvard Business School Professor, named Francis Aguilar. Over years, this marketing model has proven to be strong taxonomy to analyse the macro-environmental factors affecting business. As per Kotler (1998), PEST analysis is a useful strategic tool for understanding market growth or decline, business position, potential and direction for operations. PEST is a mnemonic, which in its extended form denotes P for Political, E for Economic, S for Social and T for Technological.This taxonomy has served for quite a long time and recently, few factors (E for Environmental and L for Legal) have been added and the acronym has further developed to become PESTEL Analysis. These are the different factors which give a bird’s eye view of a business environment.Amongst its many uses, PESTEL Analysis proves to be a very useful marketing tool as it assists companies to track down the business environment which is being targeted for their next project launch.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9521175622940063, "language": "en", "url": "https://hstalks.com/t/3784/the-emergence-of-microeconomics/", "token_count": 544, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": -0.011962890625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:fd274516-fbd9-43f3-913d-29979d39c54b>" }	Welcome to the series of talks, "Introduction to Microeconomics". My name is Dr. Sangaralingam Ramesh. In this first talk, we'll be discussing the emergence of microeconomics and the contributions to the development of microeconomics, from ancient Greek philosophy and philosophers in the 18th and the 19th century. When we consider microeconomics, we need to understand what microeconomics is actually about. In this context, economics is split into microeconomics and macroeconomics. Macroeconomics is about the study of the wider economy, total demand and total supply in economy of a country, whereas microeconomics is about the study of individual markets. For example, the demand and supply of footballs. Microeconomics emerged from the scholarly works of ancient Greek philosopher, such as Aristotle, who had first started began to ask questions as to what value is and how goods and services are valued, and these ideas were then taken up by economists, philosophers, such as Adam Smith in the late 18th century, and then Stanley Jevons in the early part of the 19th century. So, in the context of the development of microeconomics, we should also understand the difference between economic analysis and a pure description of economic activities. Now, in the case of Aristotle, who coined the term 'oeconomia', which is basically 'household management' in ancient Greece was about sourcing supplies for the household and how the household would sell the goods and services which it produced. For example, it could be a farming household. However, Aristotle did no work or thinking on how prices are actually quantifiable, and neither did he do any work on interest rates or the distribution of income. So, in this case, we need to distinguish between economic analysis, the quantification of economic activity, and a pure description of economic activities, buying and selling goods. So, what's the difference between economic analysis and a pure description of economic activities? According to the famous economist, Joseph Schumpeter, who was active in the early part of the 20th century, economic analysis involves exerting intellectual efforts to better understand economic phenomena, such as why goods and services are produced, how they're sold and quantify this in specific ways, for example, by using a demand equation and a supply equation, quantifying the demand curve and the supply curve, the point at which these two curves meet gives us the concept of market equilibrium.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9095404744148254, "language": "en", "url": "https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/all_reports/11/", "token_count": 313, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.1875, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:f36eb3b6-ba86-4ad1-8a42-26e8d9e0ec13>" }	Since the Jasmine Revolution of 2011, Tunisia’s youth unemployment crisis has worsened. As of 2020, it has the tenth highest youth unemployment rate in the world at 36.5%. Experts have long identified this as the main challenge to overcoming Tunisia’s economic woes, and reform – from the education and vocational training systems on the supply-side to the job market on the demand-side – must follow the democratic gains achieved since 2011. The failed approach in reducing regional inequality under Ben Ali had an adverse effect, creating unemployment disparities between Tunisia’s affluent coastal cities and its poorer interior regions. As such, a pivotal remedy could well be found through a cohesive national youth entrepreneurship network that improves upon existing initiatives, the majority of which focus on university graduates in urban areas. While graduate unemployment is a real concern rooted in the inefficient education-job market nexus, youth entrepreneurship is a tool that can empower young citizens with limited education to build their own enterprises, potentially fostering a startup ecosystem that would transform the economic predicament of inner Tunisia. A concerted effort from government agencies, foreign development projects, and the private sector is necessary to develop a common national framework for entrepreneurial growth as well as the means to boost self-employment in the country’s most vulnerable communities. This will be equally important to reviving key industries like agriculture and mining, stimulating private sector enterprises and ultimately creating employment opportunities in economically detached regions. Growth and Development Commons, Income Distribution Commons, International Economics Commons, International Relations Commons, Labor Economics Commons, Leadership Studies Commons, Public Economics Commons
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9512329697608948, "language": "en", "url": "https://streetspacegroup.co.uk/social-landlords-must-be-switched-on-to-electric-vehicles/", "token_count": 629, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.0140380859375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:742142a8-3c67-483f-adee-09480faac572>" }	October 8, 2019 Developers need to future proof new builds to ensure they are ready to switch over to electric vehicles. A mix of climate change and governmental pressure will drive the switch to electric cars over the coming decade. Developers will need to be in the fast lane if they are going to ensure this transportation revolution takes hold and they meet the expectations of a greener-conscious public. Currently there are around 50 electric models of car out on the market and the motor industry expects this to rise to 500 within five years. The expectation is this will range from everything from run-around city cars to larger four-wheel drive SUVs. As well as cutting air pollution levels, electric vehicles are cheaper to run than their fossil-fuel counterparts, and as take-up increases, will ensure they are cheaper to buy or lease as well. Charging your car at night when demand is reduced will be incentivised. There might even be instances when you are paid to charge your car when the electricity system needs us to use more power. This often happens when there is too much renewable energy on the system, like windy nights. It is difficult to turn wind farms off, but easier to turn car chargers on. But change comes at a cost. Housing associations will need to factor in additional expense to handle the infrastructure of charging points. Wall-mounted charging points typically cost £500, while floor-mounted dual output chargers sell for £1,600. It is a significant cost in addition to the potential extra demand on the electricity grid. A development of 100 properties would usually require a new electric substation costing in excess of £100k. The profile of climate change issues and the rise of environmental campaigners, such as 16-year-old Greta Thunburg who addressed the United Nations this week to urge government leaders to take action, will mean housing providers can no longer sit on the fence when it comes to electric charging. Many housing associations and local authorities have played a waiting game to see how the developing charging technology will evolve. They cite too little information on driver behaviour as the reason for stalling – will drivers want to charge at home, on the street or en route? Will we prefer electric charging posts or underground connections? Increasingly councils are taking the future-proofing approach and expecting developers to provide a number of spaces to have cabling in place so parking spots can have charging facilities activated as demand increases. A number of local authorities are already leading the charge. In Swindon all new detached homes must have a wallbox charger to regulate charging time and speed on the network. Other developments with parking must have 30 per cent of spaces with a charger and a further 30 per cent with the cabling infrastructure. In Leeds the city council is requiring all new homes to have one charging point per parking space. So far an estimated 13,000 public electric charging points have been installed in the UK, which is a five-fold increase since 2011. If Britain is to fully embrace the electric revolution, housing associations will need to step up a gear.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9645023941993713, "language": "en", "url": "https://tmrblog.com/researchers-develop-method-to-deduce-economic-impact-post-natural-disasters/", "token_count": 453, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.0986328125, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:fd31e62f-e5f6-421d-87a1-0d322ec846ca>" }	Coronavirus has not only taken lives but it has taken away livelihoods as well. Loss of jobs and loss in businesses are other important casualties caused by a pandemic. Social media can be leveraged to chart the recovery of businesses and economic impact in nations ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers at the University of Bristol elaborate on a ‘real time’ method that has been accurately put to trial across three natural disasters worldwide. This method can be utilized in predicting the economic impact of the ongoing coronavirus crisis in various countries. Interviews, surveys and many other traditional economic recovery estimates are generally time-consuming and costly. In addition, such methods do not scale-up well as well. Researchers from the Departments of Civil Engineering and Engineering Maths, University of Bristol were able to give accurate estimates using this method. They could predict the recovery of small businesses and downtime in countries damaged by three different natural calamities. They made use of aggregated data of social media to come with their predictions. Analysis of Combined Public Posting Activity by Businesses to Help in Predictions This ‘real time’ method relies on the assumption that businesses are inclined to publish more posts on social media when they open and less than when they are shut. Hence, analysis of the combined posting activity is done for a set of businesses over a period. This analysis helps in deducing accurately when the businesses are closed or open. The researchers made use of the data available from the public posts of local businesses on Facebook. Those data were gathered after, during, and before the three natural disasters. Earthquake in Nepal in 2015, Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in 2017, and Chiapas earthquake in Mexico in 2017 were considered for the analysis. The findings of the analysis were validated with official reports, field surveys, analysis of Facebook post text and Facebook surveys along with other studies. The framework of this new method works in ‘real time’ sans the need for text analysis and can be used on any type of natural disasters, including COVID-19. It can help local governments in optimum utilization and distribution of resources. The findings of this new research have been published in Nature Communications, a scientific journal.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9412066340446472, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.paisabazaar.com/tax/tds-online-payment/", "token_count": 3664, "fin_int_score": 4, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.11669921875, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:4b26c215-82de-4acb-927b-caca0f45282b>" }	TDS or Tax Deducted at Source is a method of paying tax in India at the point of origin of income as per the Income Tax Act, 1961. The deductor (person, organization or institution) is required to withhold an amount equal to the tax amount from the total earnings payable to the receiver or deductee. It is the responsibility of the deductor to ensure that the tax is correctly deducted and then deposited with the concerned authorities within the stipulated timelines. Applicability of TDS in Various Forms While it is commonly assumed that the TDS is applicable only on salary income, but it is also applicable in many other cases such as: - Income from interest on securities and debentures - Income from interest other than those on securities - Income from dividends - Income from withdrawal of EPF (Before expiry of a certain period or if amount withdrawn is beyond the limit specified) - Payment to contractors / subcontractors / freelancers - Winnings from horse races, lottery, crossword puzzles or any game related wins - Insurance commission and commission on brokerage earnings - Transfer of certain immovable property, etc. - Income from rendering technical or professional services - Income from royalty, etc. Why was TDS introduced ? As income is taxable only at the end of the financial year, hence the government has instituted the concept of TDS, in order to ensure: - Prevention of tax evasion: This mechanism ensures that the government collects a portion of the total payable tax at the time of receiving the income itself, chances of hiding income or tax defaults are minimized significantly. - It acts as a source of steady revenue for the government throughout the year. - Timely collection of tax. - Convenience for taxpayers: As the total tax payment is spread throughout the year, individuals can plan their finances better. Lump sum TDS payments in any particular month can adversely hit the financial obligations of individuals. - Ease in filing tax returns: As the tax is automatically collected and deposited with the concerned authorities by the deductor, it becomes easier for individuals to file their returns. If there are no other sources of income for a person, once TDS has been appropriately deducted, they need not pay any additional tax during return filing. Importance of TAN for TDS TAN or Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number is a ten-digit alphanumeric number issued to individuals or organizations that are required to deduct or collect tax on payments made by them. - As per Section 203A of the Income Tax Act 1961, it is mandatory for all people or organizations (liable to deduct TDS) to quote TAN details in all matters and correspondences related to TDS (such as TDS Returns, TDS Payments, Issuance of Form 16, etc.) with the Income Tax Department. - Failure to do so will attract a penalty of ₹ 10,000. - Banks do not accept TDS returns and payments, unless the deductor or depositor has a valid TAN. Many a times, people assume that PAN and TAN are similar documents and can be used interchangeably. However, TAN is to be obtained separately by people, organizations or institutions that are responsible to deduct tax, even if they have a PAN. The only exception is in the case of a buyer of an immovable property. In this case, the buyer or the deductor is not required to obtain TAN and can use PAN for remitting the TDS. How to apply for TAN - The procedure for application of TAN is very easy and can be done online by filling up Form 49B - Time of Deduction - As per Section 192, tax on salary is to be deducted at the time of actual payment and not at the time of accrual of salary. - If salary is paid in advance or arrears of salary are paid, then TDS is to be deducted at that time itself. - For all other payments, TDS is to be collected at the time of payment or credit of income, whichever takes place before. - Online TDS Payment - The online TDS payment system followed the philosophy of “Any Time, Any Where”. - This has also made the TDS administration a user friendly and transparent process and has helped minimize tax frauds. - This is one common platform wherein the deductors, taxpayers and assessing officers have access to the same data. With the ever-increasing number of taxpayers in the country, digitalization is one of the most important pre-requisites for a speedy, accurate and stable ecosystem. Procedure for Online TDS Payment With effect from 1st January 2014, all corporate and government deductors and other assesses, who are subject to compulsory audit under Section 44AB, are required to use electronic transfer to make TDS payment. To avail of this facility the taxpayer is required to have a net-banking account with an authorized bank. The list is available on the NSDL- TIN website. Online TDS payment or e-payment is a simple and user friendly process. It can be done by following the below-mentioned steps- - Visit the E-Payment Income Tax Department website. (https://onlineservices.tin.egov-nsdl.com/etaxnew/tdsnontds.jsp) - Select the challan no. ITNS 281. This challan number is to be used for depositing TDS/TCS by company or non-company deductee. - Select the type of deductee. - If the deductee is a person other than company, then you should select (0021) Non-Company Deductee, else you need to select (0020) Company Deductee. - Enter your TAN details. This will be used for an online verification on the validity of the TAN. - If TAN details are not available in the database of the Income Tax authorities, then you will not be allowed to proceed any further. - Select the Assessment Year (AY). The Assessment Year is the year immediately following the financial year in which the income is evaluated. For example, for income earned between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2016, the assessment year will be 2016-17. - Enter other challan details like accounting head under which the payment is to be made. The name, address, email address and contact details of TAN holder need to be furnished. - Select the type of the payment. - If it is a normal payment, then select (200) TDS/TCS Payable by Taxpayer or if it is a payment against the demand raised by the I.T. Department e.g. payment of interest or late fee under section 234E then select (400) TDS/TCS Regular Assessment (Raised by I.T. Department) - Select the nature of payment such as payment of insurance commission, rent, fees for professional services, etc. - Also, you will need to select the bank through which the TDS will be deposited. - On submission of the data, a confirmation screen would get displayed. - After checking it thoroughly, you need to confirm that all the data entered in the challan has been entered correctly and true to the best of your knowledge. - Post your confirmation, the page will be re-directed to the net-banking page of your bank. - You are now required to login to the net banking page, using the User ID and password and make the payment. - After a successful online TDS payment, the system displays a challan counterfoil. - The challan contains CIN – Challan Identification Number that shows the payment details, bank name through which the e-payment has been made, Bank Branch Code (BSR) and date of tender of challan. - The collecting bank branch transmits the details of taxes deposited by you to the “Tax Information Network” (TIN) through the Online Tax Accounting System (OLTAS). - You can also verify the status of the challan in the ‘Challan Status Inquiry” on the NSDL – TIN website, post seven days of making the payment using the CIN. If you face any problem at the NSDL website, you can contact the TIN Call Centre at 020 – 27218080 or write to them at [email protected]. After depositing the TDS with the Income Tax Department, as per Section 203, the deductor is required to issue a TDS Certificate to the person on behalf of whom the tax payment was made. The TDS Certificate or Form 16 / Form 16A (as applicable) should be issued on an annual or quarterly basis. Benefits of Online Payment of TDS - Payment facility is available 24x7x365 - TDS payment can be done by the deductor as their convenience in terms of location and time - Immediate acknowledgement of the payment - The challan acknowledgement copies can be downloaded and saved for future reference - Reduced charges of corruption and malpractices such as discretionary grant credit of tax deductions based on manual TDS Certificates - Less paper translates into being environment friendly Timelines for TDS Payment - The due date for the payment of TDS collected by the deductor is 7th of the next month. For example, the deductor has to pay the TDS for the month of May, on or before 7th June. - Only for the month of March, considering it is the end of the financial year, it is allowed to pay the deducted TDS on or before 30th April of that year. - These timelines are applicable to all deductors, i.e. non-Government assesses as well as Government assesses, who deposit tax with Challan (Treasury Challan) - For government deductors who make the TDS payment without challan, the due date for payment of TDS is the same day on which the tax amount is deducted. - In some circumstances, the Assessing officer (AO), with prior approval from the Joint Commissioner, may allow the quarterly payment of TDS. In that case, last date of payment is 7th of the next month after end of each quarter and 30th April for the last quarter of the financial year. TDS Filing or TDS Returns TDS return needs to be filed by the person, organization or institutions, who have deducted tax, on a quarterly basis. As per section 201(1A), interest for delay in the payment of TDS should be paid before filing the TDS return. There are several forms, based on the nature of deduction: - Form 24Q: To be filled out for all the deductions made from salaries - Form 26Q: To be filled out for all the deductions made from payments other than salaries - Form 27Q: It is the TDS quarterly return to be filled out by the deductor for all deductions made in case of NRIs - Form 27EQ: It is the TCS quarterly return to be filled out by the deductor - Form 27A: This form has to be signed and accompanied by quarterly statements The TDS returns need to be filed, on a quarterly basis and the due date for the same is 31st of the month after the end of the concerned quarter. - All corporate deductors (w.e.f. June 1, 2003) are required to submit their TDS returns in electronic form (e-TDS return). - From F.Y. 2004-2005 onwards, furnishing e-TDS return is also mandatory for government deductors. - Deductors (other than government and corporate) may file TDS return in electronic or physical form. Important Points related to TDS Returns - CBDT has appointed NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure Limited, (NSDL e-Gov), Mumbai, as an e-TDS intermediary. - NSDL e-Governance has established TIN Facilitation Centres (TIN-FCs) across the nation, to facilitate deductors or collectors file their e-TDS returns. - Forms for filing TDS returns, whether electronically or physically, are the same. - e-TDS Statements should be prepared as per the file format (Clean text ASCII File) in accordance with specifications provided by the Income Tax Department. - To ensure ease of preparation, the government has also provided free & downloadable software (Return Preparation Utility – RPU) that has been developed by NSDL. - There are also many third-party software vendors to whom the task of preparing e-TDS Statements can be outsourced. - The list of the approved vendors is available on the NSDL -TIN website (www.tin-nsdl.com). Consequences of Missing the Above Mentioned Timelines Delay in TDS deduction - TDS needs to be deducted by the 30th of each month and in the month of February, it should be deducted by the last day of the month. - If the TDS is not deducted on the required due date, whether in whole or in part, then the concerned deductor is liable to pay interest, applicable at a rate of 1% per month or part thereof, from the date when it should have been deducted to the actual date of deduction. - For instance, if the TDS Amount was to be deducted for the month of July (i.e. 30th of July), but it was actually collected on 5th August, then interest will be 2% (For the month of July and August) Delay in TDS Payment - If the deducted TDS is not deposited with concerned authorities by the given timeline, whether in whole or in part, as per Section 201(1A), the deductor is liable to pay an interest, applicable at a rate of 5% for every month or part thereof, from the date on which TDS was collected to the date on which such tax was actually remitted to the credit of the Government. - Calendar month is considered in calculating interest and any fraction of a month is deemed to be a full month. - Even a delay of one day would mean that you have to pay interest for two months. - In case TDS is deducted in month of July and deposited on 8th of August then you have to pay interest for 2 month i.e. July and August. Total interest payable shall be 3%. In addition to the interest clause applicable, there are additional provisions for penalty and prosecution proceedings as well. - Penalty under Section 221 - In case the Assessing Officer is convinced that the assessee has failed to deduct tax as required, without any good and adequate reason, the defaulter is liable to imposition of penalty. - The quantum of penalty is not to exceed the amount of tax in arrears. - Penalty under Section 271C - A penalty equal to the amount of tax that the deductor has failed to deduct can be imposed. - However, such penalty can be levied only by a Joint Commissioner of Income Tax. - Prosecution proceedings under Section 276 B - Where the deductor has failed to deposit the tax deducted at source, with the concerned government authorities, without a reasonable cause - He/she is liable to be punished with rigorous imprisonment for not less than 3 months to 7 years and with fine. Delay in TDS Return Filing - As per Section 234E, in case an assessee fails to submit the TDS return within the specified due dates, they will be liable to a penalty of ₹ 200 per day till the time the TDS return is actually submitted. - The penalty amount cannot exceed the total amount of TDS collected. - This penalty is also applicable in case of furnishing Form 26 QB, in case of purchase of immovable property. Delay in filing of TDS returns for more than a year from the due date or submission with incorrect data such as TAN, Challan Number, TDS Amount etc. will attract a minimum penalty of ₹ 10,000 and not be more than ₹ 1,00,000. How to Check TDS Payment Status Assessees can check the TDS payment status online through the online portal of Centralized Processing Cell. Here’s how to do it : 1) Visit TDS CPC website at https://www.tdscpc.gov.in/app/tapn/tdstcscredit.xhtml 2) Enter the captcha code and click on “Proceed” 3) Enter details such as PAN of deductee, TAN of deductor, Financial Year, Quarter and Type of Return. Click on “Go” now. 4) TDS credit of the taxpayer is displayed on the screen What are TDS Due Dates The due date for submitting TDS for every month is mentioned in the following table : \|Deduction Month\|\|Quarter End Date\|\|TDS Payment Due Date\|\|Due Date for Filing Returns\| \|April\|\|30th June\|\|7th May\|\|31st July\| \|July\|\|30th September\|\|7th August\|\|31st October\| \|October\|\|31st December\|\|7th November\|\|31st January\| \|January\|\|31st March\|\|7th February\|\|31st May\| *Deductors other than government entities can make payments till 30th April.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9595063924789429, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/articles/new-report-shows-net-forest-gain-in-maya-biosphere-reserve", "token_count": 749, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.3359375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:a1eb67ab-794a-485a-9258-3b01a7727753>" }	Everyone knows that paying down debt isn’t easy—and the bigger the debt, the longer it takes to pay off. Sadly, Guatemala’s Maya forest carries a massive debt to nature: unchecked forest fires, land degradation linked to narcotrafficking, and poor land management have led to devastating levels of deforestation. Getting out of the hole—restoring forests—can take many years. But incredibly, local communities in the eastern part of northern Guatemala’s Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR) have done exactly that, according to a new report authored by USAID, CONAP (Consejo Nacional de Areas Protegidas), Wildlife Conservation Society, and others. This recent report, published with the support of USAID and USDOI/ITAP, states that in 2017, for the first time since data collection began in 2000, net forest gain was found, with a total of 1,088 hectares restored. This landmark accomplishment is part of an even more impressive story: In the middle of the forest, in extremely challenging conditions, communities have created thriving forest businesses that create jobs, lift their neighbors out of poverty, and enable them to protect and restore forests. More than 34 percent of the forest recovery noted in the report was found within five community forest concessions (communities who’ve been granted the right to live from their land, as long as they do so sustainably). USAID’s Climate, Nature and Communities in Guatemala (CNCG), an initiative led by the Rainforest Alliance in partnership with Association of Forest Communities of Petén (ACOFOP), supported these concessions in managing nearly 17 percent of the MBR’s 2.1 million hectares. In the last six years, the concessions’ sustainable forestry businesses generated more than 6,940 jobs, sold close to US $50 million, and maintained a near-zero rate of deforestation—a remarkable feat given that neighboring areas suffer deforestation levels up to 20 times higher. A recent sister study also shows that many concession families have risen out of poverty, and almost none depend on financial help from relatives and friends living abroad, suggesting that robust businesses and healthy forests can reduce migration, which in turn lets families and communities stay together and flourish. One concession that reported net forest recovery is Asociación Forestal Integral Cruce a La Colorada (AFICC), located in San Andrés, Petén. Its president, a widowed mother of four named Felisa Navas, attributes her successful two terms as leader to the technical support she received from partner organizations. When she took on the role, AFICC was in danger of losing its concession status because of poor management, but she says “we worked with other members and institutions that helped us. We paid our debts and started to organize better.” In 2015, CNCG provided legal support to secure the concession’s legal status as well as technical assistance in better forestry management. As a result, between 2014 and 2017, AFICC earned more than US $850,000 on forest products, quadrupled its membership, and created 212 jobs. Furthermore, the new report found that AFICC recovered 42 previously illegally appropriated hectares, and net forest gain was found on 76 hectares. The MBR’s community concessions could not better illustrate the connection between thriving, self-directed, sustainable local economies and healthy forests. As the concessions prove, not only do local communities successfully protect forests when they are able to use their land sustainably, they also regenerate forests—helping to reduce a debt to nature that will allow all of us to breathe a little easier.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9642819762229919, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.wired.com/story/lyft-delivers-carbon-neutral-rides/", "token_count": 924, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.1875, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:3200d4f8-095b-4546-9741-339962dee010>" }	Over the years, John Zimmer, the co-founder and president of Lyft, has often pointed to a class he took as an undergraduate as the source of his ideas about environmental sustainability—and by extension, Lyft’s goals to create greener transportation options. The class at Cornell University was called “Green Cities.” The professor, Robert Young, opened the first lecture by describing how roads and transit systems built decades ago weren’t designed to sustain the rapid growth of urban populations today, Zimmer recalled. “If we don’t fix the infrastructure problem, we’re going to have a major economic and environmental problem,” Zimmer told a roundtable of reporters in Washington, DC, in late March. Founded in 2012, Lyft is now an $11 billion ride-hailing company, second in the industry to Uber alone. Its concept of ride-hailing has long been founded on reducing the need for personal car ownership. But today, the company made perhaps its most meaningful move yet towards reducing carbon emissions: Lyft is promising to offset the carbon emissions of every ride around the world, making all rides “carbon neutral.” From now on, Zimmer and his co-founder Logan Green wrote in a Medium post, “your decision to ride with Lyft will support the fight against climate change.” According to the post, Lyft’s total annual investment will amount to over a million metric tons of carbon, “equivalent to planting tens of millions of trees or taking hundreds of thousands of cars off the road,” which will make Lyft one of the largest voluntary purchasers of carbon offsets in the world. Scott Coriell, a Lyft communications officer, said the company does not have a specific estimate for the cost of the investment, but that it will be in the millions of dollars. According to a 2015 report by the NGO Ecosystem Marketplace, General Motors, Barclays bank, and PG&E were the top three voluntary buyers of offsets between 2012 and 2013, respectively scooping up 4.6 million, 2.1 million, and 1.4 million carbon offsets, which are measured in metric tons, during that period. Carbon offsets have been the subject of some scrutiny and scandal; some companies that take money promising to plant trees and capture emissions have been exposed as worthless or scams. Coriell noted that Lyft will become carbon neutral by investing in offset projects that would not have happened without their backing. These projects will all be US-based and close to Lyft’s largest markets, Corriel said, and will include investments in a manufacturing emissions reductions project in Michigan, oil recycling in Ohio, and a wind energy farm in Oklahoma. These projects are verified under the American Carbon Registry, Climate Action Reserve, or Verified Carbon Standard—all rigorous third-party standard setters of legitimacy. The announcement is not Lyft’s first gesture towards environmental sustainability. In 2017, it signed “We Are Still In,” joining hundreds of states, cities, and corporations (including Uber) in pledging to uphold the US carbon emissions reduction goals set forth by the Paris climate accord, after President Donald Trump announced plans to withdraw the country’s commitment. At the time, Lyft also outlined plans to make the majority of its fleet autonomous and electric by 2025. “Bringing more electric vehicles onto the platform in the future will help us reduce the needs for offsets,” Coriell wrote. As part of its own efforts to reduce car ownership, Uber has recently pivoted to become a multi-modal mobility provider, building car- and bike-sharing services into its app. It has not announced any plans to offset its carbon emissions. An Uber representative declined to comment on Lyft’s announcement. Lyft’s commitment to carbon-neutrality is especially meaningful, because one irony of the ride-hailing industry is that, so far, it’s likely creating more vehicle miles traveled, not less. Though some studies have suggested that ride-hailing users are more likely to give up personal car ownership, more and more research shows that the convenience and relatively low cost of on-demand rides are leading travelers to take trips and generate pollution that they wouldn’t have otherwise. (Plus, all of those deadheading drivers.) As these services lure passengers off of public transit systems, it has become hard to argue that there’s anything particularly environmentally friendly about hailing an Uber or Lyft. This announcement changes that.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9289442896842957, "language": "en", "url": "https://bitcoinnotes.biz/what-are-bitcoins/", "token_count": 289, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.27734375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:08ea4d41-5478-40c6-b5fc-eda5d5415db6>" }	Bitcoins are a decentralised Peer-2-Peer digital currency that is used to purchase goods, barter and buy services. A hash key is created using online Wallet services or Software which is used to accept and send Bitcoins. First created in 2009, Bitcoins are now widely accepted by a variety of online merchants with billions of dollars worth of transactions to date. How do you use Bitcoins? Not only is buying, selling and trading Bitcoins extremely easy, but many Vendors and Businesses are now accepting Bitcoins as payment for goods, services and other items. All you have to do is type in the Address to receive the Bitcoins and the system will broadcast the transaction to the network. You can Easily generate QR codes for mobile payments or add your Bitcoin address on T-shirts. There is no limit to the amount of Bitcoin Addresses you can generate and use for transactions. How Safe are Bitcoins? Bitcoins are a relatively safe way to barter and buy due to the fact that no central financial organization is in control or profits from Bitcoins. All of the Bitcoin transactions are publicly available in a data block and Bitcoin addresses can be used anonymously without being tied to your personal information or bank accounts. Getting Started Get a Bitcoin Wallet A Wallet is used to store your Bitcoins and contains all your Bitcoin Addresses for payments. This enables you to generate new addresses to receive payments and manage funds. Create a Free Bitcoin Wallet Buy Bitcoins
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9708178043365479, "language": "en", "url": "https://crypto-club.xyz/2021/02/17/hows-the-dutch-foods-supply-chain-coping-throughout-the-corona-crisis/", "token_count": 1173, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.0230712890625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:07d2eef7-5c59-4ae6-bc73-6001aadea9b9>" }	Supply chain – The COVID 19 pandemic has undoubtedly had its impact impact on the planet. health and Economic indicators have been compromised and all industries are touched in a way or even yet another. One of the industries in which it was clearly obvious will be the agriculture and food business. Throughout 2019, the Dutch agriculture as well as food industry contributed 6.4 % to the gross domestic product (CBS, 2020). Based on the FoodService Instituut, the foodservice business in the Netherlands lost € 7.1 billion inside 2020. The hospitality business lost 41.5 % of its turnover as show by ProcurementNation, while at the same time supermarkets enhanced their turnover with € 1.8 billion. Disruptions in the food chain have big consequences for the Dutch economy as well as food security as a lot of stakeholders are affected. Though it was clear to majority of folks that there was a big effect at the conclusion of the chain (e.g., hoarding in supermarkets, eateries closing) as well as at the beginning of the chain (e.g., harvested potatoes not searching for customers), you will find a lot of actors in the supply chain for that the impact is much less clear. It’s therefore important to find out how effectively the food supply chain as a whole is actually prepared to deal with disruptions. Researchers from your Operations Research as well as Logistics Group at Wageningen Faculty and coming from Wageningen Economics Research, led by Professor Sander de Leeuw, analyzed the influences of the COVID 19 pandemic throughout the food supply chain. They based their examination on interviews with about thirty Dutch source chain actors. Need within retail up, contained food service down It is apparent and popular that need in the foodservice stations went down due to the closure of restaurants, amongst others. In certain instances, sales for vendors in the food service business as a result fell to aproximatelly twenty % of the initial volume. As an adverse reaction, demand in the retail stations went up and remained at a quality of aproximatelly 10-20 % higher than before the problems started. Products which had to come through abroad had their very own issues. With the shift in desire coming from foodservice to retail, the requirement for packaging changed dramatically, More tin, glass or plastic material was necessary for wearing in consumer packaging. As much more of this particular product packaging material ended up in consumers’ houses instead of in joints, the cardboard recycling system got disrupted also, causing shortages. The shifts in need have had a major impact on output activities. In a few cases, this even meant the full stop of output (e.g. within the duck farming industry, which arrived to a standstill as a result of demand fall-out inside the foodservice sector). In other situations, a major section of the personnel contracted corona (e.g. in the various meats processing industry), causing a closure of facilities. Supply chain – Distribution activities were also affected. The beginning of the Corona crisis of China triggered the flow of sea canisters to slow down fairly shortly in 2020. This resulted in transport capacity that is limited throughout the earliest weeks of the issues, and high expenses for container transport as a result. Truck transportation experienced various issues. Initially, there were uncertainties on how transport would be managed for borders, which in the long run were not as rigid as feared. That which was problematic in situations which are most, nevertheless, was the accessibility of drivers. The response to COVID-19 – deliver chain resilience The source chain resilience analysis held by Prof. de Leeuw as well as Colleagues, was used on the overview of this key things of supply chain resilience: Using this framework for the assessment of the interview, the conclusions indicate that not many businesses had been nicely prepared for the corona crisis and in reality mostly applied responsive practices. Probably the most important source chain lessons were: Figure 1. 8 best methods for food supply chain resilience For starters, the need to design the supply chain for agility as well as flexibility. This seems especially complicated for smaller sized companies: building resilience into a supply chain takes attention and time in the organization, and smaller organizations often don’t have the capability to accomplish that. Next, it was observed that more interest was necessary on spreading danger as well as aiming for risk reduction in the supply chain. For the future, what this means is more attention ought to be made available to the manner in which organizations depend on specific countries, customers, and suppliers. Third, attention is needed for explicit prioritization as well as clever rationing strategies in cases in which demand can’t be met. Explicit prioritization is necessary to keep on to satisfy market expectations but in addition to boost market shares where competitors miss opportunities. This particular challenge is not new, although it’s also been underexposed in this problems and was usually not a component of preparatory activities. Fourthly, the corona issues shows you us that the economic effect of a crisis in addition relies on the manner in which cooperation in the chain is set up. It is usually unclear exactly how extra expenses (and benefits) are sent out in a chain, if at all. Last but not least, relative to other functional departments, the businesses and supply chain characteristics are actually in the driving accommodate during a crisis. Product development and advertising activities have to go hand in deep hand with supply chain activities. Regardless of whether the corona pandemic will structurally replace the basic considerations between logistics and production on the one hand as well as advertising on the other hand, the future will have to tell. How’s the Dutch foods supply chain coping throughout the corona crisis?
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9455286264419556, "language": "en", "url": "https://jcarlospinto.com/economic-costs-and-conflict-over-water-use/", "token_count": 1234, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:b5a40335-1124-4573-bf3b-b477c80971d3>" }	The relatively high cost of treating and delivering water has led many world governments to subsidize water for agriculture and household use. For example, some U.S. farmers pay as little as 1¢ to 5¢/1000 liters they use in irrigation, while the public pays from 30¢ to 80¢ per 1000 liters of treated water for personal use. Farmers in the Imperial Irrigation District of California pay $15.50 in delivery fees for 1.2 million liters of water. Some investigators suggest that if U.S. farmers paid the full cost of water, they would have to conserve and manage irrigation water more effectively. The construction cost subsidy for federally-subsidized western U.S. irrigated cropland amounts to about $5,000 per hectare, and represents an annual construction cost subsidy of about $440 per ha/yr over the life of the project. The total annual government subsidy is estimated to range from $2.5 billion to $4.4 billion for the 4.5 million hectares of irrigated land in the western United States. Worldwide, from f94 to 1998 governmental water subsidies totaled $45 billion per year for non-Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries and $15 billion for OECD counties. During the same period, agricultural subsidies per year total $65 billion for non-OECD and $355 billion for OECD countries. Fair Water Pricing The objectives of fair water pricing are: to seek revenue to pay for the operations and maintenance of water availability; improve water-use efficiency; and recover the full costs of water pumping and treatment. However, in general there appear to be problems with some private, for profit companies operating water systems for communities and regions. Often the companies operate as monopolies which can lead to unfair pricing practices. If U.S. prices of gasoline and diesel energy increase to approximately $10 per gallon, it follows that irrigation costs will continue to escalate from the current $2.9 billion per year. Since vegetable and fruit crops return more per dollar invested in irrigation water than field crops, farmers may have to reassess the crops they grow. For example, in Israel 1000 liters of water from irrigation produces 79¢ worth of groundnuts and 57¢ worth of tomatoes, but only 13¢ worth of corn grain and 12¢ worth of wheat. Conflicts over Water Use The rapid rise in withdrawal of freshwater for agricultural irrigation and for other uses that have accompanied population growth has spurred serious conflicts over water resources both within and between countries. In part the conflicts over fresh water is due to the sharing of fresh water by countries and regions. Currently there are 263 transboundary river basins sharing water resources. Worldwide such conflicts have increased from an average of 5 per year in the 1980s to 22 in 2000. In 23 countries where data are available, conflicts related to agricultural use of water cost an estimated $55 billion between 1990 and 1997. At least 20 nations obtain more than half their water from rivers that cross national boundaries, and 14 countries receive 70% or more of their surface water resources from rivers that are outside their borders. For example, Egypt obtains 97% of its freshwater from the Nile River, the second longest in the world, which is also shared by the Sudan, Ethiopia, Egypt, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zaire, Eritrea, and Uganda. Indeed, the Nile River is so overused that during parts of the year little or no freshwater reaches the Mediterranean Sea. Conflicts over Water Historically, the Middle East region has had the most conflicts over water, largely because it has less available water per capital than most other regions, and every major river crosses international borders. Furthermore, the human populations in these countries are increasing rapidly, some having doubled in the last 20 to 25 years, placing additional stress on the difficult political climate. River Water Sources The distribution of river water also creates conflicts between several U.S. states as well as problems between the U.S. and Mexico. California, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, and Mexico all depend on Colorado River water. In a normal year, little water reaches Mexico, and little or no water reaches the Gulf of California. Conserving Water Resources Conserving world water must be a priority of individuals, communities, and countries. An important approach is to find ways to facilitate the percolation of rainfall into the soil instead of allowing it to runoff into streams and rivers. For example, the increased use of trees and shrubs make it possible to catch and slow water runoff by 10% to 20%, thereby conserving water before it reaches streams, rivers, and lakes. This approach also reduces flooding. Maintaining crop, livestock, and forest production requires conserving all water resources available, including rainfall. Some practical strategies that support water conservation for crop production include: monitoring soil water content; adjusting water application needs to specific crops; applying organic mulches to prevent water loss and improve water peculation, through reduced water runoff and evaporation; using crop rotations that reduce water runoff; preventing the removal of biomass from land; increasing use of trees and shrubs to slow water runoff; and employing precision irrigation in water delivery systems, such as drip irrigation, that will result in efficient crop watering. In forest areas, it will be necessary to avoid clear cutting and humans should employ sound forest management. Trees also benefit urban areas that have high rates of runoff. Since water runoff is rapid from roofs, driveways, roads, and parking lots, the water can be collected in cisterns and constructed ponds. Estimated runoff rates from urban area were 72% higher than areas with forest cover. Given that many aquifers are being over drafted, government efforts are needed to limit the pumping to sustainable withdrawal levels or at the known recharge rate. Integrated water resource management programs offer many opportunities to conserve water resources for everyone, farmers and the public. By the way, i proud of support the best Drill Presses and the Best Woodworking books.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9538145065307617, "language": "en", "url": "https://vidhilegalpolicy.in/research/cesses-and-surcharges-concept-practice-and-reform/", "token_count": 355, "fin_int_score": 4, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.2099609375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:823d3f11-fcb0-40de-8445-2d3ab49c54d1>" }	Cesses and Surcharges: Concept, Practice and Reform An analysis of the legal and constitutional issues pertaining to cesses and surcharges The Union Government is empowered to raise revenue through a range of levies knows as tax, fee, cess and surcharge. Cess means a tax that is imposed for an earmarked purpose and the proceeds collected have to be used for that earmarked purpose only. Surcharge is a tax on tax which is not imposed for any specific purpose and it is the discretion of the Union government to utilize the proceeds of surcharges for whichever purpose it deems fit. The levy of cess and surcharge is becoming increasingly important source of revenue for the Union Government. One of the primary reasons for such an increase in the discretion of the Union Government to retain these sources of revenue, is that they do not form part of a divisible pool to be shared with the states. In view of the above, the report first explains how Union Government’s tax revenue has been historically distributed and shared with State Governments. It then studies the concept of tax, cess, fees and surcharge. The report identifies and discusses legal and constitutional issues pertaining to cess and surcharges and suggests a way forward which is both principled and pragmatic. With respect to cesses, the report recommends that the cesses shall not be imposed for a longer duration, the purpose of levying a cess should be narrow and the periodic review of revenue collected from cess shall be made to check any underutilization or misutilization of the revenue collected. With respect to surcharge, the report recommends that the income tax rates should be rationalised, instead of using surcharge as a proxy for a progressive tax to impose additional burden on relatively richer taxpayers.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9596191048622131, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lars-Peter-Hansen", "token_count": 637, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": -0.0908203125, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:948d4f85-1e19-42ba-bc13-becebedce5d7>" }	Lars Peter Hansen Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.Join Britannica's Publishing Partner Program and our community of experts to gain a global audience for your work! Lars Peter Hansen, (born October 26, 1952, Champaign, Illinois, U.S.), American economist who, with Eugene F. Fama and Robert J. Shiller, was awarded the 2013 Nobel Prize for Economics. Hansen’s work had a significant impact across a wide range of fields within economics, including econometrics, macroeconomics, labour economics, and finance. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which confers the economics prize, recognized his innovative contributions to econometric modeling, which had been widely applied to study the behaviour of asset markets and macroeconomic fluctuations, including the U.S. financial crisis of 2007–08. Hansen earned a bachelor’s degree from Utah State University in 1974, double majoring in mathematics and political science, and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Minnesota in 1978. He served as an assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon University (1978–81) before joining the economics faculty of the University of Chicago, where he was appointed full professor in 1984 and David Rockefeller Distinguished Service Professor in 2010. Hansen’s major contribution to economics was the development of the GMM (Generalized Method of Moments) technique, a very flexible econometric method that allows complex economic models to be tested against empirical data with a minimum of assumptions. The use of the GMM technique led to the development of better models in macroeconomics, labour economics, and finance, including some that incorporated more realistic assumptions about economic agents’ beliefs and their learning abilities. In his joint work with Thomas J. Sargent, which in 2008 led to their coauthored book Robustness, Hansen laid the foundations of a new theory that better explained how people make decisions when their own beliefs are changing over time. Hansen later built upon this joint work to help explain some of the macroeconomic and financial fluctuations that occurred during the financial crisis of 2007–08. Learn More in these related Britannica articles: Robert J. ShillerFama and Lars Peter Hansen, was awarded the 2013 Nobel Prize for Economics. Shiller, Fama, and Hansen were recognized for their independent but complementary research on the variability of asset prices and on the underlying rationality (or irrationality) of financial markets. Shiller in particular was honoured for… Eugene F. Fama Eugene F. Fama, American economist who, with Lars P. Hansen and Robert J. Shiller, was awarded the 2013 Nobel Prize for Economics for his contributions to the development of the efficient-market hypothesis and the empirical analysis of asset… Nobel Prize, any of the prizes (five in number until 1969, when a sixth was added) that are awarded annually from a fund bequeathed for that purpose by the Swedish inventor and industrialist Alfred Nobel. The Nobel Prizes are widely regarded as the most prestigious awards given for intellectual achievement…
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.8641694784164429, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.worlddata.info/oceania/solomon-islands/debt.php", "token_count": 303, "fin_int_score": 4, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.2294921875, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:d87a5f62-9f66-4b63-84e0-1a56955029a4>" }	Gross debt on the Solomon IslandsThe government gross debt refers to the total of all sums of money that have to be paid to other countries, communities or institutions. On the other hand not included in the gross debt are the demands of a country to foreign ones. The gross debt on the Solomon Islands in the period from 2011 to 2016 was between 86.3 m and 148.2 m USD. The hightest level within the past 5 years was reached in 2011. However, the liabilities in 2016 have been only 86.35 m USD Based on the number of inhabitants, this is on the Solomon Islands a debt of 139 USD per person. For comparison: The average debt per person in the same year in the European Union was 31,202 USD. Back to overview: Solomon Islands Gross debt for the last 5 years in millions of USD \|Jahr\|\|Solomon Islands total\|\|Solomon Islands per capita\|\|EU per capita\| \|2011\|\|148.17 M USD\|\|274 USD\|\|34,278 USD\| \|2012\|\|137.40 M USD\|\|247 USD\|\|33,161 USD\| \|2013\|\|129.95 M USD\|\|227 USD\|\|35,247 USD\| \|2014\|\|116.47 M USD\|\|198 USD\|\|36,694 USD\| \|2015\|\|88.12 M USD\|\|146 USD\|\|31,489 USD\| \|2016\|\|86.35 M USD\|\|139 USD\|\|31,202 USD\|
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9786809682846069, "language": "en", "url": "https://investingwithnature.com/2016/07/19/will-technology-obsolete-your-job/", "token_count": 1490, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.369140625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:3ed8499a-996d-48c4-a702-0c7bc4c429c3>" }	You’ve probably been hearing a lot lately about people’s jobs being replaced by technology. There have been stories about fast food workers, truck drivers, lawyers and doctors all seeing jobs lost in the future to some form of technology. As an engineer active in high technology who reads articles in technical journals in addition to what most people might see in the main stream media, I think I can add some realistic insight into what is possible. The idea for this post came while listening to The Survival Podcast. The host Jack Spirko has discussed the topic numerous times recently including this episode with John Pugliano, the finance and investing expert who is frequently on the show. Before diving into the discussion, it is a good idea to get some terms straight. The term robot should be reserved for a device that moves, it need not be a human like device but for something to be robotic, it must involve motion. Artificial Intelligence should only be applied to computer programs that learn by getting feedback on previous results. The earliest example of AI that I know of, was a simple game, written in BASIC, back in the 70s, called hexpawn. It was played with 6 chess pawns on a small grid. The computer player would start out making random moves, so at first the human opponent would win the games easily. But with each game played, the computer player would learn what moves failed and would improves it’s play till it was as good or better than the human opponent. So from what I’ve read the “robot” lawyer that fixes traffic tickets, is neither a robot nor an example of artificial intelligence. It is simply a program written by someone who knows how the traffic court system works. It is probably similar to income tax software that asks a series of questions to help people fill out their taxes. The online Teaching Assistant that has also been in the news does use AI, because of that it has improved it’s handling of questions over the several semesters that it has been used. So I think there has been some miss-representation of technology in the main stream media. In spite of some over hype in the MSM, I think that from a strictly engineering viewpoint, almost every job people have today has the potential to be radically altered or even totally replaced by technology. If you think back 30 years, you’ll see that has been the case for many jobs already. Jack Spirko has said that he gets a lot of push back from The Survival Podcast audience when he brings that idea up, but I think that is wishful thinking on the part of many in his audience. If we just assume technology marches forward, the result might be a world with an elite class, a well off class that creates and maintains the technology that serves the elite class and a peasant class which would be in a constant struggle for survival. The elite class would not need the majority of people to work for them or to be customers of their businesses, the tech class would provide for all their wants and needs through technology. In time the class that controls technology might realize that they don’t need the elites and overthrow them to become the elite class. (Would the robots become smarter than the people and take over – a common sci-fi theme – whales and dolphins may be as smart as humans but without an opposing thumb they can’t do what humans can. So we better not give the robots thumbs!) Of course the more resourceful people in the peasant class would do better than most and a parallel economy would exist in that class that deals mostly in necessities. Jack and John felt that technology would provide them with new opportunities, but under this scenario, opportunities that might occur would be fleeting, as most would end up left out of the technology bonanza. To understand why this might be the case, the economic concept of “rent takers” is useful. I first came across the concept of rent taking from an article that I read in a newspaper called Electrical Engineering Times back in the 1980s. The gist of the article was that the U.S. economy would be better off if more students would decide to become engineers instead of becoming lawyers, because an engineer contributes to wealth creation while a lawyer is a rent taker who only does well when there is existing wealth to extract. I think discussed about the transition of the U.S. economy from a wealth creating one (we were a net exporter up through the early 1970s) to a rent taking one where people did well for themselves because there was existing wealth to extract. About this time I shared an office with several people including Henry who was born and raised on mainland China. One afternoon we were asking Henry about growing up in China. Someone asked what Henry’s parents did, when Henry said that is mother was a doctor, the questioner responded with a comment to the effect that Henry grew up in an upper class family. Henry said that China was a poor country and most people had the same standard of living regardless of what they did. It hit me, of course, a doctor is a rent taker, only if people have money does a doctor do well. Both John and Jack are engaged in rent taking livelihoods. They are very successful now because there is a middle class that has wealth (or more and more these days access to credit) to extract. As that middle class shrinks, the pie for all rent taking activity will be shrinking with it. To be fair, Jack has admitted that podcast revenue could shrink significantly in an increasingly technological future. You can apply the rent taking concept to companies also. A company like Google is a rent taker, they offer free services but generate revenue from adds. Without a broad customer base with money to spend how does that affect Google? We are used to the idea that we have a middle class that only needs to spend a small portion of their efforts on necessities and has plenty left over for other things. If that changes, our normal changes, expanding welfare programs just like minimum wage increases only changes the number that is considered poor, it doesn’t restore the lost wealth. Of course the economy is only one factor that will affect the march of technology. There are several others, in the next post I’ll look at how energy might have an impact. Hope this provided some food for thought. Featured Resource – With each posted I’ll highlight a resource that I’ve found valuable. The Survival Podcast – I first heard about The Survival Podcast while listening to a now defunct podcast over 5 years ago. I did a search, downloaded an episode and have been a regular listener ever since (about 1000 episodes) as well as a supporting member for several years. Jack Spirko typically puts out 5 podcasts that each run over hour per week. Jack is a good critical thinker who is able speak intelligently on a variety of topics. In addition to himself he sometimes interviews guests and has put together a group of experts in different fields that answer questions sent in by listeners. If you are willing to think, you’ll likely find value in The Survival Podcast. Links – With each post I like to share some of the most useful blog posts, podcasts, videos and news items I’ve come across recently.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.926811158657074, "language": "en", "url": "https://kyushu-u.pure.elsevier.com/ja/publications/resource-security-strategies-and-their-environmental-and-economic", "token_count": 271, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.154296875, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:e18c52c3-451d-44c2-9a40-281977f77dc9>" }	Japan is a nation which is highly dependent on the import of raw materials to supply its manufacturing industry, notable among them copper. When extracting copper from ore, a large amount of energy is required, typically leading to high levels of CO2 emissions due to the fossil fuel-dominated energy mix. Moreover, maintaining security of raw material supply is difficult if imports are the only source utilized. This study examines the environmental and economic impacts of domestic mineral production from the recycling of end-of-life products and deep ocean mining as strategies to reduce CO2 emissions and enhance security of raw material supplies. The results indicate that under the given assumptions, recycling, which is typically considered to be less CO2 intensive, produces higher domestic emissions than current copper processing, although across the whole supply chain shows promise. As the total quantity of domestic resources from deep ocean ores are much smaller than the potential from recycling, it is possible that recycling could become a mainstream supply alternative, while deep ocean mining is more likely to be a niche supply source. Implications of a progressively aging society and flow-on impacts for the recycling sector are discussed. All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes - Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment - Energy Engineering and Power Technology - Energy (miscellaneous) - Control and Optimization - Electrical and Electronic Engineering
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9576765894889832, "language": "en", "url": "https://thefaintofheart.wordpress.com/2014/10/", "token_count": 3382, "fin_int_score": 4, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.2734375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:ca258ba7-5144-47f5-972a-eb1b71e3385d>" }	Over at Bloomberg/Business Week, Peter Coy has a long piece titled: “John Maynard Keynes Is the Economist the World Needs Now”. I highlight one paragraph which demonstrates the confusion over monetary policy: With fiscal policy missing in action, the world’s biggest central banks tried heroically(!) to plug the gap. The U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates to near zero, and when even that failed it tried some new tricks: buying bonds to bring down long-term interest rates (“quantitative easing”) and signaling the market that rates would stay low even after the economy was on the path to recovery (“forward guidance”). The limited effectiveness of those measures is sometimes chalked up as a failure of Keynesianism, but it’s just the opposite. Keynes was the economist who demonstrated that monetary policy ceases to be effective once interest rates hit zero and whose recommended policy in those circumstances was tax cuts and spending hikes. It seems that writers never bother to find “new portraits” about which to write. Instead of this well-trodden one They could write about this one, for example: The intellectual response to the Great Depression is often portrayed as a battle between the ideas of Friedrich Hayek and John Maynard Keynes. Yet both the Austrian and the Keynesian interpretations of the Depression were incomplete. Austrians could explain how a country might get into a depression (bust following an investment boom) but not how to get out of one (liquidation). Keynesians could explain how a country might get out of a depression (government spending on public works) but not how it got into one (animal spirits). By contrast, the monetary approach of economists such as Gustav Cassel has been ignored. As early as 1920, Cassel warned that mismanagement of the gold standard could lead to a severe depression. Cassel not only explained how this could occur, but his explanation anticipates the way that scholars today describe how the Great Depression actually occurred. Unlike Keynes or Hayek, Cassel explained both how a country could get into a depression (deflation due to tight monetary policies) and how it could get out of one (monetary expansion). Last night I “voted” for Christy Romer to the Fed Board. Her newest paper puts some stars on the vote! In “NEW EVIDENCE ON THE IMPACT OF FINANCIAL CRISES IN ADVANCED COUNTRIES” she concludes: But our finding that there is substantial variation in outcomes suggests different questions. Are there policies that can be undertaken in normal times not just to reduce the chances of crises, but to make their consequences less grave if they occur? What policy actions when a crisis occurs—in addition to steps to lessen the crisis and resolve it quickly—could minimize its effects? The answers to these questions are important for ensuring not just that each time is different, but that none is terrible. To those questions she has already sketched an answer. From the WSJ: Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President John Williams said on Friday that central banks’ largely successful pursuit of low inflation could mean they more frequently run into periods where monetary policy hits levels of interest rates that can’t be cut further. At the end of his presentation today at the South African Reserve Bank Conference on Inflation Targeting Williams discusses PLT and NGDP-LT alternatives to inflation targeting: Price-level targeting also has potential positive attributes related to financial stability. Because debt contracts are typically written in nominal terms, a period of unexpectedly low inflation or even deflation causes the real value of debt to rise relative to expectations when the contract was signed. This can contribute to weakening of households’, businesses’, and banks’ balance sheets, resulting in a decline in economic activity and greater stress in the financial system. Under inflation targeting, the increase in the real value of debt is not reversed. In contrast, if the central bank acts to keep overall prices on a steady growth path, then episodes of excessively low inflation or deflation are eventually reversed, mitigating this type of debt deflation problem and the deadweight losses and disruptive effects associated with foreclosure and bankruptcy. In this way, price-level targeting has the potential to reduce the risks to the financial system and spillovers to the economy from debt-fueled booms. Nominal income targeting takes these arguments a step further. Instead of a price path that sets the goal for policy, it’s a path for nominal GDP. In terms of the ZLB, nominal GDP targeting shares the advantage of price-level targeting: Specifically, it promises higher inflation in the future following a period of low inflation that helps dampen deflationary pressures. On the financial stability front, it may be an even more powerful deterrent to debt-fueled crashes. If aggregate nominal income is kept close to a steady growth path, then on the aggregate, incomes won’t fall as much during a downturn, allowing people to continue to repay their loans and avoid default and bankruptcy (Koenig 2013 and Sheedy 2014). These potential benefits of price-level and nominal income targeting are worthy of further careful study and discussion. It is too early to judge whether one approach or the other would provide a better framework than inflation targeting. In contemplating a shift away from inflation targeting, it is crucial to consider what unintended negative consequences these approaches might entail. For example, nominal income targeting could generate persistent deviations of inflation from target, which may interfere with the credible communication of the price stability objective. There are also practical considerations in the communication of policy decisions and goals that need to be fully analyzed. In weighing all the potential advantages, disadvantages, and risks of these and other alternative approaches, it is absolutely essential that any modification of approach not undermine the hard-fought achievement of price stability and well-anchored inflation expectations that have been of great benefit, especially during the recent challenging economic times. The highlighted sentence shows his confusion. If you have a NGDP level target you do not, simultaneously have an inflation (“price stability”) target. Successful NGDP level targeting implies nominal stability, and that creates the conditions for both price and real output stability, exactly the outcome during the 20 years of “Great Moderation”. As a bonus, you avoid getting stuck with “powder less guns”! Reminded me of “Women are from Venus and Men from Mars”!: Janet Yellen, the first woman to lead the Federal Reserve in its 100-year history, said Thursday the economics profession, which is dominated by white males, could benefit from a more diverse range of views. “Often, in the things economists study and the methods we use, diversity is a good thing,” Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen said. “Did the economics profession recruit and promote the individuals best able to bring the energy, the fresh insights, and the renewal that every field and every body of knowledge needs to remain healthy?” asked Ms. Yellen, who was delivering introductory remarks at a conference on diversity in the economics profession. “These are not idle questions,” she said. “There has been a fair amount of public debate in recent years about the health of the economics profession, prompted in part by the failure of many economists to comprehend the dire threats and foresee the damage of the financial crisis.” I vote for Christy Romer. She satisfies both the “views” and “gender” requirements. The following is typical of comments on the GDP release: The U.S. economy expanded at a healthy pace during the third quarter, a sign of sustained growth fueled by government spending and a narrower trade deficit despite mounting concerns about the health of overseas economies. First, when you follow annual rates the feeling is you´re on a roll coaster. Lots of “ups and downs”. That´s always been true, even during the “Great Moderation”. Over the last four years, after recovering from a “stroke”, measured on a year over year basis the economy´s “EKG” shows signs of high stability. But if you take the economy´s “pressure” it will come up “low”. The charts illustrate. And in this kind of situation some “signs” – like unemployment – give out misleading information, confusing the “medical board”. Some say the economy will never be able to run at “previous speeds” and at higher levels, having been “secularly stagnated”! If oil prices rise (like in 2007-08) there´s a risk of permanently lifting inflation; but if oil prices fall, the effect on (dis)inflation is only temporary! From Fed Watcher Tim Duy: As I anticipated, the Fed dismissed the decline in market-based inflation expectations. They clearly believe financial markets over-reacted to the decline in oil prices, and that that decline would ultimately prove to be a one-time price shock rather than the beginning of a sustained disinflationary process. This is why we watch core-inflation.[One would wish!] If only symmetry held, the “Great Recession” would have been only “Recession”! And as a bonus we would not have been listening, insufferably, to “Great Stagnation” talk. And Antonio Fatas in “Riksbank and ECB: Reverse asymmetry” misses badly: The Swedish central bank just lowered interest rates to zero because of deflation risks. This action comes after ignoring repeated warnings from Lars Svensson who had joined the bank in 2007 and later resigned because of disagreements with monetary policy decisions. What it is interesting is the parallel between Riksbank decisions and ECB decisions. In both cases, these central banks went through a period of optimism(!) that make them raise interest rates to deal with inflationary pressures. In the case of Sweden interest rates were raised from almost zero to 2% in 2012. In the case of the ECB interest rates were raised from 1% to 1.5% during 2011. Also, in both cases, after a significant expansion in their balance sheets following the 2008 crisis, there was a sharp reduction in the years that followed. During 2010 the balance sheet of the Riksbank was reduced by more than 50%. In the case of the ECB it was later in 2013 when the balance sheet shrank by about 1 Trillion Euros. Their policies stand in contrast with those of the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of England where interest rates still have to start going up after the initial actions taken during the crisis and where the expansion in their balance sheet has not started to being reversed. The Riksbank increased rates from “almost zero” (0.25%) in mid-2009 to 2% in mid-2011. That is it increased rates much faster than Fatas thinks! It seems that throughout this period they were extremely worried about inflation. But the headline numbers were mostly reflecting oil price increases, a supply shock, something that throws sand in the gears of inflation targeting! After a two day meeting you can wonder why it took 48 hours to…do nothing! From the Statement: The Federal Reserve on Wednesday said it would stop its long-running bond purchase program at the end of October, ending a historic experiment that has stirred intense debate about its effects in markets even though the central bank said it accomplished(!) its main goal of reducing unemployment. At the same time, the Fed upgraded its assessment of the job market’s performance while pointing to some short-term downside risks on inflation. It stuck to an assurance that short-term interest rates will remain near zero for a “considerable time.” Let´s see what Quarter 3 GDP (both R & N) looks like tomorrow. From the WSJ: “The Fed Favors Guidance Over Bond Buys”: The Federal Reserve’s forward guidance has been a lot more effective at keeping long-term rates down and stimulating the economy than its three bond-buying programs, says Eric Swanson, an economist at the University of California, Irvine, who until recently was a researcher at the San Francisco Fed. Such low-rate promises, says Mr. Swanson, who co-authored an influential paper on unconventional Fed policy with San Francisco Fed President John Williams early last year, have had a perceptible downward effect on borrowing costs. “The cumulative effect of the Fed’s forward guidance has surely been much more important than the effect of its long-term bond purchases,” Mr. Swanson said in an email in response to questions from The Wall Street Journal. He estimates the Fed achieved only a fairly modest 0.1 to 0.2 percentage point decrease in short-term rates from its second round of bond buys, which amounted to $600 billion. “I think, going forward, the [Fed’s policy committee] views forward guidance as the better policy tool, which is why it’s comfortable winding down its long-term bond purchases now,” said Mr. Swanson, who was a senior research advisor at the San Francisco Fed and was previously a staffer at the Fed’s Washington-based board. I thought this was not hard to grasp: QE conveys the message that “we want to help the economy make a comeback”. (Pity it was done in an unproductive “on again, off again” style) Forward Guidance is in effect telling everyone that the Fed expects the economy to remain in dire straits “forever”! No wonder “borrowing costs” (a.k.a. interest rates) are kept down; and that doesn´t mean it is “stimulating” the economy. Quite the contrary! Sweden is in the news: As Scott Sumner has posted: In any case, it can now be said that Lars Svensson’s critique of Riksbank policy has been proven “true” in the sense that his opponents have now recognized it as true (the following is from the excellent Ambrose Evans-Pritchard): Sweden’s Riksbank has torn up the rulebook of global central banking, cutting interest rates to zero even though the economy is in the grip of a credit boom. The extraordinary step is intended to stave off deflation but it comes at a time when the Swedish economy is growing at almost 2pc and property prices are rising briskly. The bank has abandoned earlier efforts to curb asset bubbles by “leaning against the wind”. The Riksbank cut the deposit rate to -0.75pc in what looks like a preparatory move to drive down the krona. Governor Stefan Ingves said the bank has a toolkit of extreme measures in reserve, including use of the exchange rate. If the Riksbank was caught off guard, it’s because they weren’t paying attention to the only world class monetary expert on their committee. The Riksbank has in effect washed its hands of the credit boom, leaving it to government regulators to control household debt with mortgage curbs, liquidity limits for banks and other “macro-prudential” tools as best they can. No one is perfect. My appreciation of Svensson is that although he was present at the moment of the “original sin”: This is what we read from the minutes of the Riksbank Meeting of September 2008!!!: The Executive Board of the Riksbank has decided to raise the repo rate to 4.75 per cent. The assessment is that the repo rate will remain at this level for the rest of the year… It is necessary to raise the repo rate now toprevent the increases in energy and food prices from spreading to other areas [oil and commodity prices had peaked 3 months earlier]. Inflation targeter Lars Svensson was in favor. But he later recanted and was all for more expansionary monetary policy. Unfortunately in late 2010 the Riksbank started to fret about house prices. Svensson dissented and went on dissenting until he resigned in disgust last year.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9322187900543213, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.inpiemontecon.it/37295/2018-12-30/d0dsy2.html", "token_count": 1577, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.1513671875, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:2086a0c5-498e-47af-a6ef-50b87d22bbbf>" }	Mar 11, 2019· The Macarthur-Forrest Process is the most common method of extracting silver and gold from their ores. This process involves dissolving gold and silver in The ores yield readily to cyanide treatment, and all the operating mills employ this process of extraction. The principal gold-mining districts in the Philippines are the Baguio and Lepanto regions in the m Mountain Province, the Aroroy district in Masbate, the Paracale district in Camarines, and the Cansuran district in Mindanao. Sep 11, 2019· Gold in the Philippines: Economics. Mining accounted for US$4.26 billion in exports for the country in 2018.It also provided over 200,000 jobs and 25.7 billion Philippine pesos in taxes. Gold processing Gold processing Refining: Gold extracted by amalgamation or cyanidation contains a variety of impurities, including zinc, copper, silver, and iron. Two methods are commonly employed for purification: the Miller process and the Wohlwill process. The Miller process is based on the fact that virtually all the impurities present in gold combine with gaseous chlorine more Jan 23, 2012· In modern times though, mining for gold is a much more intensive, yet sophisticated process. Most surface, or alluvial gold has been found, which is why gold is mainly mined from the earth today. It’s largely a matter of technology and requires much expertise and eorate equipment. Mining for gold today can essentially be broken down into 9 Gold processing Gold processing Mining and concentrating: The nature of the ore deposit determines the mining and mineral processing techniques applied. Oxide ore deposits are frequently of such low grade (e.g., 3 to 10 parts per million) that extensive mineral processing cannot economically be justified. In this case they are merely shattered by explosives and then piled into heaps for The Miller process uses gaseous chlorine to extract impurities when gold is at melting point; impurities separate into a layer on the surface of the molten purified gold. The Miller process is rapid and simple, but it produces gold of only about 99.5 percent purity. The Wohlwill process increases purity to about 99.99 percent by electrolysis. In Liddell’s Handbook of Nonferrous Metallurgy, Vol. 2, 1945, there is to be found a very complete account of the uses of chlorine as applied to the recovery of gold and silver, in Chlorination Processes & Methods. Introducing the chapter entitled “Chlorine Metallurgical Processes” Liddell says: Chlorine as a metallurgical agent appears to have lost ground during recent years, and much Gold extraction refers to the processes required to extract gold from its ores.This may require a combination of comminution, mineral processing, hydrometallurgical, and pyrometallurgical processes to be performed on the ore.. Gold mining from alluvium ores was once achieved by techniques associated with placer mining such as simple gold panning and sluicing, resulting in direct recovery of The location of the Didipio gold and copper mine in Luzon, 270km north of Manila, Philippines. Image: Asia Times “We appeal to President Duterte not to renew the FTAA because of the mining operation’s terrible impact on the environment,” Simongo, also an advisor to local group Samahang Pang Karapatan ng Katutubong Manggagawa at Magsasaka, Inc. (Association of Rights for Tribal Workers Philippines has demonstrated that borax, when used as a flux for smelting gold out of heavy mineral concentrates, is an effective and safer substitute for mercury. Objectives. To present a basic comparison of the mercury amalgamation and borax methods of gold extraction for SSM. Methods. The Philippines is situated along a well-defined belt of volcanoes called the Circum-Pacific Rim of Fire where the process of volcanism and plate convergence resulted in the formation of abundant and important metallic mineral deposits of gold, copper, iron, chromite, nickel, cobalt and platinum. Gold ore . Prominer maintains a team of senior gold processing engineers with expertise and global experience. These gold professionals are specifically in gold processing through various beneficiation technologies, for gold ore of different characteristics, such as flotation, cyanide leaching, gravity separation, etc., to achieve the processing plant of optimal and cost-efficient process designs. Gold Extraction and Recovery Processes For Internal Use Only Not for General Distribution Leaching, often gold, is the process of extracting a soluble constituent from a solid by means of a solvent. In extractive metallurgy, of gold, it is the process of dissolving a certain mineral (or minerals) from an ore or a concentrate, or dissolving certain constituents from materials such as a calcines, mattes, scrap alloys, anodic slimes, etc., to achieve either one or two purposes In this Instructable, I will show you how to extract gold from computers using products most people have lying around in their homes. The way I extract the gold is relatively straight-forward and pretty easy, but the chemicals used are very dangerous and should not be performed without proper knowledge and equipment. This process is not supposed to be lucrative. In order to maximize gold extraction, mercury is often used to amalgamate with the metal. The gold is produced by boiling away the mercury from the amalgam. Mercury is effective in extracting very small gold particles, but the process is hazardous due to the toxicity of mercury vapour. The final gold product of Tau Lekoa mine has a low fineness. This is caused by high concentration of bases metals in the reefs. Some of these base metals together with gold are leached with cyanide and are loaded into carbon. If not adequately controlled, they may elute with gold and contaminate the final product in the electrowinning process. May 23, 2017· Much of the gold found on earth was mined and prospected many years ago. The process of finding and mining new sources of gold is a challenging endeavor. Our mining techniques have grown more sophisticated in modern times, but we can still only mine what is availe. And the more scarce gold becomes, the more likely we are to see ps increase. Cyanide Process Extraction Of Gold Through Cyanidation. Gold is usually found in low concentration in the form of ore which is mined. Gold should be separated from other minerals present in the ore. As gold is insoluble, it should be separated from other minerals to make it soluble. Hence, sodium cyanide can be added, where cyanide ions Once extracted, the gold is refined with one of four main processes: floatation, amalgamation, cyanidation, or carbon-in-pulp. Each process relies on the initial grinding of the gold ore, and more than one process may be used on the same batch of gold ore. Mining The crude gold is melted and then treated with chloride. This converts any foreign elements or minerals still in the gold into chloride, which will then naturally drift off the gold. The result of this process is 99.5 percent pure gold. The final step is to cast the gold into electrodes or Apr 24, 2017· Gold ore extracted from mines in the earth contains a significant amount of impurities, including traces of other metals. In order to separate the gold from other metals, chemicals such as cyanide solution or mercury are introduced to the gold. This process causes the gold to coagulate, and form nuggets and clumps of gold.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9573370814323425, "language": "en", "url": "http://businessexporter.com/accounting/accounting-101-an-introduction-to-the-field.html", "token_count": 984, "fin_int_score": 4, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.0184326171875, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:15a62dfd-be4f-43b7-856f-aa88259c8af9>" }	Accounting is one of the most important internal aspects to any business that is to be financially successful in today’s market. It is the process of documenting all relevant economic information about a firm and communicating that information to key players. Managers and Executives need accounting information to make decisions and run their business to achieve maximum profitability. Shareholders need accounting information to make informed investments. There are many types of accounting that all have different roles in the business world. Probably the best-known and most ‘classic’ type of accountant is a CPA, or Certified Public Accountant. A CPA has a very diverse client list. They can serve anyone including individuals, private firms, large publicly traded corporations, the government, or non-profit organizations. They can perform the role of an independent auditor, tax advisor, or financial consultant. When performing an audit, a CPA will produce an independent auditor’s report that will tell the client four key pieces of information. First it identifies the documents that were audited and describes that the purpose of this report is to express an opinion about the documents in questions. Next it explains the standards used to analyze the data. Third is the actual opinion of the auditor in regards to the financial documents reviewed. Finally, the auditor elaborates on his opinion regarding the effectiveness of the financial reporting of the firm. Another type of accountant is a CMA, or Certified Management Accountant. A CMA serves a smaller customer base, because they typically work for a single firm. The major role is to advise the company on their financial management, accounting processes, and budgetary issues. A CMA may work with individual employees of that company, but their main function is to advise the executives on the company’s complete financial structure. They are often involved in major decisions for the company. A subset of managerial accounting is cost accounting. A cost accountant works closely with the budget structure of a company. They are typically involved with determining the internal costs of many functions and the profitability of the routine company operations. Cost accountants have a very future-oriented job in that they are primarily concerned with using historical data to forecast what the prospective financial strength of the company will be. A third major type of accounting is a financial accounting. Financial accountants are primarily responsible for the preparations of the financial documents for review by the corporate decision makers. Managerial accountants, cost accountants, top management, and shareholders use these documents to make major business decisions. Financial accountants assemble an annual report including balance sheets, income statement, statement of cash flows, and statement of change in owners’ equity (or retained earnings). These documents are usually targeted to an external audience. Financial statements are vital to the success of any profitable business. Their purpose is to formally record all financial activities of the company or individual. These statements summarize in a standard format the financial status of the company in both the short term and the long term. There are four main types of financial statements. First, the balance sheet summarizes the company’s total assets, liabilities and owners’ equity at a given point in time. This report is also known as the statement of financial position. The balance sheet is used at the beginning of year as a starting point. At the end of the year a new balance sheet will conclude the fiscal cycle. The other financial statements that will be discussed are used to fill in the gap, because a lot can happen in a year. The income statement summarizes the revenue and expenses for the year and highlights if the company operated at a profit or at a loss. It is in this report that the total gross income is defined as well as all of the expenses that were incurred along the way. The top line of the statement is net sales and the bottom line is net income. The statement of change in owners’ equity, or statement of change in retained earnings also analyzes data over a time period. Typically this is over a fiscal year. The two major components of owners’ equity are paid-in capital, or cash investments, and retained earnings, or the net income less dividends. If retained earnings are negative because dividends have exceeded net income, this is considered a deficit. The final major financial statement commonly used by shareholders is the statement of cash flows. The purpose of this report is to follow the company’s cash activities during the year. This is mainly concerned with cash transactions pertaining to operating, investing, and other financial activities. Shareholders use the four major financial statements to make investment decisions and to see what the company is doing with their money. Executives and top management use statements to make internal budgetary decisions and forecast out for the future success of the business. There are many components that go into the financial reporting for a company, and all information is vital to its continued financial health.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9574780464172363, "language": "en", "url": "https://alive2green.com/sustainable-mining-inherent-contradiction-terms/", "token_count": 1578, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.36328125, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:412fe182-9a4e-4a87-8cf7-ca082569899a>" }	Mined materials support roughly 45% of the world’s economic activities – yet large-scale mining leaves social and environmental scars. Can the latest working group change that? Mining conjures up an ugly environmental image. Companies dig deep into the earth and use large amounts of energy and water to extract, process and transport minerals, leaving behind a devastating impact. That image has come to define the mining industry, and it’s increasingly hurting its ability to make money. Now a new group is working to remake that reputation by changing some of the industry’s practices. A white paper issued by the Kellogg Innovation Network at Northwestern University last month outlines key issues and ways to tackle them. The white paper is meant to serve as a framework to inspire more mining companies to develop sustainable projects that could also boost their profits. In particular, it focuses on building good relationships with local communities most heavily impacted by mining operations. But it also pinpoints some of the significant troubles the mining industry faces as it seek to expand into more remote areas of the map. Keeping tabs of the mining industry’s progress in adopting more sustainable approaches should be in everyone’s interest. The raw materials extracted by mining companies are powering the world’s growing population and its dependence on gadgets and other technologies. The industry supports roughly 45% of the world’s economic activities, according to the white paper. Yet it’s impossible to carry out large-scale mining without leaving social and environmental scars. This isn’t the first time someone has identified problems in the mining industry or suggested potential solutions, of course. The Kellogg paper, though, included input from a mix of mining firms, their suppliers and nonprofits, all of which formed a working group co-chaired by Mark Cutifani, CEO of London-based Anglo American, one of the five largest mining companies in the world. Cutifani’s role gives this reform effort some gravitas, as he’s in the position to enact change. But he’ll need to lead by example, as many of his peers haven’t been quick or effective at carrying out past recommendations from their own industry groups. As the Kellogg paper noted, the mining industry has mostly stood on the sidelines of the global discussion on climate change. “Everybody is nervous, and not sure why we are doing this,” said Cutifani in an interview. “From my point of view, we’ve done a lot of work on safety, environment and community engagement. But in order for us to be successful and sustainable, we have to do things differently than in the past.” Survival hinges on stewardship The need to take better care of the environment and build good relations with communities around the mines isn’t altruistic, of course. Like other industries that have built fortunes by exploiting natural resources and labor, the mining business is realizing that its survival hinges on it becoming a better environmental steward and caretaker of its workers. Cutifani cited Coca-Cola as an example. In recent years, the company has invested in watershed restoration after running into problems securing enough water for its bottling plants amid criticism for its water use and pollution. The costs of developing and running mines have escalated mainly due to poor planning, inefficient operations and rising water and energy prices, according to the white paper. Disputes among mining companies and local communities and governments have posed a particular challenge, causing about $25bn worth of projects being delayed or suspended worldwide, Cutifani said earlier this year. “There’s a huge amount of issues with human rights and labor laws,” said Peter Bryant, a senior fellow at the Kellogg Innovation Network and co-chair of the working group that produced the framework. “Mining companies don’t envisage what their legacies are, and it’s something for the industry to think about.” The power of social media – the ability to transmit a damning photo or video around the world instantly – also makes it more difficult for mining companies to contain their battles with environmental and indigenous groups. Meanwhile, mining firms also are worried about accessing money for growth as more institutional investors views sustainability as a key metric for making investment decisions. The Kellogg group reached out to the Catholic church, which not only wields influence in many communities in the developing world where mining takes place, but also manages tremendous wealth. Over 20 CEOs from the mining industry spent a day with Vatican officials in September 2013, followed by another meeting with officials in the Church of England. A long list of challenges The framework contains a long list of challenges – and potential approaches to solve them. Investing more in technology to plan and operate mines more efficiently is one, given that mining companies in general invest less than 1% of its revenues on innovation, Bryant said. Enlisting the support of local communities by being more open about the scope and impact of proposed projects is another. Designing mining projects that will benefit indigenous communities is a major wish of nonprofits in Kellogg’s working group. As mining companies push into remote corners of the world for richer resources, they also are altering the lives of those who live there. “Mines generate huge revenues, but communities who live around them are poor and don’t see the benefits. That creates a cycle of conflicts,” said Keith Slack, global program manager with Oxfam America, which is part of the working group. “Mining also shouldn’t take place until there’s an agreement with local communities, especially indigenous people, because their livelihood can be directly impacted.” Some large mining companies have started to do a better job of community outreach and setting up funds for local residents, Slack said. As an example, Slack pointed to Oxfam’s involvement in working with BHP Billiton, the largest mining company in the world, to set up a development fund in southern Peru. Cutifani cited Anglo American’s willingness to accept 23 recommendations from another community in southern Peru in its effort to mine copper as another example. The company ran into stiff local opposition to the project before that. But these efforts are far from consistent within each company, let alone across the entire industry, Slack added. A long way to go While Oxfam officials said the framework is a good starting point, they also say it doesn’t go far enough in promoting environmental protection. They want mining companies to avoid areas where their operations will severely contaminate or destroy local water supplies. Whether the framework will serve as a useful guide for the mining industry remains a big unknown. Bryant is working on raising money so his group can align with mining companies that want to develop programs based on the guide and track their progress. Later this year, Oxfam plans to issue a report listing the major mining companies’ policies and practices on getting consent from indigenous groups before beginning mining operations. Also under way is the creation of a certification program for jewelry that is sourced from sustainably operated mines, Slack said. In addition, Cutifani hopes to create a thinktank in 2015 that will identify and solve sustainability issues and advise mining companies. “The industry is constrained by conventional thinking,” Cutifani said. “We need to do this outside of the normal industry structure by drawing ideas and experience from outside of the industry. We want to lead the industry and set the pace for change.” That said, he added: “We are far from perfect. We have a long way to go.” Source: The Guardian
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9369441270828247, "language": "en", "url": "https://alltechtime.com/curious-to-learn-the-history-of-financial-management-here-is-a-brief-intro/", "token_count": 808, "fin_int_score": 4, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": -0.10400390625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:c635f876-af4b-4986-8b43-9fe4e5263d9f>" }	The world of business is truly fascinating. Businesses provide a livelihood to the majority of the human race. Even farmers also depend on businesses to sell their products and get inputs for farming. However, to most of us, the world of business remains a mystery. In these series of blogs, we try to unravel the mysteries of business. In this blog we will learn about the ‘History of financial management.’ Financial management is the act of applying general management principles, such as planning, organizing, controlling, and directing, to personal and business finances to achieve various goals and objectives. It is the process of and steps required for making one’s finances more effective and efficient. As such, it is an essential function of every successful business and key to good personal finances. Let us look at a brief history of how financial management came to be. Money has been a part of human history for almost 3,000 years, beginning with simple bartering systems and evolving into today’s modern, global banking system and even bitcoin. Changing markets, globalization, the emergence and updates of technology, and upgrades to business practices and scale all played key roles in changing the history of money over the ages. Up until 1890, financial management was merely a branch of economics, but the turn of the century, its importance could no longer be ignored. From 1900 onward, financial management underwent several key changes. Financial management in the 1900 – 1940s For the first several decades of the 1900s, financial management was in its most traditional phase. That is, it emerged to help solve and improve business challenges that came with industrialization, such as enterprise formation, expansion, mergers, liquidation, and reorganizations. This phase formed the building blocks of basic financial management. Financial management in the ’40s and ’50s Where the traditional phase of financial management in the early 1900s formed the core building blocks, this next phase aimed to solve new challenges that finance managers, lenders, and banks faced with the early modernization of banking. For example, in 1946, John Biggins invented the “Charg-It” banking system, which became the first-ever credit card. This is known as the transitional phase of financial management. During this time, finance management aimed to solve daily challenges such as monetary analysis, control, and planning. Financial management in the mid-’50s onward Together with changes taking place in emerging markets, technologies, businesses, and new institutional ideas around economics, financial management quickly transitioned into a modern phase. The scope of financial management broadened drastically to include new ways to analyze finances, establish institutional theories and explanations, and use these theories and ideas during major business and economic decisions. About Adaptive US Adaptive US is world’s #1 leading IIBA EEP. It is the only training organization that provides IIBA certification training with Success Guarantee. Adaptive is a World Leader in IIBA CBAP training, IIBA ECBA training, IIBA CCBA training, IIBA CBDA training, IIBA CCA training and IIBA AAC training. Adaptive is a global leader in business analysis certification training with 800+ internationally certified professional. It also conducts BA skill training on Jira, BPM, MS Visio, Balsamiq, UML, Interview Preparation as well as Resume Preparation. Adaptive has published following books on business analysis- - The Handbook of Business, - 1000 BA Interview Questions, - Business Consulting 101, - Practical Requirements Engineering, - Agile Business Analysis, - Big Book Of Corporate Jargons, - Giant Book of BA Techniques, - Stories for Trainers, - Practice BA Techniques with Lucidchart, - Mastering CPRE-FL, - CPRE-FL Question Bank, - A Beginner’s Guide to IT Business Analysis.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9484884738922119, "language": "en", "url": "https://blog.burnsmcd.com/meeting-new-benchmark-environmental-social-governance-standards", "token_count": 756, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.01129150390625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:873de48e-3f2b-468e-8eb2-b10cd4f5e89c>" }	Large-scale trends such as demographic shifts, climate change and resource scarcity have the potential to significantly impact various industries. These trends influence the long-term environmental, social and governance (ESG) opportunities and risks critical to the future success of many companies and industries. ESG is a subset of nonfinancial performance indicators, which include sustainable, responsible and ethical business operations such as managing a company’s carbon footprint or building relationships with and supporting neighboring communities. An ESG-focused company can drive business priorities based on the positive returns and long-term impact on the environment and society. Managing this triple bottom line is essential for companies to stay competitive, attract potential investors and drive growth. There is also an increasing amount of research showing that companies doing a good job of addressing ESG issues in their business tend to outperform companies that do not, according to The Wall Street Journal. A balance in a company’s ESG interests with the economic aspects of business can contribute to overall sustainability. This sustainable approach helps companies meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Unanticipated financial losses resulting from wildfires, severe drought or sea level rise dramatically impact the global financial system, which is why there is increased interest in effective and clear climate-related disclosure from companies around the world. Companies should be stewards of the environment, with considerations around waste and pollution, water stress, greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation and climate change. ESG standards challenge companies to significantly reduce their environmental footprint and better prepare for resource shortages. For example, leaders in the power industry are proposing energy efficiency measures for buildings that result in cost-effective and sustainable results. As the industry stays on top of changing rules and regulations, it’s critical to keep an eye on the big-picture view of environmental considerations. Companies can start to bring sustainable solutions to the table to help protect their community and the environment. For example, the chemicals, oil and gas industry is putting forth a concerted effort to better manage its water and wastewater. Industry operations and projects can have a broad impact on a range of stakeholders, from businesses to community leaders and residents. ESG standards consider how a company engages with stakeholders and treats its employees. These standards evaluate human capital, from health and safety and employee relations to labor management and health care. Companies also should consider the safety and quality of their product, and its impacts on society. Some companies with a strong commitment to ESG are establishing a philanthropic connection with the communities in which they work. Creating and nurturing relationships with stakeholders affected by a project requires a variety of approaches. With multilayered, multichannel public engagement, companies can help stakeholders build an understanding of a project’s objective. Successful engagement relies heavily on execution of a streamlined and customized plan that ultimately guides a project along a path to success. Governance standards address corporate policies and how a company is governed. A company should set out rules regarding tax transparency; executive renumeration; political donations and lobbying; organizational leadership diversity and structure; and preventing corruption and bribery. It should also consider anticompetitive practices, business ethics and corporate accounting. Investors want business leaders to focus on ESG, according to Harvard Business Review. As investors and the financial sector put more weight on ESG ratings, industries will need to develop innovative approaches and alter how they direct their capital dollars to meet this new set of standards. With these new approaches will come the creation of new technologies to rise to the challenge of supporting these efforts. Selecting and implementing smart, sustainable solutions for your projects and operations that apply to your community and environment can help make your long-term business goals more efficient and effective.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9596179723739624, "language": "en", "url": "https://civilservicesstrategist.com/budget-at-a-glance-quick-understanding-of-concepts-and-facts/", "token_count": 2773, "fin_int_score": 4, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": -0.020751953125, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:61331845-5109-4c54-88c1-31fd336c7dcd>" }	What is budget? Budget is an annual financial statement regarding public revenue and public expenditure. Budgetary policies aim at achieving the goals of fiscal policies in the short term. Apart from this we have a medium term fiscal policy as well as long term fiscal policies. The core of the budget is called the Annual Financial Statement. This is the main budget document. Under article 112 of the constitution, a statement of estimated receipts and expenditure of the Government of India has to be laid before Parliament in respect of every financial year running from 1st April to 31st March. This statement shows the receipts and payments of the government under the three parts in which government accounts are kept: (1) Consolidated Fund (2) Contingency Fund and (3) Public Account. What is the Consolidated Fund? The Consolidated Fund of India includes revenues, which are received by the government through taxes and expenses incurred in the form of borrowings and loans. The Consolidated Fund of India includes revenues, which are received by the government through taxes and expenses incurred in the form of borrowings and loans. It represents one of the three parts of the Annual Financial Statement with the other two: the Contingency Fund and Public Account. All government expenditures are met by consolidated funds except a few made by contingency fund or public fund. The Consolidated Fund of India was created under Article 266 of the Constitution. It is also considered as the most important part of the financial statement. Similar to the Centre, every state has its own Consolidated Fund as well. All the government revenue generated from taxes, asset sale, earnings from state-run companies, etc go into the Consolidated Fund of India. The fund gets money from: - Revenue earned in direct taxes such as income tax, corporate tax, etc - Revenue earned in indirect taxes such as GST - Dividends and profits from PSUs (Public Sector Undertakings) - Money earned through government’s general services - Disinvestment receipts - Debt repayments - Loan recoveries no money can be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of India, without the government securing the approval of the Parliament. Parts of Consolidated Fund Of India The Consolidated Fund of India is divided into five parts namely: - Revenue account (receipts) - Revenue account (disbursements) - Capital account (receipts) - Capital account (disbursements) - Disbursements charged on the Consolidated Fund. Charged Expenditures on Consolidated Fund of India The disbursements charged on the Consolidated Fund or Charged Expenditures are non-votable charges. No voting takes place for the withdrawal of these expenditures from the Consolidated Fund of India. These charges have to be paid whether the Budget is passed or not. The expenses under this category include salaries and allowances of: - the President - the Speaker - the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha - Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha - salaries and allowances of Supreme Court judges - pensions of Supreme Court and High Court judges Contingency Fund of India The Contingency Fund of India is the emergency fund for the nation. Constituted under Article 267(1) of the Indian Constitution, the Contingency fund of India is used at a time when there is a crisis in the nation — a natural calamity, for instance — and money is required to deal with it. The Union government has its own contingency fund with a corpus of Rs 500 crore. In 2005, the amount of the fund was raised from Rs 5 crore to Rs 500 crore. States can also opt to have their own contingency funds. The Ministry of Finance operates this Fund on behalf of the President of India. The contingency fund of the Union government is at the disposal of the President of India, who releases the funds on request of the Union Cabinet, which later gets an approval from Parliament. A Parliament approval is mandatory. After the emergency has been dealt with, the fund is reimbursed to its full capacity of Rs 500 crore. This required money comes from the Consolidated Fund of India. Similarly, Contingency Fund of each State Government is established under Article 267(2) of the Constitution – this is in the nature of an imprest placed at the disposal of the Governor to enable him/her to make advances to meet urgent unforeseen expenditure, pending authorization by the State Legislature. Approval of the Legislature for such expenditure and for withdrawal of an equivalent amount from the Consolidated Fund is subsequently obtained, whereupon the advances from the Contingency Fund are recouped to the Fund. The corpus varies across states and the quantum is decided by the State legislatures. What is the Public Account? Under provisions of Article 266(1) of the Constitution of India, Public Account is used in relation to all the fund flows where Government is acting as a banker. Examples include Provident Funds and Small Savings. This money does not belong to government but is to be returned to the depositors. The expenditure from this fund need not be approved by the Parliament. Besides the normal receipts and expenditure of the government which relates to the consolidated fund, certain other transactions enter government accounts in respect of which government acts more as a banker, for example, transactions relating to provident funds, small savings collections, other deposits, etc. The money thus received is kept in the public account. As the money, generally speaking, does not belong to the government and has to be paid back some time or the other to the persons and authorities who deposited it, parliamentary approval for payment from the public account is not required. What is the revenue budget? This consists of the revenue receipts of the government (tax revenues and other revenues) and the expenditure met from these revenues. Tax revenues comprise proceeds of taxes and other duties levied by the Union. Other revenues are receipts of the government mainly consisting of interest and dividend on investments made by the government, and fees and receipts for other services rendered by the government. Revenue expenditure is expenditure for the normal running of government departments and various services, interest charges on debt incurred by government, subsidies and so on. Broadly speaking, expenditure which does not result in the creation of assets is treated as revenue expenditure. All grants given to state governments and other parties are also treated as revenue expenditure even though some of the grants may be for creation of assets. Direct & Indirect Taxes Taxes are compulsory levies on individuals and business entities in a country. Direct taxes are the one that fall directly on individuals and corporations. For example, income tax, corporate tax etc. Indirect taxes are imposed on goods and services. They are paid by consumers when they buy goods and services. These include excise duty, customs duty etc. The constitution defines “Goods and Services Tax” as any tax on supply of goods, or services or both except taxes on the supply of the alcoholic liquor for human consumption. “Goods” means every kind of movable property other than money and securities but includes actionable claim, growing crops, grass and things attached to or forming part of the land which are agreed to be severed before supply or under a contract of supply. “Services” means anything other than goods, money and securities but includes activities relating to the use of money or its conversion by cash or by any other mode, from one form, currency or denomination, to another form, currency or denomination for which a separate consideration is charged These are levies charged when goods are imported into, or exported from, the country, and they are paid by the importer or exporter. Usually, these are also passed on to the consumer. This is the tax paid by corporations or firms on the incomes they earn. Minimum Alternative Tax (MAT) The Minimum Alternative is a minimum tax that a company must pay, even if it is under zero tax limits. What is the capital budget? This consists of capital receipts and payments. It also incorporates transactions in the public account. Capital receipts are loans raised by the government from the public which are called market loans, borrowings by the government from the Reserve Bank and other parties through sale of treasury bills, loans received from foreign bodies and governments, and recoveries of loans granted by the central government to state and union territory governments and other parties. Capital payments consist of capital expenditure on acquisition of assets like land, buildings, machinery, and equipment, as also investments in shares, loans and advances granted by the central government to state and union territory governments, government companies, corporations and other parties. By disinvestment we mean the sale of shares of public sector undertakings by the Government. The shares of government companies held by the Government are earning assets at the disposal of the Government. If these shares are sold to get cash, then earning assets are converted into cash, so it is referred to as disinvestment. What are demands for grants? It is the form in which estimates of expenditure included in the annual financial statement and required to be voted upon in the Lok Sabha are submitted. Generally, one demand for grant is presented in respect of each ministry or department. However, for large ministries and departments, more than one demand is presented. What is Excess Grants? If the total expenditure under a Grant exceeds the provision allowed through its original Grant and Supplementary Grant, then, the excess requires regularization by obtaining the Excess Grant from the Parliament under Article 115 of the Constitution of India. It will have to go though the whole process as in the case of the Annual Budget, i.e. through presentation of Demands for Grants and passing of Appropriation Bills What is the finance bill? Finance Bill refers to the bill produced immediately after the presentation of the Union Budget detailing the Imposition, abolition, alteration or regulation of taxes proposed in the Budget. The proposals of the government for levy of new taxes, modification of the existing tax structure or continuance of the existing tax structure beyond the period approved by Parliament are submitted to Parliament through this bill. What are appropriation bills? After the demands for grants are voted by the Lok Sabha, Parliament’s approval to the withdrawal from the consolidated fund of the amounts so voted and the amount to meet the expenditure charged on the consolidated fund, is sought through the Appropriation Bill. What is Vote on Account? The Vote on Account is a grant made in advance by the parliament, in respect of the estimated expenditure for a part of new financial year, pending the completion of procedure relating to the voting on the Demand for Grants and the passing of the Appropriation Act. Amount of money allocated in the Budget to any ministry or scheme for the coming financial year. Revised Estimates are mid-year review of possible expenditure, taking into account the rest of expenditure, New Services and New instrument of Services etc. Revised Estimates are not voted by the Parliament, and hence by itself do not provide any authority for expenditure. Any additional projections made in the Revised Estimates need to be authorized for expenditure through the Parliament’s approval or by Re-appropriation order. Re-appropriations allow the Government to re-appropriate provisions from one sub-head to another within the same Grant. Re-appropriation provisions may be sanctioned by a competent authority at any time before the close of the financial year to which such grant or appropriation relates. The Comptroller & Auditor General and the Public Accounts Committee reviews these re- appropriations and comments on them for taking corrective actions. From the fiscal year 2006-07, every Ministry presents a preliminary Outcome Budget to the Ministry of Finance, which is responsible for compiling them. The Outcome Budget is a progress card on what various Ministries and Departments have done with the outlays in the previous annual budget. It measures the development outcomes of all Government programs and whether the money has been spent for the purpose it was sanctioned including the outcome of the fund usage. Different types of Deficits When the government’s non-borrowed receipts fall short of its entire expenditure, it has to borrow money from the public to meet the shortfall. The excess of total expenditure over total non-borrowed receipts is called the fiscal deficit. Revenue Deficit – The difference between revenue expenditure and revenue receipt is known as revenue deficit. It shows the shortfall of government’s current receipts over current expenditure. Primary Deficit – The primary deficit is the fiscal deficit minus interest payments. It tells how much of the Government’s borrowings are going towards meeting expenses other than interest payments. It is the government actions with respect to aggregate levels of revenue and spending. Fiscal policy is implemented though the budget and is the primary means by which the government can influence the economy. This comprises actions taken by the central bank (i.e. RBI) to regulate the level of money or liquidity in the economy, or change the interest rates. Parliament, unfortunately, has very limited time for scrutinising the expenditure demands of all the Ministries. So, once the prescribed period for the discussion on Demands for Grants is over, the Speaker of Lok Sabha puts all the outstanding Demands for Grants, Whether discussed or not, to the vote of the House. This process is popularly known as ‘Guillotine’. Motions for reduction to various Demands for Grants are made in the Form of Cut Motions seeking to reduce the sums sought by Government on grounds of economy or difference of opinion on matters of policy or just in order to voice a grievance.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9499146342277527, "language": "en", "url": "https://midwestlawyers.com.au/a-guide-to-shareholder-agreements/", "token_count": 982, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.291015625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:af404ded-aea4-4366-b4a7-d853faeb42d6>" }	A company constitution is usually drafted in a standard format and does not provide protection for shareholders in the event of a dispute between them or where issues arise not covered by the constitution. A shareholder agreement, which properly outlines the steps to be taken in the event of disputes and certain circumstances arising, can be an effective tool for avoiding the cost of litigation. A shareholder agreement sets out up front how disputes and deadlocks are to be resolved and allows shareholders to resolve issues which arise – quickly and with finality. What is a shareholder agreement? A shareholder agreement is a private contract made between all the shareholders of a company, setting out the rights, obligations and liabilities of each shareholder. Such agreements do not have to comply with any set form or procedure. However they must be drafted so as to ensure that the agreement is valid and enforceable. A shareholder agreement needs the consent of all shareholders and, unless otherwise specified, all the existing shareholders must consent to any changes or alterations. Do I need a shareholder agreement? All proprietary companies must provide a constitution upon incorporation and it might be assumed that a company constitution is sufficient to address the rights and obligations of shareholders. However, a company constitution is usually limited in scope and is focused on setting out the company’s objectives, activities and internal administrative matters. A standard company constitution will not protect a shareholder’s interests in the event of a dispute between the parties or where issues arise not covered by the constitution. In contrast, a shareholder agreement can be an extremely useful legal document for managing any issues affecting shareholders, not covered by the constitution, which might arise in the future. It is not compulsory to have a shareholder agreement but it is highly recommended for all companies, particularly smaller, privately held companies where there might be a close relationship between the owners (shareholders) and management. When a company is created and there is goodwill between the shareholders, a shareholder agreement might not seem necessary. However, it is easier to negotiate a shareholder agreement at the start of a business venture when issues can be discussed amicably, rather than when parties are frustrated by disagreements down the track. What to include in a shareholder agreement For a shareholder agreement to be useful it needs to be customised to meet the specific requirements of the company and its shareholders. Listed below are some common provisions which most shareholder agreements should contain. Primacy of shareholder agreement over the constitution: in the event of any inconsistency between the shareholder agreement and the constitution, you would want the shareholder agreement to prevail. Alternative dispute resolution: to avoid the cost and uncertainty of litigation, it is advisable that parties be required to try and resolve their disputes through alternative dispute resolution, before any formal litigation can be commenced. Deadlock breaker: these provisions deal with circumstances where shareholders cannot agree on the management of the company. They can include: - A shotgun clause, which works by allowing a shareholder to break the deadlock by purchasing the shares of the other shareholder at a nominated price. - A chairman clause, which allows one shareholder to become the chairman and have the casting vote; or - A liquidation clause, which provides that the company is to be voluntarily wound up if the deadlock continues for a set period of time. Pre-emptive rights: which imposes restrictions on the transfer of shares. A provision can require exiting shareholders to offer their shareholding to existing shareholders first, before the shares are offered to outside parties. Drag-along, tag-along rights: are provisions which are aimed at balancing the rights of a majority shareholder and a minority shareholder. Under a drag along option, majority shareholders can require a minority shareholder to join in the sale of shares in the company. Under the tag along option, where a majority shareholder is selling shares in the company, the minority shareholder has the right to join the transaction and sell their minority stake. Mandatory sale events: a provision which sets out triggers for the mandatory sale of shares in certain circumstances (for example, a director passes away, resigns or files for personal bankruptcy). Share valuation methods: it is prudent to set out the method by which shares are to be valued in relation to pre-emptive rights and mandatory sale events. For example, shareholder agreements often provide for the appointment of an external valuer with set criteria for valuation. A shareholder agreement is best prepared when a company is first incorporated, when there is goodwill between the parties and there have not been any disputes or disagreements about the management of the business. It is a useful document, setting out the rights, obligations and liabilities of the shareholders and how risks and disputes are to be managed in the future. A shareholder agreement should be professionally prepared as it needs to be tailored to the particular needs of the shareholders and company but should contain some of the key provisions set out above.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.8992448449134827, "language": "en", "url": "https://solve.mit.edu/challenges/carbon-contributions/solutions/29", "token_count": 420, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": -0.16796875, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:26ae7a82-3b05-43da-85e6-93c102a9bd48>" }	Fertilizers today are mostly produced in large-scale, centralized, and capital-intensive facilities in North America, Europe, and China. After production, fertilizers are shipped long distances to emerging economies such as Kenya. Due to this logistical mark-up, rural farmers in places like Sub-Saharan Africa have to pay two to three times the world price for the imported fertilizer. Using agricultural waste, Safi Sarvi utilizes a low-cost, mobile technology to produce carbon-negative fertilizer that improves local soil fertility. This mobile technology downsizes and decentralizes fertilizer production, making it possible to implement village-based, pro table fertilizer production units using locally available labor, resources, and waste. It also allows rural farmers to access a high-yield fertilizer blend that is locally produced and can improve their yields by up to 30 percent. Additionally, this technology does not rely on any external energy to power itself, thereby drastically reducing the emissions (both CO2 and other pollutants such as PAH, particulates, NOx, etc.) compared to the status quo. By converting local agricultural waste, Safi Sarvi enables income generation and localized access to high-yield fertilizer, thereby providing economic incentives for farmers and entrepreneurs to adapt to their solution. So far, this solution has benefited more than 2,500 farmers, and the pilot production has proven itself to be financially profitable. Takachar has partnered with the following organizations: - The Tony Elumelu Foundation - Total Kenya, committed to better energy - Big Ideas @ Berkeley, Rudd Family Foundation - MIT IDEAS Global Challenge - Kenya Climate Innovation Center - Spark* Kenya Carbon-Negative Fertilizer for Farmers Solver Safi Sarvi by Takachar, which produces carbon-negative, high-yield fertilizer for farmers in emerging economies, received $10,000 in prize funding from Member Mohammed bin Rashid Initiative for Global Prosperity in 2019 for being selected as a finalist in the Rural Transformation and Zero Hunger Challenge powered by MIT Solve.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9447699785232544, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.copenhagenconsensus.com/publication/haiti-priorise-agriculture-rd-bairagi", "token_count": 790, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.03515625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:1d541ce7-823f-491b-996b-14f562d28198>" }	Haïti Priorise: Agriculture R&D, Bairagi Description of Problem The main cereal crops that are grown in Haiti are maize, rice, and sorghum, which also make up the staple food. Currently these low-value crops are cultivated in approximately one-third of the total agricultural land or just over one-half of the country’s arable land. Current crop productivity of rice is among the lowest in Latin America. Yields of maize, rice, and sorghum have been declining since the 1990s. There is a lack of quality seeds, a lack of an irrigation infrastructure, weak governmental extension services, a lack of access to credit, poor quality of soil and water, and natural disasters. And there have been no formal, ongoing investments in agricultural research and development (R&D) in Haiti. The government has set up research entities at different times, but many were unsuccessful and ceased operations. From a nutritional standpoint, the cereal crops are very important, supplying around 37.5% of the population’s total calorific and intake. Rice alone supplies nearly one-fifth of the total energy, or protein, consumption. Food shortages are common. Average energy intake is around 511 kilocalories lower than the required level of 2500 kilocalories per day, and protein intake is nearly 7.3 grams lower than the required level of 56 grams per day. - Agricultural Research and Development An annual investment of $25.0 million to support the establishment of a research institution to help transfer cutting-edge agricultural technology to Haiti’s farmers, starting in 2020, reaching its maximum level in 2040. Summary Table of the BCR \|Intervention\|\|Benefits\|\|Costs\|\|Benefit for every gourde spent\| \|Investment in Ag. R&D with 50% adoption\|\|33 billion gourdes ($487 million)\|\|29 billion gourdes ($418 million)\|\|1.1\| \|Investment in Ag. R&D with 60% adoption\|\|41 billion gourdes ($589 million)\|\|29 billion gourdes ($418 million)\|\|1.4\| The benefits vary depending on the adoption level from farmers of the new technology. Experience has shown that the adoption of any new agricultural technology generally takes about 15-20 years to reach its maximum level, and the maximum adoption level ranges between 50% and 70%. Benefits, Costs, and BCRs The suggested spend is $25.50 million annually. This would be used for salaries, program operating costs, and capital investments. In addition, a one-time fixed set-up cost (i.e for building and materials) of around $5 million is assumed. The proposed center would facilitate the introduction of available cutting-edge agricultural technology, and would help disseminate this to local farmers. This investment would result in approximately 210%, 109%, and 104% increases in maize, paddy, and sorghum yields, respectively. Keeping in mind that the delay between research and results is assumed to be four years, by 2040 rice production in Haiti could increase by approximately 55% to 66% compared to the baseline predictions. The production of maize could increase by about 10% to 12%, and sorghum could increase by 6% to 7%. The increase in supply would push the market prices down, however the price effect is not significant, resulting in a decrease of less than 0.5%. Nevertheless, consumption of these commodities would increase following this small price decrease. This would mean that, on the whole, people in Haiti would be more food secure. The aggregate productivity benefits of investments in agricultural research and development, in Haiti, could range between $66 million and $80 million by 2040 and $81-$98 million by 2050, depending on the adoption level.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9535176157951355, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.excite.com/education/financial-aid/grants-for-education", "token_count": 602, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.10546875, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:13359553-674c-4f39-9be9-90979cae7d47>" }	Grants For Education What are Grants? Various grants are available throughout the world to improve the educational standards of communities, universities, and even nations. It is imperative that the grants are in line with the demands and needs of the market. Millions of dollars have already been spent by USA and England alone over the past decade in revolutionizing their curriculum, increasing the bi-lingual student community and further enhancing the education diplomas and certifications of teachers. Benefits of Grants The overall spectrum of grants has changed drastically in the past few years. Grants have been now expanded to cater to the ongoing needs of students, teachers, institutions and all organizations that can assist in improving the level of education among the masses. Organizations and governments are all fully compliant in providing the necessary means possible to provide the opportunities of a lifetime to students that have the potential to excel but have financial limitations. The overall perspective is not to delineate the intelligent community from superior education based upon financial constraints. Every government realizes that the potential of the people is really the driving economical powerhouse. Without strong and stable skilled labor, no government can succeed in becoming strong economical giants in today's competitive environment. The adjustments made to the education sector pays dividends in the long run. Doctors, engineers, lawyers and all other segments of the markets rise irrespective of color, creed and financial variance. Grants for Teachers Another important trend in the market that has shown considerable improvement is the grants that are now available to teachers and professors. Teachers can now apply for all different skill sets ranging from political science to agriculture and can apply all over the world for masters, PHD classes or other relevant work courses. The primal objective is to have the governments endorse teachers and professor needs to keep on implementing changes in their curriculum by visiting other universities and bringing back different policies and trades that can improve the overall awareness and education levels in institutions. Specific universities and colleges also play their significant part as well in providing the opportunities to their staff and potential students. University of Arkansas has specific programs that cater to potential students that have the grades to be a part of the student body but lack the financial needs. These grants go beyond the state and national grants available to the students and the teachers. These are grants that the universities provide on an individual basis. Public and Private Grants Public and private grants are both available to the students and teachers and have similar bindings. The only difference is that the public grants have to be returned back to the state and the government. Some public grants are only available to certain classes, minorities, states or regions. Hundreds of students take full advantage of these kinds of grants. The grants have certain bindings that state the students have to be in a particular school or a certain advanced course. Grants have paid for over 50 % of students in certain parts of the world. This is an astonishing and positive number. The agenda of the UN is also to increase this number and give the opportunity of learning to all through Grants for Education.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9322214126586914, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.progressive-economics.ca/2019/10/ten-things-to-know-about-poverty-measurement-in-canada/", "token_count": 230, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.0947265625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:3334c9c4-ab15-40d5-b6b7-03870c95422c>" }	Ten things to know about poverty measurement in Canada I’ve written a blog post providing an overview of poverty measurement in Canada. Points raised in the post include the following: -One’s choice of poverty measure has a major impact on whether poverty is seen to be increasing or decreasing over time. -Canada’s federal government recently chose the make the Market Basket Measure (MBM) its official poverty measure. -According to the MBM, Canada has seen a major decrease in poverty over the past decade. -Also according to the MBM, there is very little seniors’ poverty in Canada. -The debate about poverty measurement in Canada has largely ignored the concept of asset poverty. The link to the blog post is here. Nick Falvo is a Calgary-based research consultant with a PhD in Public Policy. He has academic affiliation at both Carleton University and Case Western Reserve University, and is Section Editor of the Canadian Review of Social Policy/Revue canadienne de politique sociale. You can check out his website here: https://nickfalvo.ca/.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9735458493232727, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.wrigleyclaydon.com/blog/glossary/merger/", "token_count": 145, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": -0.029296875, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:01420948-0edf-4e85-8d31-2c351e356cb2>" }	Merger is the merging of one estate or title into another. It is a term predominently used in business law. Agreements are merged when one contract is absorbed into another. The merger of contracts is generally based on the language of the agreement and the intent of the parties. Consolidation is an example. Latest posts by Rachel Damianou (see all) - Time to Make a Will? - 17th December 2020 - Making a Will during the pandemic - 4th September 2020 - A Helping Hand - 19th June 2020 - Dying to be heard - 14th May 2020 - Government considers how wills should be signed in light of the COVID-19 situation - 11th May 2020
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.7799756526947021, "language": "en", "url": "http://hnxbw.cnjournals.net/hznydxsk/article/abstract/20210209", "token_count": 555, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.4375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:6109c6e9-3ef6-402f-83a0-230a882fb3f7>" }	One of the objectives of agricultural production trusteeship subsidy is to make up for the limitation in agricultural production trust by subsidizing small farmers to purchase trust services for key and weak links in crop production and guide farmers to change their production mode from single-link trusteeship and multi-link trusteeship to whole process trusteeship. Based on the field survey data of the pilot areas of agricultural pest control subsidy in Jiaxing city of Zhejiang province,Changde city of Hunan province and Suzhou city of Anhui province,the article analyzes the impact of subsidies for weak links of agricultural production trusteeship on farmers’ willingness of whole process trusteeship and also screens the differences in the impact of subsidies on farmers with different degrees of household land size and old age. The results show that the weak link of agricultural production trusteeship subsidy has a positive effect on farmers’ willingness of whole process trusteeship against the background of a high proportion of trusteeship in labor intensive production links such as cultivation and harvesting. The higher level of cognition toward benefit of weak link trusteeship and farmers’ education,the higher level of farmers’ willingness of whole process trusteeship. The part-time farmers have higher willingness of whole process trusteeship than pure farmers. With the moderating effect of farmers owning agricultural machinery,the positive effect of large-scale of agricultural land on farmers’ willingness of whole process trusteeship is gradually weakened. The subsidy has significant impact on farmers’ whole process trusteeship,which is mainly reflected in the high-scale group of agricultural land and high-age group. Therefore,the government should expand the coverage of subsidies for the weak link of agricultural production trusteeship and especially focus on the farmers’ families which have higher land scale and higher degree of aging. The government should standardize services and lower the service price,in order to shift farmers’ agricultural operation from labor intensive trusteeship and technology intensive trusteeship to whole process trusteeship. 韩青,孟婷,刘起林.农业生产托管薄弱环节补贴能否提高农户全程托管意愿？——以农业病虫害防治补贴为例[J].华中农业大学学报（社科）,2021,(2):71-79复制
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9714395999908447, "language": "en", "url": "https://bereavementpractitioners.org/introduction-diversified-financial-instruments-in-order-to-reduce/", "token_count": 532, "fin_int_score": 4, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": -0.0030670166015625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:5fd33f7a-fa21-4525-b792-e64a764c6b44>" }	INTRODUCTIONWith an investable surplus in hand these days, there are a lot of investment avenues available in the financial market for an investor. He can invest in Bonds, Bank Deposits and Corporate Debentures where the risk is low but returns are low as well. He may invest in Stock market where with high risk he also gets proportionally high returns. As per recent trends in the Stock Market, an average retail investor has always lost with periodic bearish trends. In order to maintain their investment portfolio, people began choosing managers with expertise in stock markets who would invest on their behalf. Even though we had several institutions who can provide wealth management. However, their service proved too costly for a small investor. In order to solve their problem, these investors have found a good shelter with the mutual funds for their investments. CONCEPT OF MUTUAL FUND:A mutual fund is a common pool of money collected from investors for the purpose of investing in securities such as bonds, stocks, money market instruments and other assets. The ownership of the fund belongs to all investors thus it is known as a joint or “mutual” fund. A single investor’s ownership of the fund is in the same proportion as the amount contributed by him or her to the total amount of the fund. Mutual Funds are considered as trusts, which accept savings from different investors and invest their money in diversified financial instruments in order to reduce the risk and maximize their income. A Mutual Fund is a corporation in which the fund manager charges a small reasonable fee for professionally managing the funds provided by the investors. The main objective sought to be achieved by Mutual Fund is to provide an opportunity for lower income groups to acquire financial assets without much difficulty. They cater mainly to the needs of the individual investor whose means are small and to manage investors portfolio in a manner that provides a regular income, safety, growth, liquidity and diversification opportunities. DEFINATION:”Mutual funds are collective savings and investment vehicles where savings of small (or sometimes big) investors are pooled together to invest for their mutual benefit and returns distributed proportionately”. “A mutual fund is an investment that pools your money with the money of an unlimited number of other investors. In return, you and the other investors each own shares of the fund. The funds’ assets are invested according to an investment objective into the fund’s portfolio of investments. Aggressive growth funds seek long-term capital growth by investing primarily in stocks of fast-growing smaller companies or market segments. Aggressive growth funds are also called capital appreciation funds”.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9585666656494141, "language": "en", "url": "https://effercept.com/blogs/news/milk-quality", "token_count": 1314, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.1259765625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:ec006d5c-8688-4752-94cb-0afcc3190c37>" }	A lesson began for a group of nearly 50 Illinois dairy producers when their milk processor changed the pay structure for their milk in the fall of 2008. The implemented change placed a heavy emphasis on preliminary incubation (PI) counts. Many of the herds struggled to maintain a PI count low enough to earn the extra premiums that the processor offered and began seeking ways to lower their counts. For the dairies, the significance of a superior- quality pre- and post- dip product for their milking regime became apparent over the course of the past 18 months. Upon examination by the local Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA) and veterinarians, the lesson became clear. A survey was given to the top 25 percent herds for PI count, standard plate count (SPC), and somatic cell count (SCC), with the intent of discovering how the low PI count herds maintained their high-quality milk. PI count results are being determined by milk processors as an indicator of milk quality. In order to calculate the PI count, a raw milk sample is incubated at 55 degrees fahrenheit for 18 hours. The ideal goal should be a bacterial result of 20,000 or less per milliliter (ml). PI counts below 50,000 per ml are considered good. The PI count is commonly affected by cold tolerant, gram-negative bacteria. These bacteria can increase due to poor udder preparation, improper cleaning and sanitization of milking equipment, slow milk cooling time, or poor milk handling. “PI counts have become an important concern in milk quality,” stated Gary Brummer, Prairie State Select Sires sales representative. “The amount of money that producers can make with the financial premiums is an incentive for producing the highest-quality milk.” For the dairies located in central Illinois, their processor was offering PI premiums that could easily add an extra $250 per cow per year with no additional cost to the producer. If the herd’s PI count was below 15,000, a bonus of 50 cents per hundredweight would be added. If the count was over 100,000, a deduction of 50 cents per hundredweight could occur. Overall, the range in premiums was from the addition of $1.00 per hundredweight to a deduction of $1.20 per hundredweight. As many of the herds struggled to maintain a PI count low enough to earn the extra premiums, they began seeking ways to lower their counts. The local veterinarians became involved in the chronically high PI count herds, where bulk tank samples and teat dip cup swabs were sent for further testing to identify the source of the high counts. While the test itself did not identify the source, the types of pathogens would give clues as to the source of the high levels. The dip cup swabs from iodine or bleach dips grew colony-forming bacteria when incubated. Swabs taken from EfferCept®, 4XLA® and UDDERgold® 5-Star products were found to not be the source of any PI count problems. Brummer had already become involved as his customers were dealing with this problem. As a firm believer in quality products, he referred his customers to a milking protocol that included EfferCept as pre-dip and 4XLA or UDDERgold 5-Star as the post-dip. The handful of producers already using the combination of EfferCept and 4XLA or UDDERgold 5-Star were able to control their PI count. The 49 herds were comparable in labor and milking techniques and all shipped to the same dairy processing plant. They each had only family labor working on the farm and used dip cups for pre- and post- dipping. Some of the producers were using iodine or bleach dips, while others were purchasing EfferCept, 4XLA and/or UDDERgold 5-Star from Brummer. In January of 2009, the local DHIA sent out blind surveys to the top 25 percent of dairy producers for a round table discussion to determine how they maintained low PI counts, SPC and SCC. All of the surveys were returned, and the results were compiled for presentation at their meeting. The results showed that 80 percent of the top herds used the combination of EfferCept as a pre-dip and 4XLA or UDDERgold 5-Star as a post-dip, and those producers were all Brummer’s customers. One of the remaining herds used EfferCept as a pre-dip. “The herds that I have seen switch from iodine or bleach pre-dip to EfferCept have had fewer spikes and lower average PI counts,” noted Brummer. “It appears that EfferCept can kill a broader spectrum of bacteria and kills the bacteria more quickly than iodine. An iodine product can take up to a full minute to kill all mastitis-causing organisms on the teat.” Pairing EfferCept as a pre-dip and 4XLA or UDDERgold 5-Star as a post-dip allows for the best coverage in udder health. EfferCept has a broad-spectrum control of bacteria, spores, fungi and viruses. It can kill 99.99 percent of Staphylococcus aureus and 99.87 percent of Streptococcus agalactiae, significantly reducing intra-mammary infections. EfferCept can be used as a pre- and post-dip technique on its own. 4XLA can kill bacteria in 15 to 20 seconds. When used as a post-dip, 4XLA will replenish the cow’s natural defense and condition the skin of the teat. It can also be used a pre-dip. UDDERgold 5-Star, the next- generation barrier teat dip, gives dairy producers the proven performance to control a broad spectrum of bacteria, provide a barrier film, and helps mois- turize teats for improved skin health. EfferCept, 4XLA and UDDERgold 5-Star are all available from your Select Sires representative. Contact your sales representative today to learn more. ô?°€ * Reprinted from Select Sires Inc.’s Summer 2010 Selections.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9332849979400635, "language": "en", "url": "https://site-patrol.com/qa/quick-answer-what-is-the-process-of-insurance.html", "token_count": 1310, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.035888671875, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:2086f745-fd54-4605-999c-f1abca2b23e9>" }	- What are the benefits of insurance? - What are the 5 parts of an insurance policy? - What are the two types of insurance? - What is fire insurance in simple words? - What are the elements of insurance? - What are the 4 types of insurance? - What is insurance explain? - How do insurance companies make their money? - What are the worst insurance companies? - What are the major types of insurance? - What are the 7 types of insurance? - Who are the top 5 insurance companies? - What part of insurance policy benefits are found? - What are the conditions of an insurance policy? - What is insurance and how it works? - What is insurance policy in simple words? - Are life insurance policies worth it? - What types of insurance do you need? What are the benefits of insurance? The obvious and most important benefit of insurance is the payment of losses. An insurance policy is a contract used to indemnify individuals and organizations for covered losses. The second benefit of insurance is managing cash flow uncertainty. Insurance provides payment for covered losses when they occur.. What are the 5 parts of an insurance policy? Parts of an insurance contract. Declarations – Identifies who is an insured, the insured’s address, the insuring company, what risks or property are covered, the policy limits (amount of insurance), any applicable deductibles, the policy number, the policy period, and the premium amount. What are the two types of insurance? Two general types are available: term insurance. provides coverage only during the term of the policy and pays off only on the insured’s death; whole-life insurance. provides savings as well as insurance and can let the insured collect before death. What is fire insurance in simple words? The term fire insurance refers to a form of property insurance that covers damage and losses caused by fire. Most policies come with some form of fire protection, but homeowners may be able to purchase additional coverage in case their property is lost or damaged because of fire. What are the elements of insurance? Like most common-law concepts, it has taken many individual cases and many decades—in some cases, centuries—to develop a settled view of the necessary elements for a valid insurance policy. These elements are a definable risk, a fortuitous event, an insurable interest, risk shifting, and risk distribution. What are the 4 types of insurance? Most experts agree that life, health, long-term disability, and auto insurance are the four types of insurance you must have. What is insurance explain? Insurance is a contract, represented by a policy, in which an individual or entity receives financial protection or reimbursement against losses from an insurance company. The company pools clients’ risks to make payments more affordable for the insured. How do insurance companies make their money? Most insurance companies generate revenue in two ways: Charging premiums in exchange for insurance coverage, then reinvesting those premiums into other interest-generating assets. Like all private businesses, insurance companies try to market effectively and minimize administrative costs. What are the worst insurance companies? Here are the worst car insurance companies in the nation according to the magazine Consumer Reports with number 1 being the worst:Mercury General Group.Progressive Insurance Group.Liberty Mutual Insurance Companies.Nationwide Group.Allstate.Farmers Insurance.Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group (GEICO)State Farm.More items…• What are the major types of insurance? Here are eight types of insurance, and eight reasons you might need them.Health insurance. … Car insurance. … Life insurance. … Homeowners insurance. … Umbrella insurance. … Renters insurance. … Travel insurance. … Pet insurance. What are the 7 types of insurance? 7 Types of Insurance You Need to Protect Your BusinessProfessional liability insurance. … Property insurance. … Workers’ compensation insurance. … Home-based businesses. … Product liability insurance. … Vehicle insurance. … Business interruption insurance. Who are the top 5 insurance companies? The 10 best car insurance companies in the US for 2020Geico. See at GEICO.Allstate. See at Allstate.Progressive. See at Progressive.Auto-Owners Insurance. See at Auto-Owners Insurance.Esurance. See at Esurance. What part of insurance policy benefits are found? In what part of an insurance policy are policy benefits found? … he insurer’s obligation to pay a death benefit upon an approved death claim While a life policy is in force, the insuring clause states the insurer’s obligation is to pay the death benefit to the beneficiary when a death claim is approved. What are the conditions of an insurance policy? Policy conditions are the provisions in an insurance policy that often require the insured to comply with certain requirements to obtain coverage under the policy. Policy conditions can be overlooked because they are not in the insuring agreement, the exclusions, or the definitions. What is insurance and how it works? Insurance is a contract that transfers the risk of financial loss from an individual or business to an insurance company. The company collects small amounts of money from its clients and pools that money together to pay for losses. Insurance is divided into two major categories: Property and Casualty insurance (P&C) What is insurance policy in simple words? Insurance is a term in law and economics. It is something people buy to protect themselves from losing money. … In exchange for this, if something bad happens to the person or thing that is insured, the company that sold the insurance will pay money back. Are life insurance policies worth it? If you’re asking yourself whether life insurance is worth it, the answer is simple. Yes, life insurance is worth it — especially if you have loved ones who rely on you financially. … Term life insurance, in particular, provides coverage at an affordable price during the years your financial dependents need it most. What types of insurance do you need? Here are the eight types of insurance Dave Ramsey recommends:Auto Insurance.Homeowners/Renters Insurance.Umbrella Policy.Health Insurance.Long-Term Disability Insurance.Term Life Insurance.Long-Term Care Insurance.Identity Theft Protection.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9281583428382874, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/equity_derivative.asp", "token_count": 861, "fin_int_score": 4, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.0286865234375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:3351f7e5-d6a1-4c91-820d-2d93c38697c8>" }	What is an Equity Derivative An equity derivative is a financial instrument whose value is based on equity movements of the underlying asset. For example, a stock option is an equity derivative, because its value is based on the price movements of the underlying stock. Investors can use equity derivatives to hedge the risk associated with taking long or short positions in stocks, or they can use them to speculate on the price movements of the underlying asset. - Equity derivatives are financial instruments whose value is derived from price movements of the underlying asset. - Traders use equity derivatives to speculate and manage risk. - Equity derivatives can take on two forms: equity options and equity index futures. Basics of Equity Derivative Equity derivatives can act like an insurance policy. The investor receives a potential payout by paying the cost of the derivative contract, which is referred to as a premium in the options market. An investor that purchases a stock, can protect against a loss in share value by purchasing a put option. On the other hand, an investor that has shorted shares can hedge against an upward move in the share price by purchasing a call option. Equity derivatives can also be used for speculation purposes. For example, a trader can buy equity options, instead of actual stock, to generate profits from the underlying asset's price movements. There are two benefits to such a strategy. First, traders can cut down on costs by purchasing options (which are cheaper) rather than the actual stock. Second, traders can also hedge risks by placing put and call options on the stock's price. Other equity derivatives include stock index futures, equity index swaps, and convertible bonds. Using Equity Options Equity options are derived from a single equity security. Investors and traders can use equity options to take a long or short position in a stock without actually buying or shorting the stock. This is advantageous because taking a position with options allows the investor/trader more leverage in that the amount of capital needed is much less than a similar outright long or short position on margin. Investors/traders can, therefore, profit more from a price movement in the underlying stock. For example, buying 100 shares of a $10 stock costs $1,000. Buying a call option with a $10 strike price may only cost $0.50, or $50 since one option controls 100 shares ($0.50 x 100 shares). If the shares move up to $11 the option is worth at least $1, and the options trader doubles their money. The stock trader makes $100 (position is now worth $1,100), which is a 10% gain on the $1,000 they paid. Comparatively, the options trader makes a better percentage return. If the underlying stock moves in the wrong direction and the options are out of the money at the time of their expiration, they become worthless and the trader loses the premium they paid for the option. Another popular equity options technique is trading option spreads. Traders take combinations of long and short option positions, with different strike prices and expiration dates, for the purpose of extracting profit from the option premiums with minimal risk. Equity Index Futures A futures contract is similar to an option in that its value is derived from an underlying security, or in the case of an index futures contract, a group of securities that make up an index. For example, the S&P 500, the Dow index, and the NASDAQ index all have futures contracts available that are priced based on the value of the indexes. However, the values of the indexes are derived from the aggregate values all the underlying stocks in the index. Therefore, index futures ultimately derive their value from equities, hence their name "equity index futures". These futures contracts are liquid and versatile financial tools. They can be used for everything from intraday trading to hedging risk for large diversified portfolios. While futures and options are both derivatives, they function in different ways. Options give the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell the underlying at the strike price. Futures are an obligation for both the buyer and seller. Therefore, the risk is not capped in futures like it is when buying an option.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9270856976509094, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.metaglossary.com/define/antidumping+duty", "token_count": 178, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.46484375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:506f979a-f3ba-4cd8-b574-4c7fd20c7fb7>" }	Selling below home market prices or cost of manufacture with material injury to an U.S. manufacturer is called dumping. Antidumping duties are levied upon further importation of the merchandise. An additional duty imposed on imported goods to offset the threat or cause of injury to the domestic industry of the importing country when an exporter sells a good at a lower price in the importing market than in the exporting (home) market. A penalty charge on imports to protect domestic industry against disruptive pricing practices by foreign firms (see dumping). An antidumping duty is supposed to be set equal to the margin of dumping, defined as the difference between fair value and the actual sales price. GATT Article 6 permits members to levy antidumping duties, while the GATT Antidumping Code attempts to standardize and discipline importing governments' activities in this area. See also circumvention and injury test.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9271411299705505, "language": "en", "url": "https://yourwestsidestory.com/qa/why-is-ifrs-important.html", "token_count": 1718, "fin_int_score": 4, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.00160980224609375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:7580860a-a08a-4183-bc01-89320debe4d5>" }	- Which is better GAAP or IFRS? - Is IFRS difficult? - What are the advantages and disadvantages of accounting standards? - Why do we have IFRS 16? - Which is the best IFRS certification? - What is IFRS and its importance? - What are the features of IFRS? - How many countries use IFRS? - What does IAS 16 say? - What are the different types of IFRS? - What is asset according to IAS? - What is the importance of international accounting standards? - How many IFRS do we have? - Does Germany use IFRS? - What are the 4 principles of GAAP? - What is difference between IAS and IFRS? - What is difference between GAAP and IFRS? - What is the purpose of GAAP? - Does Japan use IFRS? - What is the benefit of using accounting standards? - Why must companies comply with IFRS? - Who should use IFRS? - What are the advantages and disadvantages of IFRS? Which is better GAAP or IFRS? GAAP tends to be more rules-based, while IFRS tends to be more principles-based. Under GAAP, companies may have industry-specific rules and guidelines to follow, while IFRS has principles that require judgment and interpretation to determine how they are to be applied in a given situation.. Is IFRS difficult? Familiarize yourself with the basic structure and concept of IFRS. This is not a hard part. To start digging a bit deeper into this complex topic, you should know what is in front of you. … International Accounting Standards (IAS) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) What are the advantages and disadvantages of accounting standards? Advantages & Disadvantages of Accounting StandardsAdvantage: They Foster Transparency. One advantage of using GAAP involves the ease of understanding the financial statements. … Advantage: They Provide Guidance. … Advantage: They Provide a Benchmark. … Disadvantage: They Can be Inflexible. … Disadvantage: Compliance Can be Costly. Why do we have IFRS 16? The objective of IFRS 16 is to report information that (a) faithfully represents lease transactions and (b) provides a basis for users of financial statements to assess the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. Which is the best IFRS certification? Diploma in IFRS by the ACCA (The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is one of the most respectable and appreciated qualification in International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) across the globe. The course is designed to develop your knowledge and understanding of IFRS. What is IFRS and its importance? International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) set common rules so that financial statements can be consistent, transparent, and comparable around the world. … They specify how companies must maintain and report their accounts, defining types of transactions, and other events with financial impact. What are the features of IFRS? Key Features of the New IFRS Conceptual FrameworkOn 29 March 2018 the IASB published its new Conceptual Framework, nearly three years after the 2015 exposure draft. … Prudence and neutrality. … Measurement uncertainty and faithful representation. … Substance over form and faithful representation. … The concept of economic resource. … Elements of the financial statements.More items…• How many countries use IFRS? 120 countriesFactually, about 120 countries presently use IFRS across the globe. What does IAS 16 say? The objective of IAS 16 is to prescribe the accounting treatment for property, plant, and equipment. The principal issues are the recognition of assets, the determination of their carrying amounts, and the depreciation charges and impairment losses to be recognised in relation to them. What are the different types of IFRS? 1) IFRS 1- First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards. … 2) IFRS 2- Share-Based Payment. … 3) IFRS 3- Business Combinations. … 4) IFRS 4- Insurance Contracts. … 5) IFRS 5- Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations. … 6) IFRS 6- Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources.More items…• What is asset according to IAS? Asset. An asset is a resource controlled by the entity as a result of past events and from which future economic benefits are expected to flow to the entity. [ What is the importance of international accounting standards? Globally comparable accounting standards promote transparency, accountability, and efficiency in financial markets around the world. This enables investors and other market participants to make informed economic decisions about investment opportunities and risks and improves capital allocation. How many IFRS do we have? 16 IFRSThe following is the list of IFRS and IAS that issued by International Accounting Standard Board (IASB) in 2019. In 2019, there are 16 IFRS and 29 IAS. Does Germany use IFRS? All domestic companies whose securities trade in a regulated market are required to use IFRS Standards as adopted by the EU in their consolidated financial statements. What are the 4 principles of GAAP? Understanding GAAP1.) Principle of Regularity.2.) Principle of Consistency.3.) Principle of Sincerity.4.) Principle of Permanence of Methods.5.) Principle of Non-Compensation.6.) Principle of Prudence.7.) Principle of Continuity.8.) Principle of Periodicity.More items…• What is difference between IAS and IFRS? International Accounting Standard (IAS) and International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) are the same. The difference between them is that IAS represents old accounting standard, such as IAS 17 Leases . While, IFRS represents new accounting standard, such as IFRS 16 Leases. What is difference between GAAP and IFRS? The primary difference between the two systems is that GAAP is rules-based and IFRS is principles-based. This disconnect manifests itself in specific details and interpretations. Basically, IFRS guidelines provide much less overall detail than GAAP. What is the purpose of GAAP? The specifications of GAAP, which is the standard adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), include definitions of concepts and principles, as well as industry-specific rules. The purpose of GAAP is to ensure that financial reporting is transparent and consistent from one organization to another. Does Japan use IFRS? Public companies in Japan have the option to choose among IFRS, Japanese GAAP or U.S. GAAP. However, since they received the IFRS option in 2010, 164 publicly listed companies now have either already adopted or announced plans to adopt IFRS, according to the IFRS Foundation. What is the benefit of using accounting standards? The accounting standards help measure the performance of the management of an entity. It can help measure the management’s ability to increase profitability, maintain the solvency of the firm, and other such important financial duties of the management. Management also must wisely choose their accounting policies. Why must companies comply with IFRS? Most companies are required to adhere to IFRS. … The purpose of IFRS17 is to standardise insurance company reporting frameworks across the globe and increase their consistency, comparability and transparency. In contrast, the previous insurance standard IFRS 4, relied on a myriad of national accounting standards. Who should use IFRS? Scope of use of IFRS Standards: Around 65 per cent of the 144 jurisdictions that require IFRS Standards for all or most domestic publicly traded companies also require IFRS Standards for some domestic companies whose securities are not publicly traded, generally financial institutions and large unlisted companies. What are the advantages and disadvantages of IFRS? 1. Advantages of IFRS compared to GAAP reporting standards1.1 Focus on investors. … 1.2 Loss recognition timeliness. … 1.3 Comparability. … 1.4 Standardization of accounting and financial reporting. … 1.5 Improved consistency and transparency of financial reporting. … 1.6 Better access to foreign capital markets and investments.More items…
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.945871889591217, "language": "en", "url": "http://helpdesk.africanfinancials.com/support/solutions/articles/234036-what-is-the-debt-equity-ratio-", "token_count": 134, "fin_int_score": 4, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": -0.0673828125, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:016c56f9-6acc-4c60-8e73-60af4012f5d3>" }	Debt/Equity (D/E) Ratio, calculated by dividing a company’s total liabilities by its stockholders' equity, is a debt ratio used to measure a company's financial leverage. The D/E ratio indicates how much debt a company is using to finance its assets relative to the value of shareholders’ equity. The formula for calculating D/E ratios is: Debt/Equity Ratio = Total Liabilities / Shareholders' Equity The result can be expressed either as a number or as a percentage. The debt/equity ratio is also referred to as a risk or gearing ratio. Source : Investopedia
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9557008147239685, "language": "en", "url": "http://memory.loc.gov:8081/ammem/coolhtml/coolencf.html", "token_count": 3378, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.1455078125, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:60da3161-8ced-417f-a771-773f4d59fbf9>" }	The 1920s saw a proliferation of chain stores for consumers at all levels of income. The growth of chain stores was aided by the tremendous popularity of the automobile, which greatly increased shoppers' mobility, especially in rural areas. Sears, Roebuck and Company was especially successful in taking advantage of these new market circumstances. In 1895, Sears was a mail-order company catering largely to rural demands for basic goods, but in 1925 it branched out into direct retailing, and by 1929 it operated a chain of 324 stores nationwide. F. W. Woolworth's, whose "five- and ten-cent" variety stores spread across the country by catering to lower-income consumers, was another successful chain; during the 1920s Woolworth's expanded into more and more working-class neighborhoods. Variety stores of this sort sold almost everything except fashions. An anniversary pamphlet, Fifty Years of Woolworth (1929), traces Woolworth's fifty-year history (1879-1929) in the United States and Europe. Other successful chains included the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (the A&P), Kroger's, J. C. Penney's, and Walgreen Drug. In addition to the grocery and five- and ten-cent store chains, drugstore chains, candy chains, shoe chains, cigar chains, and music chains flourished. Mail-order buying continued during the 1920s, but the popularity of the new chain stores changed the way consumers shopped. Many documents of the time commented on this change and the problems that accompanied it. Examples in this digital collection include the economist Paul Mazur's pamphlet Some Problems of Distribution: The Development of Chain Store Merchandising and its Economic Effects (1929); the economist Paul Nystrom's Chain Stores (1930); "The Present Status and Future Prospects of Chains of Department Stores" (1927), a speech by department store magnate Benjamin A. Filene; a pamphlet, The Menace of the Chains (1924), revealing the fear that chain stores caused among local businessmen; and What is the Chain Store's Responsibility to its Community? (1929), by Earl C. Sams, president of the J. C. Penney chain. Chase, Stuart (1888-1985) Stuart Chase was an economist, consumer activist, and man of letters. From 1922 to 1939, Chase was a director of the New York-based Labor Bureau, Inc., an organization that furnished research, accounting, and other professional services to labor unions and cooperatives and published the newsletter Facts for Workers: A Monthly Review of Business, Industry and General Economic Conditions from the Point of View of Organized Labor. Chase and Frederick John Schlink were the founders of Consumers' Research. Schlink converted a small consumers' club operating in a White Plains, New York, garage into a testing organization for consumer products. The establishment of Consumers' Research, Inc. followed Chase and Schlink's publication of Your Money's Worth (1927), a controversial exposé of the advertising and pricing practices used by manufacturers of consumer products. This work was widely distributed through the Book-of-the-Month Club. The enthusiastic public reception of Your Money's Worth encouraged Chase and Schlink to expand their consumers' club into a national organization. In December 1929, two months after the Wall Street crash, the organization began to publish its findings both as consumer pamphlets and in a regular bulletin that compared and assigned ratings to consumer products. These reports were eventually published in the Handbook of Buying. By 1930, membership in Consumers' Research, Inc. had reached twelve thousand. It was the forerunner of the Consumers Union created by Arthur Kallet in 1936. Although Chase had trained in engineering at MIT, his writings explored semantics, economic theory, the history of technology, and comparative cultures (Mexico and the United States). The Chase Papers at the Library of Congress include a notable exchange of letters with Theodore Dreiser on consumer purchasing power and corporate profits; they also discuss millionaires, banks, corporations, and unemployment. Chase also wrote critiques of consumerism and advertising for The Forum, The Nation, and The Outlook. See also: Selections from the Stuart Chase Papers at the Library of Congress. Clark, Edward T. (1878-1935) Edward Tracy Clark began working for Vice President Coolidge in 1921 and continued his service through Coolidge's second presidential term, a span of eight years. Clark was the only one of Coolidge's private secretaries to serve him during his entire tenure in federal office. The job of presidential secretary combined personal and professional assignments of a highly delicate and demanding nature, requiring great skill and discretion. The more than fifty letters among Clark's papers that Coolidge wrote to him after leaving the White House convey the impression of an exceptionally cordial relationship. Clark was so well regarded that following Coolidge's departure from office President Herbert Hoover invited him to return as his presidential secretary. After serving Presidents Coolidge and Hoover, Clark worked as a consultant on legislative, customs, and tariff matters for various businesses in Washington, D.C. See also: Selections from the Edward T. Clark Papers at the Library of Congress. Colored Merchants' Association (CMA) The Colored Merchants' Association (CMA) was a cooperative established in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1928 to help African American businesses compete successfully in the marketplace. Its goals were to strengthen the profitability of black stores, offer more attractive shopping opportunities to black consumers, and alert national advertisers to African Americans' buying power. National Negro Business League president Robert Russa Moton participated in the growth of the cooperative. Coolidge, Calvin J. (1872-1933) Calvin John Coolidge was born July 4, 1872, in Plymouth, Vermont, and died January 5, 1933, in Northampton, Massachusetts. His father was John Calvin Coolidge, a village storekeeper, and his mother was Victoria Josephine Moor Coolidge. Coolidge graduated with honors from Amherst College, Massachusetts, in 1895 and entered the practice of law in the city of Northampton. His political career began in 1899, when he was elected a city councilman there. Over the next twenty years he served in a variety of political positions in Massachusetts, including mayor of Northampton, state senator, and lieutenant governor. In October 1905 he married Grace Anna Goodhue (1879-1957); they had two sons, John (1906- ) and Calvin, Jr. (1908-24). In 1918 Coolidge was elected governor of Masachusetts and then nominated for vice president at the 1920 Republican National Convention. He served as the vice president to Warren G. Harding and became the thirtieth President of the United States upon Harding's death in 1923. He was nominated for president in 1924 and using the slogan "Keep Cool with Coolidge" easily won the 1924 election. He refused renomination in 1928 and retired to private life in Northampton. Cooperatives were nonprofit organizations through which individuals or small businesses provided themselves with goods and services at cost. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries the cooperative movement was a widespread response to the stresses of modern industrialization. Workers banded together to ensure the fulfillment of members' needs at a time when the scale of most economic institutions was expanding. Through cooperatives, workers could take advantage of discounts for large-purchase orders and increase their power when dealing with national economic forces. By eliminating profits, consumer cooperatives saved members the difference between wholesale and retail costs. Members of a cooperative usually owned or controlled its resources and business policies. Cooperatives were especially popular in America during the 1920s. In addition to farmers' cooperatives, there were many cooperatives for workers and consumers, including credit unions, which sought to address the credit needs and resources of lower-income consumers. During the Coolidge administration, Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover supported the development of associationalism, a term used to describe trade, industrial, professional, and social-welfare associations. See also: The Cooperative Movement in the United States in 1925 (Other than Agricultural) (1927); "Co-operative Marketing--Agriculture, 1923-28" (Coolidge Papers); Credit Unions: Their Operation and Value (1926); Consumers' Cooperative Societies in New York State (1922) and The Story of Toad Lane (Chase Papers, ca. 1926). Couzens, James (1872-1936) James Couzens was a close associate of Henry Ford at the Ford Motor Company in Michigan from 1903 to 1915. He served as commissioner of police and then as mayor of Detroit (1919-22), and as a Republican senator from Michigan (1922-1936). He advocated voluntary reform of business ethical practices led by business leaders. The James Couzens Papers at the Library of Congress include valuable materials about the Ford Motor Company before 1920. See also: Selections from the James Couzens Papers at the Library of Congress; Truth-in- Fabric and Misbranding Bills (1924). Growth in retailing and merchandising during the 1920s was spectacular. Department stores in the major urban centers sought to attract middle- and upper-income customers by presenting the latest fashions in artistic surroundings or through the use of marketing extravaganzas. The promotional publication A Friendly Guide Book to Philadelphia and the Wanamaker Store (1926), for instance, describes the attractions of Philadelphia and the charms of Wanamaker's department store. A drawing of the store's Grand Court shows its Great Organ (a large pipe organ) in a setting reminiscent of a cathedral, and the building itself is described as a "merchant cathedral." Macy's in New York used its annual Christmas Parade as a sales pitch for the children's toy industry. The parade, featured in the December 1924 issue of Merchants Record and Show Window, was timed to coincide with Thanksgiving, heralding the beginning of an extended Christmas shopping season. The Art-in-Industry Movement of the 1920s significantly affected the advertising and sale of retail goods in department stores. Drawing on French and other European trends, museums such as New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art created rooms of high-style contemporary design that influenced the look of furnishings marketed to department store customers. Museum personnel sometimes served as consultants to stores planning to design exhibition sales rooms. Strategies for incorporating artistic design in consumer products are outlined in How the Retailer Merchandises Present Day Fashion, Style and Art (1929), an essay by Austin Purves, a design consultant at Macy's. See also: The Saleslady (1929); "Bernays Typescript on Art in the Fashion Industry, 1923-27: Cheney Brothers" (Bernays Papers); and The Present Status and Future Prospects of Chains of Department Stores (1927). Dry Goods Economist The Dry Goods Economist, a trade journal for the textile industry, provided instruction in retailing methods from 1852 onwards. The journal showed merchants and managers how to display and sell their merchandise most effectively in order to attract consumers and make a profit. The Dry Goods Economist was published weekly by the Textile Publishing Company in several sections, each devoted to a category of goods. In the 1920s sections of the journal were devoted to electrical goods, furnishings and furniture, and equipment, as well as to traditional dry-goods products. The journal also sponsored the publication of books dealing with chain-store history and with fabrics such as cotton, linen, silk, wool, and rayon. See also: National Retail Dry Goods Association Bulletin, August 1926; Rayon and Other Synthetic Fibers (1929). Federal Reserve Board The Federal Reserve Board was established by Congress on December 23, 1913, through the Federal Reserve Act, which enabled the federal government to create currency or bank reserves in periods of crisis. The act provided for the appointment of five board members, with the secretary of the treasury serving as ex officio chairman. Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon held this position during the Harding and Coolidge administrations. The comptroller of the currency was also an ex officio member. The Federal Reserve Act marked a significant expansion of government's management of the money supply. See also: "Hamlin Memorandum and Diary Extracts, Showing Federal Reserve Board Response to 1927 Recession and Stock Market Speculation: July 1, 1927 - January 4, 1929" (Charles S. Hamlin Papers); "Downtown" feature in The Forum (July 1929). Federal Trade Commission The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was established in 1914 to help enforce both the Sherman Antitrust Act (1890) and the Clayton Antitrust Act (1914). Under the Harding administration, the FTC began assuming a friendlier stance toward business and antitrust suits declined. In 1926, the creation of a new FTC division, the Division of Trade Practice Conference, forestalled legal action against alleged violators of antitrust laws by organizing business conferences to forge voluntary, industry-by-industry agreements about what constituted fair trade practices. Such voluntarism reflected the Coolidge administration's faith in business's capacity to regulate and reform itself without government intervention. Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover played a major role in establishing the conferences. Filene, Edward A. (1860-1937) Edward A. Filene was a business theorist and visionary whose retailing ideas and practices acquired considerable influence in the 1920s. Filene gained his early retailing experience in his father's dry-goods and clothing-store business in Boston. He later became president of his father's company, William Filene & Sons, specializing in women's fashions. Filene experimented with retailing to customers of different income levels, establishing dress departments in different price ranges within the same store. In 1902 he opened Filene's Basement in the lower level of his company's main store, selling marked-down goods to shoppers of modest income and anyone looking for bargains. By 1912 Filene's was one of the largest specialty stores in the world, occupying a full city block in downtown Boston. In the early 1920s, the store's Clothing Information Bureau began a campaign to educate consumers about color. With the help of a color chart that the store devised, clothing experts at Filene's demonstrated to customers what colors to wear. Interest in the "color readings" ran so high that in early 1924 the company published its "Colorscope," which was hailed as a great advance in the education of the general buying public. Filene also promoted paid leave for employees, a minimum wage for women workers, and the establishment of the Filene Employees Credit Union, which influenced the credit union movement throughout the country. He planned and helped organize the Boston Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In 1919 he established the Cooperative League of Boston, which became the Twentieth Century Fund, a research group specializing in the study of social trends. In The Present Status and Future Prospects of Chains of Department Stores (1927), Filene argued that the growth of chain stores was irreversible, an inevitable byproduct of the age's movement toward mass production and mass consumption. While many still thought chain merchandising was an unproven innovation, Filene declared that other stores would have to adopt the chain stores' efficient methods or be driven out of business. Frederick, Christine (1883-1970) Christine Frederick advanced the field of home economics by demonstrating how management techniques and scientific efficiency could be applied to household tasks. Frederick was a widely published author, consulting household editor of the Ladies' Home Journal, and home economics editor of the Butterick Publishing Company magazine The Delineator. She also founded and directed the Applecroft Home Experiment Station at her home in Greenlawn, Long Island. Here labor-saving food preparations were tested in the kitchen, while a laboratory investigated household products from appliances to foodstuffs. Frederick's most important work was Selling Mrs. Consumer (1929), a highly influential source of information about consumer opinions and how the consumer could be reached most effectively. Her other publications include You and Your Laundry (1922), a consumer-education pamphlet sponsored by the Hurley Washing Machine Company. A portrait photograph of Frederick appears in the introduction she wrote for the Butterick Publishing Company's publication Midas Gold. A Study of Family Incomes, "Overselling" and Time-Payments as a Broadener of Markets (1925).
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9433423280715942, "language": "en", "url": "https://bank.caknowledge.com/net-banking/", "token_count": 582, "fin_int_score": 4, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": -0.0703125, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:8354bf24-3b03-46a0-af76-66f228c6f3e7>" }	Net Banking: The internet banking has changed the banking industry. It has major effects on banking relationships. According to the Internet researcher Morgan Stanley, the web is more important for retail financial services than for many other industries. Internet banking involves use of Internet for delivery of banking products and services. Meaning of Net Banking Net banking (or Internet banking or E-banking) allows customers of a financial institution to conduct financial transactions on a secure website operated by the institution, which can be a retail or virtual bank, credit union or building society. To access a financial institution’s online banking facility, a customer having personal Internet access must register with the institution for the service, and set up some password (under various names) for customer verification. The password for online banking is normally not the same as for telephone banking. Financial institutions now routinely allocate customer numbers (also under various names), whether or not customers intend to access their online banking facility. Customer numbers are normally not the same as account numbers, because a number of accounts can be linked to the one customer number. The customer will link to the customer number any of those accounts which the customer controls, which may be cheque, savings, loan, credit card and other accounts. Customer numbers will also not be the same as any debit or credit card issued by the financial institution to the customer. 2) Advantages of Net Banking: Banks and financial institutions enjoy many benefits from net banking. They can be given as follows : a) Information about Products : Banks and financial institutions use the world wide web to publish their corporate image on the global level. They can furnish detailed information about the products, services they offer. They can give information about the terms and conditions of their services. If today one wants to know about services provided by American Express or Citibank or Standard Chartered Bank, one need to visit these institution or seek information over the phone. The person can simply surf their respective web pages on the internet. b) Elimination of Manual Processing of Data : There is total elimination of manual processing of data in terms of internal routine like inter-branch reconciliation, monthly salary processing, posting and finalisation of financial accounts and annual statements consolidating the transaction distributed at several centres, etc. resulted in productivity improvements in leaps and bounds. The tasks which were earlier handled by 10,000 workers can now be performed by a mere 500 to a maximum of 1,000 workers. The bank employee was outside the realing of business policy and planning. He was attending simple clerical processing. But now-a-days he has become a knowledge worker. He is no longer bored with monotonous repetitive figure – calculation and duplication of records. c) Sale of Products : It helps in selling products to individual customers and to corporate customers by banks, insurance companies, stock brokers, mutual funds, etc.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9708256721496582, "language": "en", "url": "https://erenow.net/postclassical/the-age-of-faith-a-history-of-medieval-civilization/137.php", "token_count": 2955, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.396484375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:01a1449c-d16f-4741-a2cf-305718476bef>" }	The commercial and industrial expansion revolutionized finance. Commerce could not advance by barter; it required a stable standard of value, a convenient medium of exchange, and ready access to investment funds. Under Continental feudalism the great lords and prelates exercised the right of mintage, and European economy suffered from a bedlam of currencies worse than today’s. Counterfeiters and coin clippers multiplied the chaos. The kings ordered such gentry to be dismembered, or emasculated, or boiled alive;30 but they themselves repeatedly debased their currencies.* Gold became scarce after the barbarian invasions, and disappeared from the coinages of Western Europe after the Moslem conquest of the East; between the eighth and the thirteenth centuries all such coinages were in silver or baser metals. Gold and civilization wax and wane together. In the Byzantine Empire, however, gold was coined throughout the Middle Ages. As contact between West and East grew, Byzantine gold coins, called bezants in the West, began to circulate through Europe as the most honored money in Christendom. In 1228 Frederick II, having observed the beneficent effect of a stable gold currency in the Near East, minted in Italy the first gold coins of western Europe. He called them augustales in frank emulation of Augustan coins and prestige; they deserved the name, for though imitative, they were of noble design, and reached at once the highest level of medieval numismatic art. In 1252 both Genoa and Florence issued gold coins; the Florentine florin, equaling in value a pound of silver, was the more beautiful and viable, and was accepted throughout Europe. By 1284 all the major nations of Europe except England had a trustworthy gold coinage—an achievement sacrificed in the turmoil of the twentieth century. By the end of the thirteenth century the kings of France had bought up or confiscated nearly all seignorial rights to the coining of money. The French monetary system kept till 1789 the terms, though hardly the values, established by Charlemagne: the livre or pound of silver; the sou or twentieth part of a livre; and the denier or twelfth part of a sou. This system was brought to England by the Norman invasion; there, too, the “pound sterling” was divided into twenty parts—shillings—and each of these into twelve parts —pence. The English took the words pound, shilling, and penny from the German Pfund, Schilling, and Pfennig; but took the signs for them from the Latin: £ from libra, s. from solidus, d. from denarius. England did not arrive at a gold currency till 1343; her silver currency, however, as established by Henry II (1154–89), remained the most stable in Europe. In Germany the silver mark was coined in the tenth century, at half the value of the French or British pound. Despite these developments, medieval currencies suffered from fluctuations of value, the unsteady ratio of silver to gold, the power of the kings and cities—sometimes of nobles and ecclesiastics—to call in all coins at any time, charge a fee for reminting, and issue new coins debased with more alloy. Through the dishonesty of the mints, through the more rapid increase of gold than of goods, through the convenience of redeeming national debts in depreciated money, an irregular deterioration affected all European currencies through medieval and modern times. In France the livre had in 1789 only 1.2 per cent of its value under Charlemagne.32 We may judge the fall of money from some typical prices: at Ravenna in 1268 a dozen eggs cost “a penny”; at London in 1328 a pig cost four shillings, an ox fifteen;33 in thirteenth-century France three francs bought a sheep, six a pig.34 History is inflationary.* Where did the money come from that financed and expanded commerce and industry? The greatest single provider was the Church. She had an unparalleled organization for raising funds, and had always a liquid capital available for any purpose; she was the greatest financial power in Christendom. Moreover, many individuals deposited private funds for safekeeping with churches or monasteries. From her wealth the Church lent money to persons or institutions in difficulty. Loans were made chiefly to villagers seeking to improve their farms; they acted as land banks and played a beneficent role in promoting a free peasantry.36 As early as 1070 they lent money to neighboring lords in exchange for a share in the revenues of the lords’ property;37 through these mortgage loans the monasteries became the first banking corporations of the Middle Ages. The abbey of St. André in France did so flourishing a banking business that it hired Jewish moneylenders to manage its financial operations.38 The Knights Templar lent money on interest to kings and princes, lords and knights, churches and prelates; their mortgage business was probably the largest in the world in the thirteenth century. But these loans by church bodies were usually for consumption or for political use, seldom for financing industry or trade. Commercial credit began when an individual or a family, by what Latin Christendom called commenda, commended or entrusted money to a merchant for a specific voyage or enterprise, and received a share of the profits. Such a silent or “sleeping” partnership was an ancient Roman device, probably relearned by the Christian West from the Byzantine East. So useful a way of sharing in profits without directly contravening the ecclesiastical prohibition of interest was bound to spread; and the “company” (companis, bread-sharer) or family investment became a societas, a partnership in which several persons, not necessarily kin, financed a group or series of ventures rather than one. Such financial organizations appeared in Genoa and Venice toward the end of the tenth century, reached a high development in the twelfth, and largely accounted for the rapid growth of Italian trade. These investment groups often distributed their risk by buying “parts” in several ships or ventures at a time. When, in fourteenth-century Genoa, such shares (partes) were made transferable, the joint-stock company was born. The greatest single source of finance capital—i.e., funds to meet the pre-income costs of an undertaking—was the professional financier. He had begun in antiquity as a money-changer, and had long since developed into a moneylender, investing his own and other people’s money in enterprises, or in loans to churches, monasteries, nobles, or kings. The role of the Jews as moneylenders has been exaggerated; they were powerful in Spain, and for a time in Britain, weak in Germany, outdone in Italy and France by Christian financiers.39 The chief lender to the kings of England was William Cade; the chief lenders in thirteenth-century France and Flanders were the Louchard and Crespin families of Arras;40 William the Breton described Arras at that time as “glutted with usurers.”41 Another center of northern finance was the bourse (bursa, purse) or money market of Bruges. A still more powerful group of Christian moneylenders originated in Cahors, a town of southern France. Matthew Paris writes: In these days (1235) the abominable plague of Cahorsians raged so fiercely that there was scarcely any man in all England, especially among the prelates, who was not entangled in their nets. The king was indebted to them for an incalculable account. They circumvented the indigent in their necessities, cloaking their usury under the pretense of trade.42 The papacy for a time entrusted its financial affairs in England to the Cahorsian bankers; but their ruthlessness so offended the English that one of their number was murdered at Oxford, Bishop Roger of London pronounced an anathema upon them, and Henry III banished them from England. Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln, lamented on his deathbed the extortions of “the merchants and exchangers of our lord the Pope,” who “are harder than the Jews.”43 It was the Italians who developed banking to unprecedented heights in the thirteenth century. Great banking families rose to supply the sinews of far-reaching Italian trade: the Buonsignori and Gallerani in Siena, the Frescobaldi, Bardi, and Peruzzi in Florence, the Pisani and Tiepoli in Venice…. They extended their operations beyond the Alps, and lent great sums to the ever-needy kings of England and France, to barons, bishops, abbots, and towns. Popes and kings employed them to collect revenues, manage mints and finances, advise on policy. They bought wool, spices, jewelry, and silk wholesale, and owned ships and hotels from one end of Europe to the other.44 By the middle of the thirteenth century these “Lombards,” as the North called all Italian bankers, were the most active and powerful financiers in the world. They were hated at home and abroad for their exactions, and were envied for their wealth; every generation borrows, and denounces those who lend. Their rise dealt a heavy blow to Jewish international banking, and they were not above recommending the banishment of these patient competitors.45 The strongest of the “Lombards” were the Florentine banking firms, of whom eighty are recorded between 1260 and 1347.46 They financed the political and military campaigns of the papacy, and reaped rich rewards; and their position as papal bankers provided a useful cover in operations that were hardly in harmony with the views of the Church on interest. They made profits worthy of modern times; the Peruzzi, for example, paid a forty per cent dividend in 1308.47 But these Italian firms almost atoned for their greed by their vitalizing services to commerce and industry. When their tide ebbed they left some of their terms—banco, credito, debito, cassa (money box, cash),conto, disconto, conto corrente, netto, bilanza, banca rotta (bank broken, bankruptcy)—in almost all European languages.48 As these words suggest, the great money firms of Venice, Florence, and Genoa, in or before the thirteenth century, developed nearly all the functions of a modern bank. They accepted deposits, and carried current accounts—between parties having an unfinished series of money transactions. As early as 1171 the Bank of Venice arranged exchanges of accounts among its clients by mere bookkeeping operations.49 They made loans, and as security they accepted jewelry, costly armor, government bonds, or the right to collecttaxes or manage the public revenue. They received goods in bond for transfer to other countries. Through their international connections they were able to issue letters of credit by which a deposit made in one country would be returned to the depositor, or his appointee, in another country—a device long known to the Jews, the Moslems, and the Templars.50 Conversely, they wrote bills of exchange: a merchant, in return for goods or a loan, gave a promissory note to pay the creditor at one of the great fairs or international banks by a stated time; these notes were balanced against one another at fair or bank, and only the final balance was paid in money; hundreds of transactions could now take place without the nuisance of carrying or exchanging great sums and weights of coin. As the banking centers became clearing houses, the bankers avoided the long journey to the fairs. Merchants throughout Europe and the Levant could draw on their accounts in the banks of Italy, and have their balances settled by interbank bookkeeping.51 In effect the utility and circulation of money were increased tenfold. This “credit system”—made possible by mutual trust—was not the least important or honorable aspect of the economic revolution. Insurance too had its beginnings in the thirteenth century. The merchant guilds gave their members insurance against fire, shipwreck, and other misfortunes or injuries, even against lawsuits incurred for crimes—whether the members were guilty or innocent.52Many monasteries offered a life annuity: in return for a sum of money paid down, they promised to provide the donor with food and drink, sometimes also with clothes and lodging, for the rest of his life.53 As early as the twelfth century a Bruges banking house offered insurance on goods; and a chartered insurance company was apparently established there in 1310.54 The Bardi of Florence, in 1318, accepted insurance risks on overland assignments of cloth. The first government bonds were issued by Venice in 1157. The needs of war led the republic to exact forced loans from the citizens; and a special department (Camera degli Impresidi) was set up to receive the loans, and give the subscribers interest-bearing certificates as state guarantees of repayment. After 1206 these government bonds were made negotiable and transferable; they could be bought or sold, or used as security for loans. Similar certificates of municipal indebtedness were accepted at Como in 1250 as equivalent to metal currency. Since paper money is merely a governmental promise to pay, these negotiable gold certificates marked the beginning of paper money in Europe.55 The complicated operations of the bankers, the papacy, and the monarchies required a careful system of bookkeeping. Archives and account books swelled with records of rents, taxes, receipts, expenditures, credits, and debts. The accounting methods of imperial Rome, lost in western Europe in the seventh century, continued in Constantinople, were adopted by the Arabs, and were revived in Italy during the Crusades. A fully developed system of double-entry bookkeeping appears in the communal accounts of Genoa in 1340; the loss of Genoese records for the years from 1278 to 1340 leaves open the probability that this advance was also an achievement of the thirteenth century.56
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9409360885620117, "language": "en", "url": "https://esawen.org.au/study-item/38516/what-is-economics-all-about/?type_fr=889", "token_count": 320, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.0791015625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:a797949b-4589-4e6f-8847-6c3126d5aa59>" }	Studying economics equips you with a toolkit to understand the world around you. Economics focuses on human behaviour. And economists are interested in figuring out what incentivises people to behave the way they do? But economics is more than just understanding the world – it gives you tools to help improve the world. By analysing information and testing the impact of policies, the job of economists is to come up with solutions to tackle real world problems, improve society and enhance people’s quality of life. Even if you don’t pursue a career in this field, economics gives you skills and knowledge that will be useful in many other jobs and in your life in general. Studying economics provides you with valuable knowledge to understand decision-making behaviour, to manage projects, to understand how our economy operates, and to make sense of government policy. This will equip you with the ability to make smarter decisions in your everyday life – as a consumer, investor, business-owner, in your everyday choices and interactions with others, even as a student deciding on your career pathways. Knowledge of economics will help you make more informed decisions as a voter. It will equip you to participate in wider debates in the community on social, environmental and political issues. To read more, download the booklet where we also explore: What are some real-world problems that economists can help with? What skills will I learn in economics? What attributes would make me well suited to economics? Where can I find a job in economics? Should I do Honours?
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9655957818031311, "language": "en", "url": "https://mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2015/02/can-helicopter-money-be-democratic.html?m=0", "token_count": 1280, "fin_int_score": 4, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.1865234375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:f3636692-e594-4754-a757-71358ec94441>" }	Helicopter money started as an abstract thought experiment: money would be created and just distributed to individuals by helicopter. If we think of a consolidated government which includes its central bank, then it is clear that in technical terms this is a combination of monetary policy (the creation of money) and fiscal policy (the government giving individuals money). Economists call such combinations a money financed fiscal stimulus. With the advent of Quantitative Easing (QE), it has also been called QE for the people. Some have tried to suggest that central banks could undertake helicopter money for the first time without the involvement of governments. This is a fantasy that those who dislike the idea of government have concocted. Others who dislike the idea of fiscal policy have suggested that helicopter money is not really a fiscal transfer. That is also nonsense. Helicopter money is a particular form of money financed fiscal stimulus. It has two key features among the class of all possible money financed fiscal measures. The first is that it involves a particular kind of fiscal policy. A helicopter would distribute this fiscal transfer randomly, but what most people have in mind is an equal distribution to every person (adult?) - a kind of reverse poll tax, or what economists would call a lump sum transfer. The second is that, once the apparatus for helicopter money had been established by the government, its use would be initiated by the central bank, whereas other fiscal transfers are initiated by the government. I want to suggest that it is this second aspect that is critical. You could imagine the government making a transfer to every person, and you could also imagine the central bank distributing money to only those people who paid income tax the previous year. The fact that helicopter money is initiated by the central bank seems more like a defining characteristic. If helicopter money could be ordered by the government, we would say that the central bank was no longer independent. This defining feature of helicopter money is also what makes it attractive from the point of view of macroeconomic stabilisation. It removes the Achilles’ heel of the consensus assignment. The consensus assignment allocates demand stabilisation entirely to monetary policy run by independent central banks, while fiscal policy’s role at the aggregate level is to focus on deficits and debt. The Achilles’ heel is that interest rates can no longer be used to control demand when they hit their lower bound. QE tries to fill that gap, but helicopter money would be much more reliable and effective. Of course governments could make the transfers themselves through deficit finance , but the evidence of the last few years is overwhelmingly that they become fixated with reducing deficits in a deep recession with the result that we get fiscal contraction rather than stimulus. This last point raises a potential problem with helicopter money, which is that government may take the opportunity to offset its impact by raising taxes or reducing transfers, and we end up simply monetising part of government debt. One would hope that does not happen for three related reasons: first, governments are rather less agile than central banks, second, good governments should be working with fiscal rules that specify a medium term plan for deficits, and third the monetary stimulus is only temporary, so there would be little long term benefit in terms of deficit reduction if governments tried to play this game. If initiation by the central bank is the defining feature of helicopter money, and this policy always requires the cooperation of government, might it be possible to imagine a form of helicopter money that was more ‘democratic’? Why could the central bank not give the government the money, on condition that it was used to increase transfers or reduce taxes in some way? A left wing government might decide that, rather than giving money to everyone including the rich, it would be better to increase transfers to the poor. A right wing government might decide it should only go to ‘hard working families’, and turn it into a tax break. We could call this democratic helicopter money. I can see two problems with democratic helicopter money. Suppose the government decided to use the money for a tax break that went to people with a very low marginal propensity to consume. If the central bank fixes the scale of the monetary stimulus beforehand, it makes that stimulus much less effective. If it increases the size of the stimulus following the government’s decision on how to spend it, this gives perverse incentives to government: think of inefficient ways to stimulate the economy, and we will give you more money. One way to reduce such problems is for the central bank and government to cooperate over the size and form of any money financed fiscal stimulus. This could have added benefits. Most studies, and theory, suggest that the most effective fiscal stimulus tool is to bring forward public investment projects. With democratic helicopter money, the central bank and government could cooperate on this policy, rather than or as well as implementing a tax cut or transfer. However such cooperation creates a second potential problem, which is that it puts at risk the perception (and perhaps the reality) that the central bank was both independent and non-political. Given these problems, why even think about democratic helicopter money? One reason may be political. A long time ago I proposed giving the central bank limited powers to make temporary changes to a small set of predefined tax rates, and I found myself defending that idea in front of the UK’s Treasury Select Committee. To say that the MPs were none too keen on my idea would be an understatement. Making helicopter money democratic may be what has to happen to get politicians to support the idea. Combined with QE, this could become a money financed fiscal stimulus. An alternative way of avoiding this deficit fixation is to get governments to adopt a fiscal rule where, when interest rates were likely to hit the lower bound, the central bank in cooperation with the fiscal council proposes increasing the deficit by adopting a fiscal stimulus package of a particular size. This is the proposal in Portes and Wren-Lewis (2014). If instead the stimulus package was money financed, it becomes helicopter money. None of these considerations, even collectively, rule out the possibility that governments could negate helicopter money in this way. This point and the previous footnote show that all we are really talking about here is the effectiveness of different institutional mechanisms of persuading governments to allow fiscal stimulus in a recession, and to avoid the adoption of austerity.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9296393394470215, "language": "en", "url": "https://marketingthesocialgood.com/2014/04/15/scaling-micro-hydro-power-in-malawi/", "token_count": 685, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.0064697265625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:aced1629-8d19-4b1b-b2e3-ec24d05521e6>" }	A recent story from the Business Innovation Facility about the MEGA project touches many of the themes of this blog: how to distribute affordable energy to rural communities living off the grid at the bottom of the economic pyramid. It also raises an interesting question about scale. MEGA intends to build 10 micro hydro power plants in 10 years to serve communities in rural Malawi. Nearly all people in rural Malawi live on less than $1.25 per day and have no access to electricity. The lack of electricity has a pervasive impact throughout a community. Without electricity, - It’s difficult to recruit teachers to teach in rural schools, let alone power computers. - Shops have to close at sundown, which limits economic activity and access to goods. - Health clinics have difficulty providing adequate care without adequate light to aid in diagnosis or refrigeration for medicines. - Families rely on wood, charcoal, and/or kerosene for light, all of which are expensive and emit pollution causing respiratory and eye problems. Rural electrification can have great impact, but can MEGA’s approach to scale live up to the guidelines for designing for scale set forth in The Business Solution to Poverty by Malwick and Polak? (I previously reviewed this book.) - MEGA’s goal, ten micro-hydro plants in ten years, isn’t ambitious enough. Malwick and Polak would want to see hundreds, if not thousands, of plants worldwide within ten years. - MEGA uses philanthropic money now, and projects it will still be using it ten years from now. Malwick and Polak think commercial investment is the only way to reach scale. - It’s not clear that MEGA offers a way for customers, in this case rural Malawi communities, to triple their income in the first year. It might, but the article doesn’t address this point specifically. Malwick and Polak thing this ROI metric is critical to lifting global populations out of poverty. These aren’t the only points that I think Malwick and Polak would contend, however they’re enough to show that MEGA doesn’t meet their criteria as a business solution to poverty. But is the approach of Malwick and Polak the only viable approach to scale? Malwick and Polak emphasize small, affordable products and services that can be produced and distributed locally, attached to a business model that allows for decentralization and cultural independence. They make a compelling case that their approach can make a big dent in global poverty, because it can scale. Theirs is only one type of scale. Small, individual solar lanterns, for instance, are great for helping kids study at home at night, but you can’t string together a bunch of small solar lanterns to power a schoolhouse full of computers. Last-mile distribution is important, as Malwick and Polak amply demonstrate, but so are regional road and rail systems. As poverty-alleviation efforts touch the need to deliver public infrastructure, Malwick and Polak’s type of scale becomes infeasible. This doesn’t make either MEGA or Malwick and Polak correct. But it does point out the need for different types of scale in delivering public improvements and alleviating poverty.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9286874532699585, "language": "en", "url": "https://phantran.net/behavioral-theory-of-the-firm/", "token_count": 350, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.1259765625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:3682d96a-57b1-422a-82db-d199d2a059b3>" }	The behavioral theory of the firm first appeared in the 1963 book A Behavioral Theory of the Firm by Richard M. Cyert and James G. March. The work on the behavioral theory started in 1952 when March, a political scientist, joined Carnegie Mellon University, where Cyert was an economist. A behavioral model of rational choice by Herbert A. Simon paved the way for the behavioral model. Neo-classical economists assumed that firms enjoyed perfect information. In addition the firm maximized profits and did not suffer from internal resource allocation problems. Advocates of the behavioral approach also challenged the omission of the element of uncertainty from the conventional theory. The behavioral model, like the managerial models of Oliver E. Williamson and Robin Marris, considers a large corporate business firm in which the ownership is separate from the management. The behavioral approach takes the firm as the basic unit of analysis. It attempts to predict behaviour with respect to price, output and resource allocation decisions. It emphasizes the decision making process. The theory argues that while small firms may operate under the guidance of the entrepreneur, such a simple model does not describe larger corporations. These larger firms are coalitions of individuals or groups, which may include managers, stockholders, workers, suppliers and so on. According to Cyert and March, these groups participate in setting goals and making decisions. Priorities and information may vary by group, potentially creating conflicts. Cyert and March mentioned five goals which real world firms generally possess: production; inventory; market share; sales and profits. According to the behavioral theory, all the goals must be satisfied, following an implicit order of priority among them.Please wait while you are redirected...or Click Here if you do not want to wait.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9533489346504211, "language": "en", "url": "https://thelondonpost.net/turkish-domestic-gold-production-hits-time-high-2019/", "token_count": 363, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.365234375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:eed2d1a9-2ca4-4713-ab48-00538fbf1a60>" }	Turkey’s gold production broke records in 2019, reaching the highest ever levels in the republic’s history, the Turkish Gold Miners Association (AMD) said in a statement Thursday. Turkey first started producing gold in 2001 when output was at 1.4 tons. That level climbed steadily to reach a then-record high of 33.5 tons in 2013 when 7,500 people were employed in the country’s gold production sector. Gold output in Turkey fell from 2014 through 2017, but climbed to 27.1 tons in 2018 and increased by around 40% from that year to reach 38 tons in 2019, according to AMD data. “This year, gold production is estimated to climb above 45 tons to reach a new record high,” AMD President Hasan Yücel said in the statement. POTENTIAL FOR 6,500 TONS Yücel said Turkey produced a total of 338 tons of gold between 2001-2019 but based on scientific data there are potential reserves of around 6,500 tons, of which 1,100 tons have been extracted so far. While Turkey’s gold production sector employs around 10,000 people today, according to Yücel, domestic gold production could also make a greater contribution to the economy by lowering the current account deficit. “Importing 140-160 tons of gold every year creates a deficit of $7 billion-$8 billion. Turkey can easily erase 60% of this in the next few years because it has the potential, technology and the know-how,” he explained. Yücel noted that Turkey is one of the top countries in the world in terms of gold purchases per capita. Turkey’s gold imports stood at 202 tons in 2018, according to AMD data.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9238794445991516, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.clean-energy-water-tech.com/2012/06/changing-winds-and-storing-technologies.html", "token_count": 1161, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.2314453125, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:7196373b-857d-4994-b71f-84ed60ea94c1>" }	‘Clean Energy and Water Technologies’ is a blog, to create awareness, about clean technologies on water and energy, two fundamental factors, that determines human life on earth. The blog will post articles developments on such technologies, their sources, and their applications individually but more specifically on Renewable Hydrogen and Zero emission technologies. Google analytics tag Thursday, June 14, 2012 Changing winds and storing technologies Wind energy is one of the fastest growing renewable energy sources in the world and in 2011 the global market grew by 6% with 40.5 GW new powers brought online, according to Global Wind Report. However storage of intermittent renewable energy is a critical contributing factor in renewable energy development. A study was conducted by University of California on behalf of California Energy Commission on the economic and environmental impact of four energy storage technologies and the ways to improve the energy efficiency of wind energy. When there is a strong wind there is no demand for power, and when there is a high demand for power there is no wind. This anomalous supply demand gap demands a reliable way of storing wind power during high wind velocity periods. They examined four energy storage technologies namely 1.lead acid batteries, 2. Zinc Bromine flow batteries, 3.Hydrogen electrolyzer and Fuel cell storage system and 4.Hydrogen option to fuel Hydrogen cars with Hydrogen. By using NREL (national Renewable Energy laboratory) computer simulation model HOMER for high wind penetration of 18% in California, they concluded that Hydrogen storage is the most cost effective than other battery storage technologies and using Hydrogen to fuel Hydrogen cars is economically attractive than converting Hydrogen into Electricity. The environmental impact of using Hydrogen is benign compared to batteries with their emissions. “The key findings of this experiments are as follows: Energy storage systems deployed in the context of greater wind power development were not particularly well utilized (based on the availability of “excess” off-peak electricity from wind power), especially in the 2010 time frame (which assumed 10% wind penetration statewide), but were better utilized–up to 1,600 hours of operation per year in some cases–with the greater (20%) wind penetration levels assumed for 2020. The levelized costs of electricity from these energy storage systems ranged from a low of $0.41 per kWh—or near the marginal cost of generation during peak demand times—to many dollars per kWh (in cases where the storage was not well utilized). This suggests that in order for these systems to be economically attractive, it may be necessary to optimize their output to coincide with peak demand periods, and to identify additional, value streams from their use (e.g., transmission and distribution system optimization, provision of power quality and grid ancillary services, etc.). At low levels of wind penetration (1%–2%), the electrolyzer/fuel cell system was either inoperable or uneconomical (i.e., either no electricity was supplied by the energy storage system or the electricity provided carried a high cost per MWh). In the 2010 scenarios, the flow battery system delivered the lowest cost per energy stored and delivered. At higher levels of wind penetration, the hydrogen storage systems became more economical such that with the wind penetration levels in 2020 (18% from Southern California), the hydrogen systems delivered the least costly energy storage. Projected decreases in capital costs and maintenance requirements along with a more durable fuel cell allowed the electrolyzer/fuel cell to gain a significant cost advantage over the battery systems in 2020. Sizing the electrolyzer/fuel cell system to match the flow battery system’s relatively high instantaneous power output was found to increase the competitiveness of this system in low energy storage scenarios (2010 and Northern California in 2020), but in scenarios with higher levels of energy storage (Southern California in 2020), the electrolyzer/fuel cell system sized to match the flow battery output became less competitive. The hydrogen production case was more economical than the electrolyzer/fuel cell case with the same amount of electricity consumed (i.e., hydrogen production delivered greater revenue from hydrogen sales than the electrolyzer/fuel cell avoided the cost of electricity, once the process efficiencies are considered). Furthermore, the hydrogen production system with a higher-capacity power converter and electrolyzer (sized to match the flow battery converter) was more cost-effective than the lower-capacity system that was sized to match the output of the solid-state battery. This is due to economies of scale found to produce lower-cost hydrogen in all cases. In general, the energy storage systems themselves are fairly benign from an environmental perspective, with the exception of emissions from the manufacture of certain components (such as nickel, lead, cadmium, and vanadium for batteries). This is particularly true outside of the U.S., where battery plant emissions are less tightly controlled and potential contamination from improper disposal of these and other materials is more likely. The overall value proposition for energy storage systems used in conjunction with intermittent renewable energy systems depends on diverse factors: The interaction of generation and storage system characteristics and grid and energy resource conditions at a particular location The potential use of energy storage for multiple purposes in addition to improving the dependability of intermittent renewable (e.g., peak/off-peak power price arbitrage, helping to optimize the transmission and distribution infrastructure, load-leveling the grid in general, helping to mitigate power quality issues, etc.) The degree of future progress in improving forecasting techniques and reducing prediction errors for intermittent. Electricity market design and rules for compensating renewable energy systems for their output”. Hydrogen storage and Hydrogen cars hold the key for future renewable energy industries and Governments and industries should focus on these two key segments.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9474529027938843, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.nxter.org/nxt-solutions-financial-decentralization-financial-freedom/", "token_count": 1262, "fin_int_score": 4, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.37109375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:aa5c998b-f638-4192-ac6e-507f6778e341>" }	The last twenty years has heralded the transition from analog to digital systems. Most of us have no idea how people used to obtain information before the existence of the Internet. Every person born today will use digital replacements to obtain the information that used to be delivered by centralized sources such as newspapers, television, theaters, books, radio, etc. Each of these analog information delivery systems have been based on a model of centralization. Thanks to the evolution of technology, the cryptocurrency movement has today the ability to decentralize the operations of the world financial system with amazing new features. The introduction of the Internet has heralded an information revolution. Freedom of sharing, large neutrality, and universality are key values at the core of our digital world today. By design the Internet allows the instant and viral spread of information, while also providing a permanent record of the data transmitted over the network. Legacy financial markets today share similarities to the pre- Internet era. Large banks, international exchanges, rating companies, or even the central banks, are similar to the news corporations, the book publishers and the moviemakers of the analog era. These financial markets still operate on an analog model of centralization; still providing possible single points of failure. The primary advantage of centralization is that is allows for centralized control. The creators of the current financial system allege that our current system was designed and built for the good of the many. However the fact remains that the power and control of the world financial systems remains in the hands of a few people now grasping to retain control of the status quo. The current legacy financial system was built in the past with outdated tools and technology. Thanks to the evolution of technology, the cryptocurrency movement has today the ability to decentralize the operations of the world financial system with amazing new features. This evolution of finance driven by cryptocurrencies will bring the ability to engage in finance to people that have been denied this ability by the centralized status quo. The cryptocurrency movement, and specifically the Next (symbol NXT) currency, values the interactions of many small, vested, players than the decisions of a small, yet powerful, number of entities. Over past few weeks the Bitcoin (symbol BTC) currency suffered the abrupt closing of its largest exchange, Mt. Gox. Bitcoin lost $1 billion in market capitalization in about 48 hours between February 24th and February 26th, accounting for about 12% of its total market value. What lessons should be learned from the Mt. Gox default of February 2014? The first large payment default of the digital financial market era has illustrated that even within decentralized systems, power and resources will congregate if not given a reasonable alternative. The total loss at Mt. Gox is approximately 774,000 Bitcoins, or $335 Million USD and could have been prevented with adequate internal controls within the Mt. Gox exchange. The centralized exchange Mt. Gox failed to provide adequate internal controls and failed due to theft, becoming a single point of failure due to the reliance on a model of centralization. Defaulting, in the traditional world, is a very common thing. It has happened dozen of times, and over again. Countries, corporations, wealthy individuals have defaulted. Not that nobody cared, but the world survived. The financial markets, traditional, or cryptocurrency based, are built on trust. Trust underlies all traded assets, whether Dollars, Euros, or Bitcoins. When any reasonable market player starts to worry whether her asset will still be worth something tomorrow, that market player will attempt trade it against something safer very soon. The features of the Nxt Cryptocurrency Ecosystem include 100% Proof of Stake system, Decentralized Asset Exchange, and Automated Transactions on which logic can be built. The Bitcoin market lost more than 10% of its market capitalization in 24 hours, largely due to panic resulting from the Mt. Gox Bitcoin Debacle. Yet many rational people are purchasing 400€ Bitcoin, providing support to the market (outside of Mt. Gox). Despite the bankruptcy or corruption of one major centralized cryptocurrency exchange and despite the machinations of politicians worldwide using such descriptions as “evil tool”, “used by criminals”, “largely speculative”, and “relying on manipulated markets”, people worldwide continue to purchase cryptocurrencies to escape the analog financial system rife with single points of failure. The underlying value of cryptocurrencies that makes them resilient even in the face of attempts by corrupt politicians to suppress them is decentralization. Cryptocurrencies are still young and evolving to break their ties to centralized models of finance. This evolution of finance driven by cryptocurrencies will bring the ability to engage in finance to people that have been denied this ability by the centralized status quo. Today, Bitcoin is only the first step in the direction of decentralized global financial interaction. It is today paying the first mover price. Tomorrow, a new generation will follow. It is being led by Next (symbol NXT), which offers more decentralization than Bitcoin. It has the same basics, but Next has a lot more to offer to its users. The features of the Next Cryptocurrency Ecosystem include 100% Proof of Stake system, Decentralized Asset Exchange, and Automated Transactions on which logic can be built. The Next Cryptocurrency Ecosystem facilitates super fast transaction confirmations. Another feature is Transparent Forging, which allows the network to know which single node is about to create the next transactions block, eliminating unnecessary computing load on the network. More decentralization means less control by the few, and more resilience of a system that empowers those who own a stake in its success. Very few in the eighties would have imagined what the Internet is today. We are building a new financial world and as many have wrote recently, it won’t be easy nor quick. But one day, the world will be contemplating an entirely digital and decentralized financial system that is deeply different than what it is today. The Next Cryptocurrency Ecosystem leads this revolution in establishing a decentralized financial system. This article was written by frmelin. You might want to read this article too… NXT Solutions – decentralized internet
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.942007303237915, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.smartaboutmoney.org/Courses/My-Retirement-Plan/The-Debt-Effect", "token_count": 328, "fin_int_score": 4, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.003997802734375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:ab701e19-6848-470e-99f2-9ec91b5936f9>" }	The Debt Effect Take a Guess What do you think is the average debt for someone approaching retirement? According to the Social Security Administration, the average debt for near-retirees, including housing debt, is over $100,000. When you are working, it is likely that you handle your debt with a steady income stream. You may have to budget and make payments on a regular basis; you may even incur additional interest costs if you can’t pay a bill in full. However, if you make your payments on time each month and monitor your spending, you can maintain your credit rating for future credit needs. All that changes when you retire, and there may be a reduced income stream. - If your retirement savings for are used to service debt, you are basically borrowing from your future self who may need that income down the road. - Your debt can decrease your accumulated financial assets and savings, lessening potential earnings from these assets. - Your retirement lifestyle is more restricted with debt since you will have less disposable income available for your retirement pursuits. - Debt can cause physical symptoms of stress, impacting your health and lessening your sense of well-being, increasing costs of medical care and leading to despair. - Without significant assets that generate good earnings, you may have to return to the workforce. With its impacts on your retirement lifestyle, it’s easy to see why you might want to pay down debt before you retire. Need Help with Managing Debt? SAM’s Money Basics Credit and Debt course covers strategies to reduce and manage your debt load.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9559982419013977, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.steendier.com/post/2019/04/17/complex-systems-and-the-end-of-growth", "token_count": 2383, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.185546875, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:48ad01c0-4aac-45a7-9706-aef1aa4934ba>" }	According to Professor Geoffrey West, “You could not have evolved a complex system like an organism or a city – with an enormous number of components – without the emergence of laws that constrain their behavior in order for them to be resilient.” In this article, we will see how scientific research in complex systems can provide us with new tools to better understand the global evolution of our economies. What we hope for Never ending economic Growth is a globally embraced idea, a unifying goal for the majority of mankind. Economic growth will fix all problems, bring us contentment, realization of our dreams and happiness through materialistic improvement without end. Growth will turn political, religious, ethnical conflicts into co-operation. It will prevent war by connecting and integrating us economically beyond national interests for the better of us all. We want it to go on forever, to be “open-ended”. Definition: Economic growth is the increase in the inflation-adjusted market value of the goods and services produced by an economy over time. It is conventionally measured as the percent rate of increase in real gross domestic product, or real GDP. But what if growth can and will come to an end? What if the complex adaptive socio-economic systems that have brought us such huge increases in living standards are losing their ability to create more growth? To understand more about this, we may turn to the new science of Complex Systems to better understand how they grow, decline and eventually collapse. How systems grow and why Scientists like professor Geoffrey West, a British physicist turned biologist, then leader of the Santa Fé Institute and author of “Scale: The Universal Laws of Growth, Innovation, Sustainability, and the Pace of Life in Organisms, Cities, Economies, and Companies” have found that there are indeed mathematically definable universal laws of growth, aka scaling, that apply to all growing systems, from bacteria in a Petri Dish to Cities, companies and economies. One important common driver behind growth are the familiar economies of scale which allows a system to create surplus resources, which when applied again allow even more growth and by the repetition of these same economies of scale, lead to more absolute growth etc. etc. This is the same exponential increase in speed that we know well from an accrued interest calculation. The law of scaling growth seems true for all systems, simple as well as complex, including socio-economic adaptive systems and even when they are populated by learning and adapting individuals. Growing follows certain universal laws ...and why they collapse and die It is however clear that no complex system grows indefinitely. Economies of scale fade. They are what scientists call “time finite singularities”. In other words, factors that drive growth don’t last forever. This is why it is possible to determine a mathematically calculable life expectation for complex systems. Over time, more and more resources created need to be diverted to the upkeep and protection of the system, leaving less and less resources for sustaining growth. This leads to growth slowing and stagnating, the complex system “matures”, then ossifies and eventually collapses. This is intuitively understandable for biological systems such as mammals, from the smallest mice to humans to the biggest whales. For these systems it is the metabolic rate and the system’s ability to supply cells with the necessary oxygen and nourishment to function, that set the limit. For mice the calculable expected life span is only a couple of years, for us humans it seems to be somewhere just below 125 years, for the Arctic whale it is over 200 years. What science has found is that not only biological systems with a life span limited by metabolism, have an in-built mortality. Socio-economic adaptive systems also have one. The average life of listed companies in the US is just over 10 years. At the same time there are other complex system, such as cities, which have not stopped growing or collapsed……at least not yet. So why do some complex system last and grow while others follow the same pre-determined mortality path as a mouse or a whale? Except, if they re-invent themselves! Scientists have found that a maturing complex system can actually re-set its’ death clock thereby extending its’ expected life span and create a new period of growth. The key is innovation. Even after a period of stagnation, a new growth period can follow if the system is capable of finding and implementing a deep fundamental change that dramatically alters the way the system uses resources. Since the industrial revolution we have seen many technological innovations which have altered how we use resources and produce growth. But innovation is not only technological. The 200 yearlong accelerating growth of cities, aka urbanization is a non-technological change, and it is today the biggest driver of economic growth. Urbanization is happening at an exponential, or as scientists call it, at a super-linear pace across the globe. One million people around the globe move to cities every week. There means that the equivalent of a new New York of city-dwellers is created every 3 months. At this pace, almost 80% of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050. The special case of cities What makes cities especially interesting is that they have been better than most other complex systems at re-inventing themselves. Some cities have had periods of decline but then found new ways, new missions, new life. Scientists believe this dynamism has to do with the lack of central planning of what people do in cities. People flock to cities to exchange ideas, create barter and find new ways in a spontaneous adaptive process. This is not done by central planning. It is spontaneous and it is fast! Scientific research about these social processes is at early stages so a lot is left to be done before we can claim having a good understanding of them. What we need to recognize is that urbanization as a driver of growth is a time finite singularity that will eventually and probably quite soon come to an end. What will this end look like? Will cities start to “eat” each other? Can there be only one city in the world? Hardly. So, what will the end of urbanization look like? We don’t know. Will we be able to find another singularity, like urbanization, to re-set our clock and have another growth spurt? ...but they too may collapse and die Just like the second law of thermodynamics dictate, for every order created by consuming energy, there is dis-order elsewhere. In the case of cities there are clearly also negative singularities, which grow at the same pace as the city itself. Some of these need to be managed, controlled, contained to prevent them from reaching toxic levels where they risk killing the system. For cities the negative, toxic singularities, are well known; congestion, pollution, disease, waste, social segregation, crime. All of which need increasing amounts of resources to ensure they do not become toxic. Policing, new traffic systems, waste management, tighter security, health and other care systems to just mention a few. Even if urbanization will soon come to an end and lose its growth generation capacity, cannot global growth be extended through more technological innovations? Maybe, but it is not a given. In the end, one catch will get you Unfortunately for us, there is one problem that even very re-innovative systems cannot dodge. For each new fundamental re-innovation, the pace of innovation has to speed up. In other words, for each generation of fundamental innovation, the shelf life of each innovation gets shorter and shorter as well as its’ resulting growth spurt. We don’t just have to fundamentally re-invent our complex systems; we have to do so more and more often. There is a limit for this of course. We cannot fundamentally re-invent technology or society every day, probably not even every year. There is a limit. We are already at a pace where at least one fundamental re-innovation has to happen within the life span of an individual. Can it get faster? We will soon find out. Not to forget, it is only deep fundamental change in how the system uses energy and produces additional resources that works as a get-out-of-jail card. A new iPhone version doesn’t qualify, not even driverless cars. And we are already at a dizzying pace of re-innovation, perhaps close to the last re-innovation. An example: Many in the young generation starting to work now, are likely to have to re-invent themselves one or several times during their working life as the skills acquired during education become obsolete or are replaced by new technology. This is quite a big jump from the slower paced world in which our ancestors in the industrial revolution in the 19-th century lived. Artificial Intelligence? We don’t know what it can bring yet. What we do know is that we as individuals and thinking parts of a complex adaptive system are constantly learning, changing, adapting our behavior and the way we act as we seek to change our relative position in the system. Complex systems have many feed-back loops and it is through social interaction that the total system “learns” to be adaptive and create new order. So-maybe the next wave of necessary innovation is not even technology driven. It could be a fundamental social change in how we use resources. Maybe the next innovation will be in societal organization and energy consumption relative to maybe not just economic out-put but other types of fulfillment? What can be learnt from all this? A: Science tells us that everything that grows does so in about the same way. For sometimes very long periods of time. Subject to the same laws. However open-ended growth, economic and otherwise, is not a stable state but driven by time finite singularities, which will eventually fade. B: All complex systems tend to behave like biological systems with a life span that is calculatable. C: The only way to extend growth is to innovate at an ever-increasing pace. Not small technological innovations! BIG fundamental system changing re-innovations. D: Even the most re-inventive, adaptive, dynamic system will eventually have to re-invent itself faster than possible. Then it collapses. And it happens just as the hypersonic innovation speed is at its’ peak. The world we live in We are members of several complex systems. We should ask ourselves which of these are in the mouse category and which are more like creative cities? Where are our national political systems, our international organizations in their life cycles? The EU? The capitalistic system as we now know it? Democracy itself? Do any of these systems show signs of stagnation and increased bureaucracy? Do they have to allocate increasing amounts of resources to fend off toxic negative singularities? Do they welcome or deny the need for constant innovation? Have they become risk averse and harvesting rather than creative? Have they been tilted to channel disproportionate parts of their resources to non-productive hoarding? Which of them will be around during our children’s life and which will be confined to the dust-bin of history? The only thing that is certain is that we are living with a pace of change that is unprecedented and accelerating. We will have a very interesting next 20 or 30 years. What it will look like is, as they say, a whole other story. “Several systems we take for granted are likely close to their best before date”
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9743233919143677, "language": "en", "url": "http://bulgariabusinessinsider.com/wealth-gap-in-bulgaria-widest-in-eu-eurostat/", "token_count": 208, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.244140625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:c50f7807-e55f-4ade-a412-2d894038b3ed>" }	Bulgaria is the first in inequalities in the European Union – the income gap between the poorest and richest in Bulgaria is over eight times. This is according to the latest Eurostat data for 2020. CITUB economic expert Lyuboslav Kostov commented for Radio Horizont: “If we look back in years, there were periods of a more marked decline, there were periods of slight growth, but for Bulgaria the income gap between rich and poor was always about six or seven times. At the moment, for the second year in a row, the trend for over eight-fold difference is repeating itself and I worry that it will become something normal for our economy. On average for the European Union, the difference is about 5.2 times,” the expert said. The data also show that for the second year running our country ranks first with the widest inequality gap among EU countries, as well as according to the Gini coefficient, which is used to measure inequalities and the distribution of wealth in society.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9470561742782593, "language": "en", "url": "https://blog.ucsusa.org/dave-reichmuth/morgan-stanley-is-wrong-about-teslas-electric-cars", "token_count": 507, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.5, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:0e3e9ebb-f92d-41a8-b8bf-728f6b093d3b>" }	Last week, investment bank Morgan Stanley was quoted as claiming electric vehicles are responsible for more global warming emissions than gasoline cars. The firm’s report says Tesla isn’t a ‘green’ company because of this (incorrect) conclusion. There are likely plenty of reasons to invest in the electric car and solar panel maker, and certainly many reasons not to bet on Tesla, but the false claim of dirty cars isn’t one of them. Why did Morgan Stanley get the wrong answer? It’s hard to say because no underlying data is shown to back up Morgan Stanley’s assertions, so I can’t check their calculations. However, you are welcome to inspect ours; we wrote a report in 2015 comparing the emissions of electric cars and gasoline vehicles, and recently updated it with new electricity generation data. What are the global warming emissions from electric cars? The emissions that result from using an electric vehicle (EV) depend on part on where the vehicle is recharged, as electricity generation varies significantly across the United States. Based on where EVs have been sold so far, the average electric car generates global warming emissions equal to a 73 MPG gasoline car. Overall, over two-thirds (70 percent) of Americans live where driving an electric car would result in lower global warming emissions than even a 50 MPG gasoline car. Manufacturing emissions are small compared to savings during use Even when considering the emissions from the manufacture of the EV’s battery, EVs over their lifespan result in significant global warming emissions savings. Over the lifetime of a car the size of the Tesla Model S, the emissions savings are about 53 percent, when compared to a similar gasoline car. Electricity is getting cleaner, making EVs better over time Very few details are given in the article about Morgan Stanley’s analysis, however one of the few statistics given (regarding the fraction of electricity from fossil fuel in the U.S.) is wrong. Nationally, we currently derive about 65 percent of electricity from fossil fuel and only about 31 percent from coal, down from 50 percent in 2006. Both fossil-fueled electricity and coal generation have declined substantially over the last decade, making driving EVs cleaner. And as we increase the amount of renewable electricity in the U.S., driving on electricity can be even cleaner. Support from UCS members make work like this possible. Will you join us? Help UCS advance independent science for a healthy environment and a safer world.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9655898809432983, "language": "en", "url": "https://blogs.findlaw.com/law_and_life/2015/06/a-woman-on-the-10-bill-who-can-be-on-currency.html", "token_count": 503, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.294921875, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:5dc79922-8ce3-4589-b5bc-fd5c64f7417b>" }	Block on Trump's Asylum Ban Upheld by Supreme Court The 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, is coming up soon in 2020. A group called Women on 20s wants a woman to be featured on the $20 bill by then to commemorate the occasion. Is this legally possible? Earlier this year, Women on 20s (W20) started a campaign to put a woman's face on the $20 bill. You may have remembered the online voting campaign to decide which influential woman in our nation's history should be chosen. After more than 600,000 votes, Harriet Tubman was the winner. In May of this year, W20 petitioned the President to instruct Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Lew to design and authorize the new bill in time for the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage in 2020. While the President and Jacob Lew may be listening to the voice of the people, Jackson may have dodged a bullet. On June 18th, 2015, Lew announced that a woman will be featured on the new $10 bill instead of the $20. However, we do not know yet who the lucky lady will be. Who Can Be on Currency? Did you know that the law actually regulates who can be on currency? The law prohibits pictures of living persons from appearing on any government issued currency. More specifically for coins, the law states, "no coin .. may bear the image of a living former or current President or of any deceased former President during the 2-year period following the date of the death of that President." So, a President cannot be on the dollar coin or any other coin until 2 years after his death. This rule, which dates back to the Revolution, ensures that the United States would not look like a monarchy. This Won't Be the First Woman on Money Despite all the hullabaloo, women have been featured on money before. The first woman to be featured on a U.S. coin was Queen Isabelle of Spain on a commemorative coin cast in 1893. Before that, First Lady Martha Washington was the first woman to appear on paper money. Her portrait was featured on the $1 Silver Certificate in 1886 and 1891. Since then, Sacagawea, Susan B. Anthony, and Helen Keller have been featured on coins. So, who will be on the next $10 bill? We'll just have to wait and see.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9434601664543152, "language": "en", "url": "https://dyrasew.initiativeblog.com/part-iii-entrepreneurial-case-analysis-community-web-com-an-internet-firm-s-effort-to-survive-24251tw.html", "token_count": 870, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.06494140625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:5acb9709-6d4b-402f-a1f6-0c512acd52cf>" }	Since the studies of SchumpeterSolowor Nelson and Sidneyinnovation has been considered one of the major drivers of economic growth. Features are fairly straightforward, either a product has a feature or it doesn't. Benefits, on the other hand, are not as simple and should only be recorded based on customer feedback. For example, company B may claim in their company literature that their copier is fast, but a user may feel otherwise. Or, company B may indeed have a copier that by industry standards is fast, but you may have a copier that's even faster. Now, evaluate your competition's product or service. How does your product compare to your closest competitor's product? What features and benefits are unique to your product? The more unique features and benefits your product has, the stronger your market position will be. For example, if you produce and market an office copying machine that staples collated copies together and your closest competitor doesn't have this feature, you have an advantage. You can then sell the same market segment the benefit of added convenience and time saved. Evaluate your competitor's price. Just because you have the same products as other businesses, doesn't mean everyone has the same price. Your own production costs greatly impact your pricing. If your price for a similar product is higher than your competitor's, then your market position is weaker; and if it's lower, then your competitive position is better. A temporary price decrease by a competitor might indicate nothing more serious than a transient need to move excess inventory. However, a trend of lowered prices may indicate that your competition is doing it to gain market share and improve production costs. It could also mean your rival is in financial trouble and has been forced to lower prices. It's in this type of situation that rumors and gossip become helpful. If there are rumors that a company is in financial trouble and you discover price fluctuations, it's more likely that there are problems. Customer preference of products is only part of the analysis. There are internal operational factors which can provide a competitive edge as well. Your competitors' products may not have the high quality of yours, but they might offer free delivery; or their employees might be extremely motivated and committed to gaining market share. You need to learn how they are doing on the inside. Some factors to consider: Financial resources — Are they able to withstand financial setbacks? How are they funding new product development and improvement? Operational efficiencies — Are they able to save time and cost with clever production and delivery techniques? Product line breadth — How easily can they increase revenues by selling related products?Economics Homework. HW # STUDY. PLAY. A study conducted by the Moscow-based management consulting firm Strategy Partners found that average labor productivity in Russia is only 17 percent of labor productivity in the United States. These managers are spending the money of the firm's shareholders rather than their own money. Why is competitive intelligence important to entrepreneurial firms and how large of a role should it play in the start-up and continual running of a. This solution explains the usefulness of competitive intelligence for entrepreneurial companies. The sources used are also included in the solution. understanding of a competitor firm's. Case studies Introduction A summary of the case analysis process C-2 Preparing an effective case analysis – the full Case analysis is an essential part of a strategic man- priate strategic actions help the ﬁrm to survive in the. Part Iii Entrepreneurial Case Analysis Community Web Com An Internet Firm S Effort To Survive PART III: ENTREPRENEURIAL CASE ANALYSIS COMMUNITY initiativeblog.com: AN INTERNET FIRM’S EFFORT TO SURVIVE QUESTIONS AND POSSIBLE ANSWERS 1. Part of a salesperson's job is to get customers to discuss problems they have with a competitor's product. Customers will also reveal your competition's product benefits, strengths, and . Financial Segment XXX XXX Part 3 Entrepreneurial Case Analysis: initiativeblog.com: An Internet Firm's Effort to Survive XXX Introduction XXX Formation of the Initial Business initiativeblog.com XXX Building the Organization and Its Product XXX The Founders and the Management Team XXX Business, Industry, and Economic Conditions XXX The.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9754509329795837, "language": "en", "url": "https://famouspublicity.com/financial-education-at-four-years-old/", "token_count": 765, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.01165771484375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:5bf45b37-5f5c-4791-8e45-d17786b489a7>" }	“Will your child be earning money or stars?” Oh gosh, I don’t know. Is she too young to be thinking in terms of actual pounds? Dollar signs in the eyes for every sock that’s picked up and returned to its rightful place? Stars are a lot friendlier. Stars are kind, helpful, considerate… not driven by the promise of cold, hard cash. But then that’s not really the point, is it? Apparently, our money habits are set by the age of seven years old. I was very surprised by this too. Compared to school friends and favourite toys, I would’ve thought that the notion of finances would be way down the list of things for a seven-year-old brain to process. But by the age of seven, children are able to recognise the value of money and appreciate that it can be earned and exchanged for goods. At seven, children are also able to plan ahead, delay decision making and realise that some choices are irreversible. These are core habits and behaviours that can continue to influence our relationship with money as adults. Although this survey was conducted in 2013, there has been a growing call for the basics of a financial education to be taught in schools. The question is, how do you talk to children about money? Becoming a parent or carer doesn’t automatically qualify you as financially literate. I would say that a sizeable proportion of us just muddle our way along. Personally, it was only the discovery of Martin Lewis’s Money Saving Expert website that really opened my eyes to the financial options that were available to me. The language and explanations were accessible when for so long financial talk had seemed like a foreign language. Financial decisions can be some of the most important that we ever make yet society seems to assume that we are all working from the same baseline knowledge. Could financial education in schools prove a means to narrow the wealth divide? Equipping young people not only with the knowledge of how to avoid unnecessary debt on poor terms, but with confidence in how to grow their money through sensible investments? At the moment some financial education is included in the curriculum for secondary schools as part of Citizenship and Maths. This is meant to include an understanding of budgeting, credit and debt, and savings and pensions. However, a poll carried out last year as part of the Young Person’s Money Index report found that 82% of students wanted to receive more financial education at school. Nearly three-quarters said they get most of their financial understanding from parents and other family members. This is all to say that I was in the process of downloading “Rooster” onto my phone, “a pocket money manager, piggy bank, reward chart and chores app”. It’s designed for kids aged four years and up in order to help them manage their pocket money by divvying it up between pots they can “spend”, “save”, “give” or put aside for “goals”. Younger children can instead be rewarded with stars. At the other end of the scale, older kids can get their hands on a Rooster card. This acts a little like a prepaid debit card with no risk of going overdrawn. The basic app is free although those with older kids may find that they need the in-app purchases for the extra functionality. The aim is for kids to build good spending and savings habits from an early age. In the end I did decide to opt for money over the stars. Luckily time is on my side and small change is just as exciting as pirate treasure!
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9431794881820679, "language": "en", "url": "https://spiceislandbeauty.com/uses-for-xjf/archive.php?17ea42=similarities-between-cost-accounting-and-management-accounting", "token_count": 1483, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.021484375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:d7842122-5139-461d-a5aa-d0d07632daf2>" }	Both financial accounting and cost accounting focus on ways to improve company performance. The difference lies in the groups of people that use the information. Financial accounting and management accounting play an important part in accounting information system. Accounting for Management: Difference Between Financial and Managerial Accounting, Accounting Coach: Introduction to Financial Accounting. Thereafter, it analyzes and interprets the data to prepare reports and provide necessary information to the management. Jennifer VanBaren started her professional online writing career in 2010. Financial accounting is a compilation of historical financial data. Ask a Question. Similarities between job order costing and process costing systems can be summarized as follows. Similarities between Bookkeeping and Accounting Accounting and bookkeeping might seem similar to an inexperienced individual because both accountants and bookkeepers deal with the financials. Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Managerial accounting deals with the use of accounting information to managers in the organizations and cost accounting also deals with the same goal. This includes forecasting, creating budgets and planning future projects. Technically, their roles and duties rarely overlap, as the two professionals work in tandem to ensure business financials are accurate and up-to-date, and the financial health of your business is carefully monitored. Although there is some overlapping in the areas of cost accounting and management accounting, the two are not synonymous. Managerial accounting deals with the preparation of budgets to determine the allocation of the resources and cost accounting also deals with determining the costs allocated to various operations. Information which financial accounting provided on the funding, costs, profits and other information is very important for business management. Management accounting takes help from cost accounting and financial accounting, but it also uses tools like balanced scorecards and other charts to measure the qualitative aspects of the business. Would You Cheat If You Know You'd Never Get Caught? What Is The Difference Between Book-keeping, Accountancy And Auditing? Accounting and auditing are very important for an organization. A primary reason that this information is important is to make future decisions for the company. Both types of accounting separate accounts into categories consisting of assets, liabilities, equities, revenues and expenses. She holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting and finance from St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Ind. Similarities Between Financial Accounting and Management Accounting Financial accounting focuses on external services, but internal services is also included. On the other hand, cost books are prepared in cost accounting system from data as received from financial accounting at the end of each accounting period. Serve a Function -listed... What Are The Different Branches Of Accounting? cost accounting provides the basic information for both management and financial accounting.The similarities between government accounting and financial accounting is … They are separately carried out by internal employees and independent third party respectively. Primarily he is responsible for the determination... How You Comparison Between Cost Accounting And Management Accounting? This information is provided through financial statements. It uses the information that may usually not be … There are, obviously, certain similarities between Financial Accounting vs Management Accounting – let us have a look at the key difference between Financial Accounting and Management Accounting: Both, Financial Accounting vs Management Accounting are a part of the main Accounting … Managerial accounting deals with the preparation of budgets to determine the allocation of the resources and cost accounting also deals with determining the costs allocated to various operations. The key difference between bookkeeping and accounting lies in the fact that bookkeeping keeps a record of all the financial records, whereas accounting interprets, analyzes, and summarizes the financial records. Similarities between Accounting and Bookkeeping To an amateur, accounting and bookkeeping may sound as the same profession because both work with financial data. Should I Date Him? With both types of accounting, future plans are created based on historical information. Financial accounting is designed for external purposes and consists of recording financial transactions according to generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. Both also refer to a general ledger; which is a book that tracks all financial transactions in various accounts. Didn't find the answer you were looking for? 2) Both the accounting streams are not a legal requirement. Management Accounting vs Cost Accounting Management accounting and cost accounting are of great importance to any business, as both forms of accounting help in the decision making process when analyzing how best to allocate a company’s scarce resources. Similarities between financial and management accounting Financial accounting focuses on external services, but internal services is also included. Financial accounting and management accounting are almost similar but difference lies in the usage of... What Is The Difference Between Financial Accounting And Cost Accounting? The key difference between Cost Accounting vs Management accounting is that Cost accounting is gathering and analyzing the information related to cost which provides only the quantitative information to the users of the reports whereas Management Accounting is the preparation of the financial as well as non-financial information i.e., it involves both quantitative and qualitative information. Managers use The accounting related to the producing information which is used by the management of the company is management accounting. Management accounting can develop base on financial information, making management accounting information to facilitate regulation, control, and decision making. Difference Between Cost Accounting, Financial Accounting And Managerial Accounting? that management finds useful. Cost Accounting provides quantitative information only. For example, both types of accounting base information on debits and credits. Therefore, both accounting fields help the organizations in decision making. the useful life of an asset, going concern assumption, etc. Accounting involves the preparation of budgets and plan as well as cost accounting, financial accounting, management accounting etc. WritePass - Essay Writing - Dissertation Topics [TOC]IntroductionFinancial AccountingManagement AccountingManagement accounting has the following concepts:Bibliography Introduction In this essay I will be talking about the differences and similarities between financial and management accounting and how they are used to communicate a business’s financial information to … Cost Accounting - In management accounting, cost accounting establishes budget and actual cost of operations, processes, departments or product and the analysis of variances, profitability or social use of funds. Bookkeeping and accounting are usually used as synonyms, but both of them have different functions. Financial Accounting is the process of recording revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities which are generally connected with the running business enterprise.Management Accounting has been defined by the Association of Centrified and Corporates Accountants as, Draw for me model showing differences and similarities of cost and management accounting. Similarities Between Management Accounting & Financial Accounting K.A. cost accounting provides the basic information for both management and financial accounting.The similarities between government accounting and financial accounting is … With a bookkeeping record, the management of a business cannot make vital business decision, as it would not reflect the financial position. Moreover, cost accounting is a part of managerial accounting and all concepts used in cost accounting are derived for the managerial purposes. Similarities between financial accounting and management accounting... What Effect Do Current Technology Changes Have On Managerial Accounting? This information is given to external parties, such as stockholders, investors and lending institutions. They deal with the financial transactions of the company. Differences between Cost Accounting and Management Accounting Management accounting and Cost accounting differ from one another. Much information which management accounting required is from financial accounting, while financial accounting also put the established budget, … Accounting is generally divided into two main types: financial accounting and cost accounting, a part of managerial accounting. 2020 similarities between cost accounting and management accounting
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9829129576683044, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.carrentalgateway.com/glossary/bootstrapping/", "token_count": 164, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.353515625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:194128da-3d7c-4ab0-b421-ed8b34386506>" }	In business, bootstrapping refers to a business model where a company’s founder builds up their company with little or no external funding. Most or all of the funding comes from their own finances. This business model has its advantages and disadvantages. With bootstrapping, the entrepreneur has full control over their business and products. This means that they can steer the business in a direction that is in line with their vision. In addition, they don’t need to buy it out from the investors. However, relying on their own resources means that the entrepreneur has to be able to cover all the costs with the business income. The chances to fail are quite high and growth can be difficult. All in all, bootstrapping is hard work, but at the day’s end might be worth it.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9210478663444519, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.nperspective.com/business-resources/insights/covid-19-accelerating-digital-transformation/", "token_count": 954, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.04150390625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:19d1cd2a-fe62-453f-ae0a-96899e3ad55f>" }	The COVID-19 pandemic is causing businesses to reconfigure offices and factories to allow for social distancing among employees, rethinking guidelines about working from home, refinancing debt, conserving cash, and controlling costs. Another “lesson being learned” is the strong push by businesses to accelerate digital transformation. What is Digital Transformation? Digital Transformation is the act of revolutionizing business processes to take advantage of digital technologies, with the intent to change, improve, enhance and replace existing business processes. It is the adoption of digital technology to transform services by replacing non-digital or manual processes with digital processes or replacing older digital technology with newer digital technology. Digital solutions may enable automation and new types of innovation and creativity, rather than just merely enhancing and supporting traditional methods. A major focus of digital transformation has been in improving the “customer experience;” by using digital technologies to impact how customers interact with businesses and their products and improve how they serve the needs of their clients, not by just making minor incremental improvements as new technologies become available, but by dramatically changing how things get done. One example of digital transformation is the use of cloud computing. This reduces the reliance on large capital investments in user-owned hardware and it allows access to the latest applications at any time, enabling faster deployment of resources. In addition, reliability is one of the biggest benefits of cloud computing, enabling employees who are working on the premises or at remote locations to easily access all the cloud features with uninterrupted service. Through digital transformation, businesses across all industries are becoming more application-centric with the goal of moving faster, boosting efficiency, and securely delivering the digital customer and employee experiences the market demands. In application-centric networking, success is determined by the end user’s experience with an application. One of the best metrics to measure that success may be application responsiveness. While the pace of change differs by organization, most digital transformation journeys follow a similar path: Phase 1: Automating individual tasks to improve efficiencies by transforming information technology and business processes. Phase 2: Integrating those discrete automated tasks and taking advantage of cloud-based infrastructures to scale the process with coordinated activities. Phase 3: Harnessing and analyzing data from application services to provide actionable business insights that prevent loss, predict capacity, optimize resources, and increase revenue. What to Consider When Going Digital? Digital transformation can increase sales and profits by increasing product quality, customer satisfaction, and workforce diversity while reducing environmental impact. But to achieve performance gains, the following areas must be addressed: - Infrastructure: Technology-related assets and capabilities must focus on cybersecurity and data privacy. - Data: Siloed, unused data on products/services and operations should be collected and analyzed with the objective of increasing efficiency, revenue growth, and customer engagement. - Talent and Skillsets: Training and recruiting programs should be revamped to allow quick access to talented labor sources. - Outside Resources: The organization must have access to external business partners, such as research and development groups, tech incubators, and startups, where they can find resources such as technology, intellectual property, and people. - Organizational Processes: Workflows should be updated and expanded to deploy best practices for human and technological capabilities. - Customer Experience: Digital and human customer interactions should be coordinated company-wide to ensure a seamless customer experience. - Business Model: Business models and revenue streams should be optimized and expanded to ensure the business is able to adapt to changing economic environments and market conditions. What are the Drawbacks of Digital Transformation? Change is uncomfortable, and organizations can be resistant to embracing a new approach to business operations and the technologies that facilitate such changes. There is usually a learning curve and a requirement for retraining that some employees battle, lacking the willingness, patience or capability to master. Change management strategies must be arranged to ensure adaptation of digital transformation. If not properly rolled out, digital transformation can be rocky, with problems and glitches creating unhappy customers and employees. Success requires significant paradigm shifts and executive sponsorship to drive company-wide buy-in. Banks have moved teller services online and manufacturers are rethinking their business model and distribution channels. The e-commerce model is ratcheting up in importance and has become an important distribution channel. The shift has been fueled by tremendous growth in e-commerce business activities. The increase in online sales has highlighted the need for speed, adaptability, and agility of the e-commerce model. COVID-19 took the digital transformation roadmap and escalated it by at least a decade, proving that embracing technology allows businesses to be nimble when paradigm shifts in the marketplace occur.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9465631246566772, "language": "en", "url": "https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/219/", "token_count": 950, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.130859375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:1c050740-2261-497c-8231-8113e9bed21f>" }	Agriculture sustainability is considered a pillar for a country’s economic stability, and equally, Family Owned Businesses (FOBs) are considered a primary factor that contributes to the economic growth of a country, especially when 40% of the country’s GDP are considered FOBs. However, various studies have stated that a large percentage of Family Owned and Controlled Businesses (FOBs and FCBs) have not been successful with their generational transition process, thus affecting their sustainability. In addition, sources also stated that the agriculture sector in Egypt has been facing challenges throughout the past 60 years due to various factors, leading several FOBs in the agriculture farming business to face sustainable succession difficulties, which often results in the deterioration of the agricultural filed in the Egyptian economy. Hence, researching the area of sustainable succession of FOBs in the agriculture-farming sector in Egypt is a crucial area for research given the lack of available data on the mentioned subject and the lack of attention this sector is receiving. With reference to the definition of family business as “a business governed and/or managed on a sustainable, potentially cross-generational basis” (as cited in Smyrnios et al., 2013, p. 267), there are various factors that contribute to the success or failure of the succession of FOBs worldwide of which governance is positioned on the top of the factors list since there is an evident lack of good strategic management planning for succession and the know-how of its application. Therefore, this thesis aims to investigate the long-term continuity of FOBs in the agriculture-farming sector in Egypt while analyzing factors that contribute to their sustainable succession. The adopted research model in this thesis is Joseph Alex Maxwell’s Qualitative Research Design approach utilized to conduct the research and data analysis. The study examines the literature that investigated FOB succession; the nature and idiosyncratic culture of FOBs, the factors affecting family owned businesses succession, and the practices and procedures implemented for generational transitions, in an attempt to answer the research question of What are the factors that contribute to successful succession in agriculture-farming family owned businesses in Egypt, causing them to become sustainable? Six agriculture-farming FOBs case studies were investigated through in-depth semi-structured interviews, along with four interviews conducted with experts from the field to validate the acquired information from the cases, to help formulate an understanding of the succession factors taking place, and provide solutions and lessons learnt that would serve as insights to the generational transition and sustainable succession of FOBs in the agriculture-farming sector in newly reclaimed lands within the Egyptian economy. The data gathered from the field was analyzed through coding and then grouped into the identified categories from the literature and field study. The research has found that there are several factors contributing to the current succession practices within agriculture-farming fobs that fall under three primary identified criteria; 1) preparation level of successor; which includes the successors’ educational and technical background, trainings and external experience as well as the successors’ involvement in the business and upbringing (Nurturing and Apprenticeship), 2) Social and Cultural Norms: Successor’s gender and the planning, management and control activities, 3) Successor’s Individual Characteristics: personal traits and interests (passions) as well as the opportunity cost. MS in Sustainable Development Committee Member 1 Ramzy, Omar (Co- Advisor) Committee Member 2 Yousri, Mohamed (Examiner) The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy. Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval Approval has been obtained for this item (2017).The sustainable succession of family-owned businesses in the agriculture-farming sector in Egypt [Master's Thesis, the American University in Cairo]. AUC Knowledge Fountain. Aboulmagd, Sara Khaled. The sustainable succession of family-owned businesses in the agriculture-farming sector in Egypt. 2017. American University in Cairo, Master's Thesis. AUC Knowledge Fountain.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.94120192527771, "language": "en", "url": "https://mmbiztoday.com/food-more-affordable-accessible-in-most-countries-biggest-gains-in-myanmar-egypt/", "token_count": 379, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": -0.2119140625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:a856efc0-589f-4672-a94c-d94767e83630>" }	Food has become more affordable and accessible in most countries over the past year due to investment in agriculture and infrastructure, falling global food prices and economic growth in most regions, a leading research group said. Two thirds of the 109 countries surveyed in the 2015 Global Food Security Index which measures the affordability, availability, quality and safety of a country's food supply saw improvements, the Economist Intelligence Unit said. Egypt, Myanmar, Azerbaijan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Togo made the most progress partially due to more affordable food and reduced political tensions. Ukraine, Sierra Leone, Honduras and Mozambique faced worsening food security mostly due to economic instability and rapid urbanisation, the report said. The gap between the most and least-food secure nations has narrowed because of falling prices for grains, sugar and dairy products and more government investment in safety net programmes and monitoring, the report said. Countries once rocked by chronic hunger, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa, are seeing gains due to investments in crop storage facilities and other infrastructure, said Lucy Hurst, director of the Food Security Index. Reducing supply chain problems means more food gets to hungry residents and countries become less dependent on outside aid, she said. “Countries will continue to benefit from the combination of economic growth and food prices that are at their lowest level since 2010,” Hurst said in a statement. “However, economic growth is necessary, but not sufficient to reduce hunger; policies, the right investments and partnerships are equally important.” Researchers warn that global population growth – from 7.2 billion in 2013 to a projected 9.6 billion in 2050 – will put increasing pressure on food markets. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that global food production will need to grow by 70 percent to meet the new demand. (Thomson Reuters Foundation)
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9092473387718201, "language": "en", "url": "https://nam.edu/beyond-survival-the-case-for-investing-in-young-children-globally/", "token_count": 19500, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.0791015625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:a9cdccd5-74cb-4e71-8c45-bae5df86740c>" }	Beyond Survival: The Case for Investing in Young Children Globally Investing in young children (The UN defines the early childhood period as beginning prenatally through age 8) globally is a primary means of achieving sustainable human, social, and economic development, all of which are vital to ensuring international peace and security. Strategic investments in children have been recognized by the world’s leaders in their recent adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to further peace, end global poverty, and ensure that all human beings can fulfill their potential in dignity (United Nations, 2015). For the first time, early childhood development is acknowledged as a critical part of the global development agenda. Although child development is explicitly referenced under the new education goal, it is naturally linked to other goals—reducing poverty, improving health and nutrition, promoting equality for girls and women, and reducing violence (United Nations, 2015). Indeed, coordinated, evidence-based investments must be made across sectors to ensure that more and more children not only survive but also thrive. This paper is a call to action, informed by science from multiple disciplines. We hope it will help to close the gap between what is known and what is done to support the development of children globally and, in turn, sustainable progress for communities and nations. The cost of inaction is enormous (IOM/NRC, 2014). Currently, an estimated 5.9 million children die before their fifth birthday (UNICEF, 2016); 159 million children under age 5 are stunted (UNICEF, 2015); at least 200 million children fail to reach their developmental potential each year (Grantham-McGregor et al., 2007); and 1 billion children experience violence annually (Hillis et al., 2016). As a result, countries lose up to about 30 percent in adult productivity every year (Grantham-McGregor et al., 2007). Meanwhile, return on investments during the prenatal and early childhood years average between 7 and 10 percent greater than investments made at older ages (Carneiro and Heckman, 2003). Although there are other opportunities to enhance human development, cost-effective strategic investments made during children’s early years can mitigate the deleterious effects of poverty, social inequality, and discrimination, ultimately resulting in long-lasting gains that reap benefits for children and youth, families, communities, and nations (Carneiro and Heckman, 2003). Over the course of the last two decades, this knowledge has begun to infiltrate U.S. domestic policy and programs (IOM, 2000). Yet, investing in young children’s developmental potential has been a more difficult proposition to sell in some U.S. foreign assistance policy and program circles. The science is clear—and globally applicable—and successful programs have been piloted and brought to scale, both within the United States and internationally. Early investment in young children’s development appears to trigger a multiplier effect, with positive outcomes ricocheting across multiple sectors over the long term. Nevertheless, the compelling case for investment continues to be lost in translation. The U.S. government spends more than $30 billion on foreign assistance (According to ForeignAssistance.gov, $33.9 billion is planned in foreign aid in fiscal year 2017. The website offers a breakdown of expenditures by sector and country) and has been at the front line of cutting-edge investments in development for decades. Still, many policies and programs—not to mention the funding to support them—have not kept up with the science that underscores the critical importance of investing early and holistically to ensure healthy and productive lives and communities. Currently, U.S. government foreign assistance remains fragmented, with little focus on or cross-sectoral funding for holistic child development and with limited mechanisms in place to ensure effective coordination across sectors. Without a proactive effort to integrate programs for young children, harmonize implementation, and synchronize the measurement of results, program and outcome siloes are created, and an important opportunity to maximize results for children is lost. Young children’s needs and risks are multidimensional. Tackling one issue at a time, divorced from a more complex reality, is ultimately a disservice to time- and resource-strapped vulnerable families. Young children require integrated support, including health, nutrition, education, care, and protection. The science explains why. By turning attention and resources toward coordinated investments and delivery platforms, it is possible to close the gap between what is known and what is done to support young children globally. Beyond Survival: Expanding the Vision Evidence-based, results-oriented, coordinated, and effectively monitored international development assistance works. The success of the “child survival revolution” is an important example. In the past two decades alone, child deaths have fallen dramatically, from 12 million in 1990 to 5.9 million in 2015 (UNICEF, 2016). This significant progress is largely due to strategic investments, high-impact interventions, and tools for child survival, notably new vaccines and improved health care practices. Shared targets and coordinated interventions on the part of global public and private partners have ensured that the momentum is maintained. The success of the child survival revolution is inextricably linked to the focused attention and dedicated funding it has rightfully received for decades from the global development community and donors, including the U.S. government. In 2014, total global development assistance for maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) was approximately $9.6 billion, around $1 billion less than the amount provided for HIV/AIDS. Of this total, $3.0 billion was allocated to maternal health. The other $6.6 billion focused on child health activities. Since 1990, the U.S. government has consistently served as the largest source of development assistance for global health. Across MNCH sources, the United States was the origin of 20.8 percent of all MNCH funding in 2014, 72.1 percent of which was channeled through U.S. bilateral aid agencies. Other channels in receipt of substantial U.S. government support for MNCH were UN agencies (8.8 percent, or $177 million), nongovernmental organizations and foundations (7.4 percent, or $148 million), and Gavi, the vaccine alliance (8.9 percent, or $179 million) (IHME, 2014). Despite this sustained investment and hard-earned progress in reducing preventable childhood deaths, approximately 200 million children under age 5 survive, but fail to thrive. This figure represents 30 times the number of children who die before they reach their fifth birthday and is a population requiring urgent attention (GranthamMcGregor, 2007). Spending early childhood in the midst of extreme poverty and experiencing significant deprivation, violence, and/or neglect results in devastating consequences throughout the life cycle and profound repercussions for society. These 200 million children live below the poverty line and/or are stunted. They attend school for fewer years—or not at all. They are disproportionately affected by violence and are more likely to be exploited. All these factors limit their future ability to live healthy and productive lives, obtain gainful employment, and contribute to their communities and families, perpetuating a multigenerational cycle of poverty. As a result, countries where these 200 million children live have an estimated 30 percent loss in adult productivity and are prone to instability and conflict (Grantham-McGregor, 2007). If we are serious about eradicating poverty and fostering equity, we must aim higher. Ensuring survival is a crucial first step, of course, but this should be our minimum standard for success. The campaign to save lives will be incomplete if the future prospects of those who survive remain constrained by factors that, with the right attention and focus, could be effectively addressed (Shonkoff et al., 2012). Indeed, improving outcomes for those who survive the scourge of childhood deprivation and illness should be seen as a compelling priority from the standpoint of human rights, sustainable economic and social development, and global security. The fact is, children develop holistically. As whole human beings, we do not first survive physically and then develop intellectually, socially, and emotionally. The processes of growth and development are by nature interrelated, interdependent, and mutually reinforcing. Yet, international assistance for children in developing countries is rarely holistic. As a foreign assistance community committed to achieving sustainable human, social, and economic development and international security, we have separated children according to the category of their vulnerability and intervened in line with sectoral predispositions, legislative mandates, and associated funding streams. Yet, this segregated, fragmented approach to sustainable development does not offer the greatest return on investment. Established and emerging science continues to demonstrate that to promote “child thrival” successfully, investments and services must be coordinated and integrated where possible, concurrently addressing the health, nutrition, development, education, and protection needs of children, beginning prenatally and, better yet, during the preconception period. (For instance, the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child is a multidisciplinary, multi-university collaboration committed to closing the gap between what we know and what we do to promote successful learning, adaptive behavior, and sound physical and mental health for all young children. Established in 2003, the council translates science to build public will that transcends political partisanship and recognizes the complementary responsibilities of family, community, workplace, and government to promote child well-being. See http://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/national-scientific-council-on-the-developing-child/. The Forum on Investing in Young Children Globally was launched in 2014. The forum is a 3-year effort that aims to integrate knowledge with action in regions around the world to inform evidence-based, strategic investments in young children. See http://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/activities/children/investingyoungchildrenglobally.aspx.) This knowledge can inform innovative strategies to address child survival and well-being across domains, leading to improved outcomes for children over the long term as they venture into adulthood in ways that did not exist even 10 years ago (Shonkoff et al., 2012). Focusing on integrated investments and interventions for children ages 0-8 aims to create a multiplier effect, building a solid foundation to support long-term development and scaffolding for opportunities across domains. Child survival can no longer be a sufficient goal. A moral and economic imperative exists to build on the successes of the last two decades and achieve a future for the world’s children that envisions healthy and productive lives beyond survival. From Neurons to Nations: Building the Architecture for the Future Frederick Douglass, an African American social reformer and statesman is said to have written, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” This statement not only sounds good; it is biologically true and sensible from an economic perspective as well. Major advances in neuroscience, molecular biology, genomics, psychology, sociology, and other fields have helped us to understand the significance of early experiences on lifelong health and development. To analyze what science tells us about this critical period, the National Academies’ Board on Children, Youth, and Families (See http://sites.nationalacademies.org/DBASSE/BCYF/index.htm.) established the Committee on Integrating the Science of Early Childhood Development in 1997. The committee was charged with reviewing what is known about the nature of early development and the role of early experiences and to discuss the implications of this knowledge base for policy, practice, and further research. From Neurons to Neighborhoods is the product of this two-and-a-half-year project during which a top-tier scientific committee analyzed and evaluated the extensive, multidisciplinary, and complex science of early human development (IOM, 2000). The committee examined how early experiences affect all aspects of development, from the neural circuitry of the growing brain, to the expanding network of a young person’s social relationships, to the enduring and changing values of the society in which caregivers raise children. The committee addressed the critical need to use knowledge about early childhood to maximize the nation’s human capital and to nurture, protect, and ensure the health and holistic well-being of all children. The committee’s work was the beginning of a sustained and concerted effort to bridge the gap between what is known and what is done to promote sound physical and mental health and successful learning for all young children in the United States. Following the impactful From Neurons to Neighborhoods consensus study, the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child was formed to generate, analyze, and integrate scientific knowledge to educate policy makers, civic leaders, and the general public about the rapidly growing science of early childhood development and its underlying neurobiology. Part of this effort has centered on building awareness on how early experiences affect the development of brain architecture, which provides the foundation for all future learning, behavior, and health. “Just as a weak foundation compromises the quality and strength of a house, adverse experiences early in life can impair brain architecture, with negative effects lasting into adulthood” (National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, 2007). Neural connections are made at a significant speed in a child’s early years, and the quality of these connections is affected by the child’s environment, including nutrition, interaction with caregivers (National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, 2004), and exposure to adversity, or toxic stress (National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, 2005/2014). As one commentator put it simply: “Childhood is not Las Vegas. What happens in childhood does not stay in childhood” (Eloundou-Enyegue, 2014). The experiences children have in their early lives—and the environments in which they have them—exert a lifelong impact. These experiences shape the developing brain architecture and influence how and what genes are expressed over time. This dynamic process affects whether children grow up to be healthy, productive members of society (National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, 2010b). This is not to suggest that compromised beginnings cannot be turned around. Indeed, children’s resilience is a powerful reality, achieved when protective factors—particularly a stable and committed relationship with a supportive parent, caregiver, or other adult—outweigh other risks (Masten, 2014; Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, 2015). The neurobiology of brain development clearly shows that it is easier, more efficient, and more cost-effective to build strong beginnings than it is to facilitate repairs later in life, when brain architecture is less malleable (see Figure 1). In addition to the important advances made in better understanding the neurobiological elements of early childhood, James J. Heckman, a Nobel Laureate in Economics, has shown that rates of return on investments made during the prenatal and early childhood years average between 7 and 10 percent greater than investments made at older ages (see Figure 2) (Carneiro and Heckman, 2003; Heckman, 2008). Heckman’s cutting-edge work with a consortium of economists, psychologists, statisticians, and neuroscientists shows that early childhood development directly influences economic, health, and social outcomes for individuals and society. His work has demonstrated how adverse early environments create deficits in skills and abilities that drive down productivity and increase social costs—thereby adding to financial deficits borne by the public (Heckman, undated). As a result of this growing knowledge, over the past two decades we have seen a nationwide groundswell of interest in the critical early years. “In many ways, the 1990s represented an awakening of federal action on child care and early childhood issues that had been slow to evolve in the earlier decades. Emerging evidence and important state and legislative action laid the groundwork for many of the policy issues and debates we see today” (Lombardi et al., 2016). There is now widespread recognition in the United States that what happens during the early childhood period can either contribute to children’s healthy development or set the stage for problems in school and throughout life, taking a long-term economic toll on individuals, families, communities, and even the nation. Bipartisan legislation supporting early childhood policies and programs has been passed in dozens of states, and nearly every state has some kind of early childhood agenda (Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, 2014). Following on progress made under previous administrations (Lombardi et al., 2016), President Obama noted the science of early childhood in several of his State of the Union addresses, making a clear connection between strategic investments in young people and the progress of our nation (Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, 2014). The president’s budget for fiscal year 2017 prioritizes early investments in children, including $1.2 billion to expand early intervention and preschool programs, $9.6 billion for Head Start, and $15 billion in new funding over the next 10 years to extend and expand evidence-based, voluntary home visiting programs, which enable nurses, social workers, and other professionals to support new and expectant parents (U.S. Office of Management and Budget, 2016). Unfortunately, these connections have not been emphasized or prioritized in U.S. foreign policy or assistance programs (U.S. Department of State, 2015; U.S. Office of Management and Budget, 2016). (The Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review provides a blueprint for advancing America’s interests in global security, inclusive economic growth, climate change, accountable governance, and freedom for all. As a joint effort of the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development, the review identifies major global and operational trends that constitute threats or opportunities and delineates priorities and reforms to ensure our civilian institutions are in the strongest position to shape and respond to a rapidly changing world.) Nevertheless, the science that has informed U.S. domestic policies and programs is now being examined at a global level. Of note, the National Academy of Sciences—established by an Act of Congress in 1863 and charged with providing independent, objective advice to the nation on matters related to science and technology—established a Forum on Investing in Young Children Globally in 2014. (See http://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/activities/children/investingyoungchildrenglobally.aspx) The forum, a collaboration between the Board on Global Health and the Board on Children, Youth, and Families, aims to integrate knowledge with action in regions around the world to inform evidence-based, strategic investments in young children. Its main objectives are to explore global integrated science of healthy child development through age 8; share models of program implementation at scale and financing across social protection, education, health, and nutrition in various country settings; promote global dialogue on investing in young children; and catalyze opportunities for intersectoral coordination at local, national, and global levels. Just as the National Academy of Science’s From Neurons to Neighborhoods considered the connection between investments in young children and the ability of American children, families, and communities to prosper, the organization is now dedicated to ensuring that decision-makers around the world use the best science and evidence for investing to optimize the well-being of children and their lifelong potential—from neurons to nations, (Jack Shonkoff (Harvard Graduate School of Education; Harvard Medical School; Harvard School of Public Health), Charles A. Nelson (Harvard School of Public Health), and Holly Schindler (Harvard Graduate School of Education) taught an undergraduate course titled “From Neurons to Nations: The Science of Early Childhood Development and the Foundations of a Successful Society.” See http://isites.harvard.edu/course/colgsas-81179.) so to speak. The convergence of the biological, developmental, and economic sciences continues to remind us that the clock is always ticking and the cost of inaction continues to rise as time passes (Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, 2014). Despite the fundamental principles of biology and human development—or, human capital formation (Heckman, 2007)—the critical importance of timely and integrated early intervention is often overlooked in our international development and child policies and programs. It is time that our programs, policies, and investments more closely correspond with the established science. It is the best and most cost-effective means to ensure that children, families, communities, and nations catch up with their developmental potential. Recognizing the Multidimensionality of Children’s Well-Being Investments in child health and well-being are a cornerstone for productive adulthood and robust communities and societies. Promoting healthy and holistic child development is an investment in a country’s future workforce and ability to thrive economically. Ensuring that all children, including the most vulnerable living at the margins of society, have the best first chance in life is a tried-and-true means to stabilize individuals, communities, and societies over the long term. Risk factors affecting healthy child development are complex and manifold, including undernutrition, toxic stress, and lack of access to life-saving vaccines, nurturing care, protection, and opportunities to learn (Evans et al., 2013; Wachs and Rahman, 2013). U.S. international assistance programs have typically focused on single risks or categories of vulnerability—for example, responding to the devastating impacts of HIV/AIDS or malaria, natural disasters or human conflict, exposure to violence, exploitation, or human rights violations such as child marriage. These diverse efforts to support and protect children have produced substantial benefits, though the diffused approach has also resulted in fragmented responses. Siloed interventions lead to siloed outcomes. By focusing on only a single element of the burden of risks, the effect on outcomes is diminished (Singer, 2014). Science has shown that coordinated, multifaceted, and evidence-based action can help ensure that children in adversity benefit fully from policies and services and achieve better outcomes over the long term (Boothby et al., 2012). Co-locating and integrating services where possible; maximizing home visiting programs to address issues related to health, nutrition, and parent-child interactions; and creating effective referral mechanisms to close gaps between sectoral interventions and providers go a long way in ensuring that vulnerable children and families have the support they need to succeed. Table 1 summarizes elements of a holistic package of services for young children and their caregivers. While many programs focus on particular intervention or sectoral areas, noting the interlinkages within and across sectors is critical to ensuring children’s well-being across domains. Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Science challenges the fundamental nature of programmatic stovepipes. For instance, there is growing international consensus within the public health community that early development is part of overall child health and is necessary for future prosperity. As far as long-term child outcomes are concerned, a narrow focus on child survival is insufficient. Maternal, newborn, and child health programs must also promote children’s developmental potential. In 2013, Dr. Margaret Chan, director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), emphasized three areas critical for healthy child development: (1) stable, responsive, and nurturing caregiving with opportunities to learn; (2) safe and supportive physical environments; and (3) appropriate nutrition (Chan, 2013). Indeed, many of the strategies that support child development are the same as those that prevent morbidity and mortality (Engle et al., 2011; Jensen et al., 2015). Such interventions enhance and are absolutely consistent with the child survival agenda. Primary and community health workers may be the first and only service providers to have contact with children during the first few years of life (Engle et al., 2013). Services targeting women and young children—family planning, prenatal care, safe birth practices, neonatal survival strategies, breastfeeding support, growth monitoring, immunizations—allow opportunities for introducing behaviors and practices that encourage healthy child development. As the WHO director general has stated, “The health sector therefore has a unique responsibility, because it has the greatest reach to children and their families during pregnancy, birth, and early childhood. The evidence is compelling to expand the child survival agenda to encompass child development” (Chan, 2013). Indeed, strategies to prevent mortality in the first month of life—deaths that account for about half of all deaths in children under 5 years—are significant not only for survival but also for human capacity. “Failure to improve birth outcomes by 2035 will result in an estimated 116 million deaths, 99 million survivors with disability or lost development potential, and millions of adults at increased risk of non-communicable diseases after low birth weight. In the post-2015 era, improvements in child survival, development, and human capital depend on ensuring a healthy start for every newborn baby—the citizens and workforce of the future” (Lawn et al., 2014, p. 9938). Foundations for healthy child development include many of the best practices that support child survival, including planned pregnancy and skilled assistance during childbirth; exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life followed by appropriate complementary and responsive feeding; timely diagnosis and treatment of infections and diseases; and preventive interventions, including vaccinations and regular check-ins with health care providers (Table 1). Nevertheless, these health practices, though critical for every child’s well-being, are insufficient on their own and must be reinforced with informed action across sectors (Chan, 2013). Recognizing the need to equip health care workers with skills to promote holistic and healthy child development, UNICEF and WHO together created Care for Child Development, a landmark intervention that was originally developed in the late 1990s as part of the regular child health visits as specified in the WHO/UNICEF strategy of Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (UNICEF and WHO, 2012). Since then, other initiatives have sought to integrate child survival, primary care, and child development, including Accelerated Childhood Survival and Development, Infant Young Child Feeding, and Maternal and Newborn Health Care. The Care for Child Development intervention provides information and recommendations for cognitive stimulation and social support to young children through sensitive and responsive caregiver-child interactions. It also guides health workers and other counselors as they help families build stronger relationships with their children and solve problems in caring for their children at home. These basic care-giving skills contribute to the survival, as well as the healthy growth and development, of young children (Elder et al., 2014). Efforts to strengthen the capacities of vulnerable families to meet their children’s health and developmental needs in the midst of poverty or serious threat suggest two pathways. The first requires improved access to and utilization of preventive health services and treatment. The second requires bolstering children’s protective factors and capacity for resilience. Both involve supporting parents’ and caregivers’ ability to respond appropriately to children facing deprivation or distress. “The biology of adversity and resilience demonstrates that significant stressors, beginning in utero and continuing throughout the early years, can lead to early demise or produce long-lasting impacts on brain architecture and function” (Shonkoff et al., 2012). The effects of early adversity on long-term health have been shown through the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study, one of the largest investigations ever conducted to assess associations between childhood adversity and later-life health and well-being (CDC and Kaiser Permanente, 1998). The study is a collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Kaiser Permanente’s Health Appraisal Clinic in San Diego. The ACE Study’s findings suggest that certain experiences are major risk factors for the leading causes of illness and death as well as poor quality of life (see Figure 3). Though the study has focused on the United States, it is critical to understanding how some of the worst health and social problems can arise as a consequence of adverse childhood experiences. Realizing these connections is likely to improve efforts toward prevention and recovery, including doubling up efforts to strengthen children’s protective factors. Children who manage, and even do well, in the face of serious hardship typically have developed an array of adaptive capabilities embedded in neurobiological function, behavioral skills, relationships, and cultural or community connections. Resilience is the result of a combination of protective factors, which can be enhanced through strategic investments, including building the capabilities of caregivers and strengthening the communities that together form the environment of relationships essential to children’s lifelong learning, health, and behavior (Center on the Study of the Developing Child at Harvard University, 2015; National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, 2015). Good nutrition is fundamental to child health and well-being, beginning with a mother’s nutritional status before and during pregnancy (UNICEF, 2013). Proper nutrition is a key element in combating child mortality and morbidity: approximately 45 percent of all deaths of children under the age of 5 in low-income countries are attributable to undernutrition (WHO, 2016). Beyond its role in ensuring survival, the association between nutrition in early life and long-term health has been of interest for decades (Bhutta, 2013). The biological and epidemiological linkages between various types of undernutrition (stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies) and impaired cognitive development in the early years is well established (Black and Dewey, 2014). Nutrition plays a key role in healthy child development, particularly in the early years as neurodevelopmental building blocks are being formed and nutritional needs are high (Ramkrishnan et al., 2011). The effect of poor nutrition on young children, particularly between ages 0–8, and most acutely during the 1,000-day period from conception to age 2 years, can be devastating and enduring, having serious implications for health, behavioral and cognitive development, future reproductive health, and future workforce productivity. Poor nutrition can lead to stunting, a condition that is defined as height for age below the fifth percentile on a reference growth curve. Stunting is used as a measure of nutritional status and serves as an important indicator for chronic undernutrition. Factors contributing to stunting include poor maternal health and nutrition before, during, and after pregnancy, as well as inadequate infant feeding practices, particularly during the 1,000 days from conception through a child’s second birthday (WHO, 1997). Stunting early in life seriously affects brain functioning and can cause permanent cognitive impairment. As a result, it has been associated with consequences that threaten equity throughout the life cycle, including diminished health, poor school performance and early termination, and reduced work capacity and future earning potential (Hoddinot et al., 2013). Malnutrition adds staggering health costs for already financially burdened countries. Early stunting has been used as an indicator, along with poverty, to estimate the number of children who are at risk for not reaching their developmental potential. Currently, nearly one in four children under age 5 worldwide is stunted. This massive burden poses serious threats to individual and community capacity for health, stability, and productivity. The vast majority of the 159 million children under age 5 who are stunted live in Asia and Africa (UNICEF, 2015). The good news is that global stunting prevalence has declined from nearly 40 percent in 1990 to 24 percent in 2014. Nearly 20 years of research has demonstrated that nutrition programs that are combined with health, water and sanitation, and child development interventions—emphasizing stimulating and responsive parenting—achieve greater immediate and long-term effects (Black and Dewey, 2014). A groundbreaking randomized controlled trial in Jamaica revealed that stunted children who received targeted nutrition interventions alongside support for parents had better outcomes than children receiving only nutrition interventions. A 20-year follow-up shows that the stunted Jamaican toddlers who received 2 years of psychosocial stimulation had higher IQs and experienced reduced anxiety and depression and less violence. Strikingly, their future earnings were 50 percent greater than the nonstimulated stunted group. In fact, their earnings were comparable to a nonstunted sample, indicating that the stimulation intervention enabled them to catch up to their well-nourished peers (GranthamMcGregor et al., 1997 and 2007; Gertler et al., 2014). In 2014, more than 80 leading researchers from multiple disciplines consolidated the existing evidence to advance knowledge concerning an integrated approach to improving both nutrition and early childhood development. The resulting collection of 20 articles provides a portrayal of the current state of the science linking brain development, psychology, nutrition, and growth, reviewing the impact and lessons learned from integrated interventions to improve outcomes across these domains (Black and Dewey, 2014). It is essential that current policies and programs take this learning into consideration and that funding is used to support evidence-based programming rather than unintegrated program siloes that sever children’s needs into separate and uncoordinated services. Early Childhood Care and Education Young children’s growth and development are profoundly shaped by nurturing care and opportunities for play, learning, education, and interaction with responsive adults—whether these occur at home, in out-of-home caregiving environments, such as child care centers, or in formal or informal child-centered spaces and educational settings in the community (Britto et al., 2013; Ginsburg, 2007). These early interactions lay the groundwork for developmental potential, including physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth. Skills required for schooling, employment, and family life build cumulatively on these dimensions of developmental potential. Indeed, nurturing early childhood care and education are fundamental to quality basic education and serve as a foundation for equity (Irwin et al., 2007). Significant disparities in early learning experiences for low-income children can set the stage for achievement gaps that persist through years of school and lead to a lifetime of missed opportunities, inequities, and even health challenges. Increasing access to quality early childhood care and education is considered an effective “equalizer” (Irwin et al., 2007). Research from developing countries shows that early childhood development programs lead to higher levels of primary school enrollment and educational performance, which in turn positively affect employment opportunities later in life. On the contrary, children who start school late and lack the necessary skills to be able to learn constructively are more likely to fall behind or drop out completely, often perpetuating intergenerational cycles of poverty (Engle et al., 2011). Studies show that the returns on investments in early childhood care and education are highest among poorer children, for whom these programs may serve as a stepping stone out of poverty or exclusion (Heckman, 2006). Despite the proven benefits of early childhood care and education programs, access and attendance remain very low in many developing countries, particularly for children from marginalized populations, including children with disabilities. Attendance in early learning programs among children ages 3 and 4 is less than 50 percent in the majority of countries with available data (UNICEF, 2016). Low attendance is related to limited access—a direct result of the lack of prioritization placed on early childhood programs—and associated minimal funding. Inadequate attention to the foundational early childhood period has affected global efforts to achieve basic targets in education. Fortunately, the previous lack of focus on early childhood development has been addressed in the post-2015 global development agenda. Target 4.2 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, announced in September 2015, states that, by 2030, “all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education” (United Nations, 2015). The challenges involved in achieving universal access to early childhood development programs are enormous, particularly given ingrained patterns of underinvestment in this area. The economic science is clear and compelling: investments in learning and development during the early years result in greater cost savings than investments made later in the life cycle (Heckman, 2008). According to the World Bank, high-income countries spend an estimated 1.6 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) on family services and preschool for children aged 0–6 years and 0.43 percent of GDP on preschools alone. By comparison, low-income countries tend to spend far less than 0.1 percent on preschools (Engle et al., 2011). Yet, even in resource-rich countries, developmental vulnerability increases as socioeconomic status decreases (Irwin et al., 2007). Increasing preschool enrollment rates to 25 percent could yield an estimated $10.6 billion through higher educational achievement, and a 50 percent increase could generate $33.7 billion (Engle et al., 2011). Such investments in preprimary environments yield even greater dividends when coupled with community-based health and nutrition programs and parenting support. Unless governments—including bilateral agencies—allocate increased resources to quality early childhood care and education programs, and, in particular, target children in the lowest economic quintile, economic disparities will continue and widen. Protection from Violence and Neglect Over the last few decades, knowledge has accumulated about how normative child development can be significantly derailed by exposure to violence and neglect, particularly when such exposure is repeated or chronic (Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, 2016). Science shows that early exposure to maltreatment can disrupt healthy development and have lifelong consequences (Cicchetti and Toth, 2016; Pollak, 2015). Research also shows that violence against women and children often co-occur and share common risk factors (Patel, 2011). Women who experience violence from their partners are more prone to depression and less likely to earn a living or provide consistent and nurturing care for their children (National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, 2002). Fortunately, effective strategies to prevent violence against women and children are becoming more fully understood and utilized (WHO, 2010; Bernard van Leer Foundation, 2011; KNOW Violence, undated). Child maltreatment includes experiencing violent discipline, witnessing intimate partner violence, and being neglected by caregivers (Hillis et al., 2015). Caregivers’ failure to provide sufficient and adequate nutrition, clothing, shelter, sleep, or medical care and to ensure that the child’s surroundings and activities are responsive, nurturing, and safe all constitute forms of neglect toward a child, leading to more severe deprivations over time. Research has demonstrated that healthy child development can be derailed not only as the result of physical or sexual abuse but also by the lack of sufficient quality experiences, nurturing, and opportunities to learn, particularly in the early years (Cicchetti, 2013). Despite neglect being, by far, the most prevalent form of child maltreatment, it receives far less public attention than physical or sexual abuse (Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, 2012). When caregiver or other adult responses to children are violent, erratic, inappropriate, or simply absent, developing brain circuits can be disrupted, affecting how children learn, solve problems, and relate to others (Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, 2012). Such experiences, particularly in the sensitive period of early childhood, can lead to lasting physical, mental, and emotional harm with long-term effects. Affected children are more likely to suffer from attachment disorders, regressive or aggressive behavior, depression, and anxiety. Child maltreatment and other adverse experiences can affect immediate and long-term health, cognitive function, and socioemotional well-being (Margolin and Elana, 2004; National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, 2010a). Violence and neglect often cycle through generations, negatively affecting individual and collective opportunities for productivity and health over many years. A first step in preventing violence and neglect is better understanding their magnitude, nature, and consequences. The CDC’s Violence against Children Surveys measure physical, emotional, and sexual violence against girls and boys. The surveys’ data have been released in eight countries, with data collection ongoing in several more (CDC, undated). In early 2016, the CDC released a groundbreaking report estimating the global burden of violence against children throughout the world. The study combines data from 38 reports spanning nearly 100 countries to calculate the number of children affected by violence in the past year. Conservative estimates of the data show that a minimum of 50 percent of children in Asia, Africa, and North America experienced serious forms of violence and that more than half of all children in the world—1 billion children ages 2–17 years—are victims of violence, subjected to regular physical punishment by their caregivers (Hillis et al., 2015). An estimated 275 million children witness domestic violence every year. Often, intimate partner violence tends to co-occur with the direct victimization of children (UNICEF, 2014b). Further exposure is detailed in a statistical analysis of violence against children released by UNICEF in 2014, shedding light on the prevalence of different forms of violence against children, with global figures and data from 190 countries (UNICEF, 2014b). Where relevant, data are disaggregated by age and sex to provide insights into risk and protective factors. The prevalence of violence experienced by children ages 0–8 is difficult to assess because much of the violence occurs within the privacy of individual homes, child care centers, and residential institutions, and thus is often hidden from public view. Caregivers committing violence against children are unlikely to self-report or seek help, particularly where violent discipline is a cultural norm or a social taboo. In lower-income countries, social services are minimal and underresourced, often ill-equipped to assess or effectively respond to violence against children. In addition, existing data-collection mechanisms lack age-appropriate diagnostic tools for children under 15 years of age (Bernard van Leer Foundation, 2012). Nevertheless, data show that the first year is the most dangerous period in a child’s life with respect to the risk to survival not only from neonatal causes but also from violence, abuse, and neglect (Da Silva e Paula et al., 2013). The economic costs associated with neglect of and violence against children can be broadly divided into two categories: direct and indirect. The direct costs are more immediate and easier to measure, including (1) health care costs associated with treatment of physical injuries and psychological and behavioral problems; (2) social welfare costs incurred for monitoring, preventing, and responding to neglect of and violence against children; and (3) criminal justice costs associated with ensuring that perpetrators are punished and that victims are protected. Indirect costs may be less obvious, but loom much larger. These include significant losses in future productivity arising from the negative and often irreversible impact that childhood neglect and violence have on child development and well-being. Adults who experienced violence and/or neglect in childhood have lower levels of education, more limited opportunities for employment, lower earnings, and fewer assets. The adverse experiences in early childhood significantly reduce human capital formation, with serious repercussions for individuals, families, and societies as a whole (Santos Pais, 2015; Berens and Nelson, 2015). Studies of costs associated with violence against children reference the proportion of gross national income/gross domestic product potentially lost due to expenditure on response, prevention, and productivity losses. Estimates vary depending on the types of violence studied and how comprehensively the direct and indirect costs are assessed. Even when these assumptions are taken into consideration, the lowest estimates at national, regional, or global levels indicate that costs range between 2 and 10 percent of GDP, representing a significant cost to national and global economies (Fearon and Hoeffler, 2014). One study estimates that the global economic impacts and costs resulting from the consequences of physical, psychological, and sexual violence against children can be as high as $7 trillion. This massive cost is higher than the investment required to prevent much of that violence (Pereznieto et al., 2014). We can take steps to protect the world’s children from violence and neglect. Data show that the following strategies are effective in preventing both: teaching positive parenting skills; economically empowering households; reducing violence and neglect through protective policies; improving health, child protection, and support services; changing the social norms that support violence; and teaching children social, emotional, and life skills. These strategies are based on CDC’s core package THRIVES (Hillis, 2015) and similar guidance from UNICEF and WHO (UNICEF, 2014a) and are in support of the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goal to “end all forms of violence against children” (Hillis et al., 2016). Violence prevention and response interventions have typically focused on school-aged children through programs in schools and communities. More can be done to empower actors across multiple sectors who provide services targeting young children and their families to play a key role in preventing maltreatment and neglect in children’s early and most formative years. Nevertheless, although the evidence clearly shows that “prevention pays,” current levels of spending on preventive and responsive actions in relation to violence against and neglect of children remain very low (Pereznieto et al., 2014). Families on the Front Lines: Supporting Caregivers To truly eradicate poverty and foster equity and to seriously put children at the heart of the global development agenda, we must recognize and support the critical role that families—which are, by nature, broadly defined—play in promoting children’s health, development, education, and protection. Services delivered to children—whether primary health and nutrition care, early childhood care and development, education, or protection—do not work in a vacuum. They are most effective when they consider the vital role of family in children’s lives and well-being. Without the consistent, nurturing and protective care of parents and caregivers, children’s well-being suffers across domains. Empowering Women, Supporting Children Women’s and children’s rights have been bifurcated by advocates and policy makers for decades, but in many ways they are indivisible in the real lives of many women and children. This is not to suggest that the promotion of women’s empowerment and children’s rights are entirely interchangeable. Whether seen as separate or complementary causes, it is important that children are not left out of the equation as workplace and economic productivity or women’s empowerment and well-being are promoted. The link between a mother’s education, health, nutrition, psychosocial wellness, safety, and socioeconomic status and her children’s well-being is inextricable. Maternal, newborn, and child health programs are therefore often co located. Yet, beyond the health sector, a gap begins to emerge between that which is done to promote women’s empowerment and that which is done to support children. For instance, quality and affordable child care is a critical part of advancing women’s full participation in economic, political, and civic life, yet it is often missing from policy discourse and program implementation. As any working parent can attest, quality child care is a critical link between efforts to promote employment opportunities and holistic child well-being, particularly for poor working families (Heymann, 2006). Pursuing fundamentally separate agendas for women and children can be a disservice to both. Indeed, labor policies that either facilitate or hinder working adults’ ability to balance work and caregiving responsibilities have a particularly large impact on women and children. Paid maternity—or, more preferably parental leave is a key first step, though caregiving does not end at infancy. Finding affordable and quality child care that meets the needs of children and working parents remains difficult worldwide, particularly in low-income countries. Huge gaps in access persist, quality is often substandard, and laws and policies to regulate care are often nonexistent or unenforced (Clinton Foundation and Gates Foundation, 2015). As a result, the number of young children who are left without adult care while their parents work long hours outside of the home continues to grow. This situation negatively affects the health, development, and safety of these children, impacting their future potential as well as the ability of working parents to be fully productive. According to results from UNICEF’s Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys, more than 17 percent of children under age 5 are left home alone or in the care of another child under the age of 10 (UNICEF, 2012). Poor families are more likely to leave a child in inadequate care than wealthier families, and children from the poorest families are two times less likely to attend an organized early childhood care and education program than the richest families (UNICEF, 2012). The Safety Net Improving workplace policies and child care opportunities is important but insufficient, especially for the poorest families who work as part of the informal economy where workplace policies are essentially irrelevant. When vulnerable parents and families are unable to cope on their own, broader systems of support are often necessary. Social protection systems are central to reducing poverty and can have a direct and positive impact on poor families by improving access to better health, more schooling, economic assistance, and skills building. Effective and well-functioning social service and child welfare systems are vital to a nation’s social and economic progress and are as important to global development programs as are strong health systems. Yet, in most low-income countries, these systems are understaffed and underresourced. The human resource constraint is critical. With proper investments and training, social service workers are able to help ensure that effective prevention and support services are available to the most vulnerable populations. Social service providers work to register births, connect families with essential services, prevent family-child separation, support alternative care, reunite families, provide critical psychosocial support, and link vulnerable families and parents with social protection schemes and economic strengthening activities (Global Social Service Workforce Alliance, 2015). Globally, researchers, policy makers, and program implementers have increasingly recognized that family strengthening for the poorest families is key to effective responses to ensure healthy and holistic child development and protection. Economic assistance is a core aspect of a family-strengthening approach. Household economic-strengthening interventions target the family as the beneficiary and include interventions that focus on increasing access to household savings, credit, income generation, and employment opportunities. For example, conditional cash-transfer programs provide money to poor families to target poverty and increase family capital contingent on caretakers engaging in certain target behaviors, such as sending children to school, taking them for health clinic visits, and ensuring vitamin supplements and nutritious food. There is promising evidence regarding the benefits of conditional cash transfer programs for families with young children (Elder et al., 2014). A review of nearly 50 published or publicly available randomized controlled trial research studies on household economic-strengthening interventions confirmed mostly positive effects on children’s outcomes, including improved nutrition status and increased enrollment in education (Chaffin and Mortensen Ellis, 2015). The review also illustrated how conditional cash transfers can have secondary and longer-term positive impacts on children beyond those stipulated in the conditions of the cash transfer, including reduced sexual activity in adolescence and lower levels of psychological distress. Still, implementation of cash transfer programs—whether conditional or unconditional—varies considerably, and mixed results from some programs require further consideration (Chaffin and Mortensen Ellis, 2015). Research has helped to identify a combination of interventions that effectively lift vulnerable households out of poverty and improve caregiving environments, resulting in positive and measurable outcomes for children across domains. The Ultimate Breakdown: Children Living Outside of Family Care When vulnerable parents and families do not have the resources to meet basic needs, the risk of child neglect and separation from the birth family increases. Extreme poverty and inadequate access to basic services have led to millions of children living outside of family care—in institutions, on the street, trafficked, or separated from their families as a result of conflict, disaster, forced labor, or disability (Maholmes et al., 2012). These children have largely fallen off the world’s statistical maps (Clay et al., 2011). For instance, there is currently no global data on the numbers of children living in institutions. Estimates range from 2 to 8 million, but the actual number of orphanages or residential institutions and the number of children living in them are unknown. Many institutions are unregistered, and underreporting is widespread. No international monitoring frameworks exist, and many countries do not routinely collect or monitor data on institutionalized children (Berens and Nelson, 2015). The fact is, we measure what we care about, and we care about what we measure. Given the inextricable links among data, advocacy, and strategic action—not to mention the extraordinarily negative effects of spending early childhood without the nurturing and protective care of a permanent caregiver—this kind of invisibility has real-life repercussions for the world’s most vulnerable children. Strengthening families must be a global priority if we are serious about promoting children’s well-being from survival to thrival. With inadequate investments in families, it will be impossible to reduce child morbidity and mortality, improve educational outcomes, and protect children from violence, exploitation, and abuse. Yet, despite the critical role families play in children’s lives, they receive short shrift in global development policies and programs. The one passing reference to “families” in the United Nation’s new sustainable development goals is a case in point (United Nations, 2015). It has been said that family is like oxygen—taken for granted until it is gone. Children do not fare well without at least one stable and committed relationship with a supportive parent, caregiver, or other adult. We cannot truly support children without investing in these relationships (Richter and Naicker, 2013). Protecting the Future Through Strategic Investment As global scientific and development communities continue to learn more about what works to promote children’s optimal health, development, and protection, there is growing recognition of the need to finance successful programs beyond the pilot stage and take them to scale at the national level. A funding gap to support comprehensive early childhood programs has existed for some time. Given the strong evidence base and “proof of concept,” it is time to close it (IOM/NRC, 2015). Improving investments in coordinated programs for children ages 0–8 requires harmonization across funding streams and sectoral siloes. Child development is multidimensional and therefore requires multisectoral investments. As a promising example, the World Bank has been increasing support for integrated early childhood programs in recent years. Between 2001 and 2013, it invested $3.3 billion in early childhood programs through health, education, and social protection programs targeting pregnant women, young children, and their families. The World Bank has also invested substantially in research and impact evaluations concerning programs for children ages 0–8, focusing on early childhood nutrition, health, and development and expanding the evidence base on effective, quality, and scalable interventions (World Bank, 2014; Denboba et al., 2014). In April 2016, the World Bank and UNICEF jointly launched a global alliance on early childhood development (Kim, 2016). Prioritization of early childhood development is also occurring on the U.S. domestic front, with U.S. tax dollars allocated to early childhood programs through the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services (U.S. Office of Management and Budget, 2016). Nevertheless, similar levels of attention and prioritization have yet to be seen in the realm of U.S. government foreign assistance programs. Indeed, U.S. international assistance to children is substantial and channeled through offices in multiple U.S. government departments and agencies—the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Health and Human Services, Labor, and State; the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); and the Peace Corps (U.S. Government, 2014). Yet, to date, limited funds have been set aside for early childhood development per se. Public Law 109-95, titled the Assistance for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act of 2005, was signed into law to promote a comprehensive, coordinated, and effective response on the part of the U.S. government to the world’s most vulnerable children (U.S. Congress, 2005). It calls for an interagency strategy and a whole-of-government monitoring and evaluation system. The act also establishes a special advisor, currently based at the USAID, but the position comes with no oversight or funding authority. In 2012, in accordance with Public Law 109-95, the U.S. government released the Action Plan on Children in Adversity, the first whole-of-government strategic guidance for U.S. international assistance programs (U.S. Government, 2012). The plan is grounded in evidence that shows that a promising future belongs to those nations that invest wisely in their children, while failure to do so undermines social and economic progress. It states that child development is a cornerstone for all development and therefore central to U. S. development and diplomatic efforts. The action plan seeks to achieve three principal objectives: (1) Build strong beginnings; (2) Put family care first; and (3) Protect children from violence, exploitation, abuse, and neglect. Multiple offices within 11 U.S. government departments and agencies agreed to specific actions to implement the plan. No dedicated funding was appropriated to implement the plan until fiscal year 2015. Since then, appropriations’ report language has suggested that approximately $10 million per year be directed toward its implementation. Annual reports to Congress suggest that multiple U.S. government offices contribute broadly to the plan’s objectives, though details related to inputs and outcomes are slim. One of the action plan’s strengths is its focus on measurable results, specifically achieving significant reductions in the number of children not meeting age-appropriate growth and developmental milestones; children living outside of family care; and children who experience violence or exploitation. Despite these laudable goals, it would appear that few U.S. government programs are tracking these outcomes (U.S. Government, 2014). U.S. government appropriations continue to provide robust support for important global health, nutrition, and education programs (Kaiser Family Foundation, undated), though none of the corresponding funding directives includes language to support investments specifically in early childhood development. The one exception is the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has a 10 percent setaside for Orphans and Vulnerable Children’s (OVC) Programming, which has historically promoted integrated programs for children affected by HIV and AIDS. In 2016, House report language recommended that PEPFAR integrate the action plan’s “Strong Beginnings” objective into programs for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. In addition, Senate report language directed that up to $20 million of OVC program funds be used for children living outside of family care (U.S. Congress, 2015b). The lack of explicit reference to the importance of integrated and coordinated cross-sectoral investments in early childhood development in funding directives and strategies for the U.S. government’s foreign assistance portfolio has meant that such activities are not prioritized or do not occur at all. Despite significant investments in maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition programs and the synergies that exist between such investments and child development outcomes, the USAID’s Bureau for Global Health, which is home to maternal and child health and nutrition programs, currently does not track funding, programming, or outcomes related to early childhood development (U.S. Government, 2014). Nor has early childhood development been included in the USAID’s education strategy (USAID, 2011). In a more hopeful vein, the USAID’s nutrition strategy recognizes the important linkages between appropriate nutrition and the holistic growth, health, and development of young children (USAID, 2014). A similar lack of prioritization exists within other U.S. government international assistance programs. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which does significant work to prevent child morbidity and mortality, has received no appropriations to continue its important work conducting Violence against Children Surveys or to implement its corresponding program, THRIVES. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development supports important research related to child health and development, but there is currently no established feedback loop to ensure that science is informing U.S. government international programs and policies. Of note, the Department of State has no office, ambassador, or other high-level appointee to represent global children’s issues. (The State Department’s Special Advisor for Children’s Issues oversees intercountry abduction and adoption only.) As a result, those attempting to deliver integrated programs for young children at the country level are left to stitch together a patchwork quilt of funding from separate and uncoordinated donor sources. This has serious implications for programmers who are committed to providing comprehensive services to the most vulnerable households and families. It also creates complications for those attempting to measure and assess the overall impact of U.S. government international assistance to young children. A Concluding Call to Action With its significant investments in international development, the technical expertise and research capabilities embedded within key agencies, and diplomatic outreach, the U.S. government is well-positioned to lead and mobilize around a sensible and strategic global agenda for young children. Child development is, after all, one of the world’s greatest challenges in scope, scale, and impact. 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{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9230557084083557, "language": "en", "url": "https://wechangeforlife.org/2019/04/24/estelle-cantillon-research-director-fnrs-and-professor-of-economics/", "token_count": 542, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.0242919921875, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:fb47cae3-e1dd-417b-91e7-4b21f8d3902f>" }	Université Libre de Bruxelles / Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management / Economics The translation of this testimony was generated automatically by a translation program. Thanks for your understanding. Challenges for economic research: Economists have long studied the effectiveness and efficiency of different policy instruments (taxes, subsidies, standards, cap-and-trade schemes, …) to reduce the environmental impact of economic activities. Climate change requires a more fundamental shift of our system of production and consumption. I think the three main research challenges for economists from this perspective are: - Fair transition: There are many ways to reduce emissions: Which ones impose the least costs on Society? How do we design transition paths that are effective and socially fair (both within generations and across generations)? - Measurement: Effective policies need accurate data on economic activities. Right now, we can more or less accurately compute the carbon footprint of production activities but have a harder time to measure the carbon footprint of supply chains and therefore the carbon footprint of our consumption. Such distortions in measurement lead to carbon leakage (where firms outsource the carbon-intensive component of their production, with no decrease in global emissions), reduced effectiveness of policies, and misdirected investments. - New forms of economic governance: System change requires different modes of public intervention from the usual policy instruments (taxes, standards, …) aimed at addressing market failures. The main challenge is one of coordination of all stakeholders – firms, States, individuals. This is a role which States are less used to and not appropriately equipped for (regulatory agencies are typically sectoral). Individual action and barriers: From an individual perspective, we have long adopted different behaviours at home to reduce our environmental footprint. In terms of mobility, we do not have a car and use bikes for our daily commute, we spend our vacation in Europe and avoid planes. In terms of energy, we have switched to a green electricity producer, have isolated our house, installed thermal solar panels, and reduced the ambient temperature to 19 degrees. In terms of consumption, we have significantly reduced our meat consumption, we avoid packaged food and bring our own bags and containers to stores, we compost, and avoid over-consuming material goods. My profession leads me to travel abroad on a regular basis. I have made it a rule to systematically look for alternatives to planes and typically use the train for travels that last less than 8 hours. I am also increasingly using video-conferences to avoid trips. The main challenge I encounter is the lack of information about the (life-cycle) carbon footprint of different options. Originally posted 2018-05-02 02:26:00.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9458458423614502, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.ferrarieventi.it/2021/03/16/short-term-financing-pay-day-loans-as-danger-4/", "token_count": 858, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.1552734375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:a02a0834-abd9-4e3c-a49b-c19d0dd427ee>" }	While research now regularly links customer financial debt with undesirable psychological wellness results, certain kinds of financial obligation and their effect on measures of real wellness are underexplored. This space in knowledge is significant because various types of loans and financial obligation could have various qualities that are experiential. In this paper, we give attention to a form of credit card debt – short-term/payday loan borrowing вЂ“ which includes increased significantly in current years in the us and is seen as a predatory, discriminatory, and defectively regulated lending techniques. Making use of information from a research of financial obligation and wellness among grownups in Boston, MA (n=286), we test whether short-term borrowing is connected with a variety of psychological and real wellness indicators. We discover that short-term loans are connected with higher human anatomy mass index, waistline circumference, C-reactive protein amounts, and self-reported outward indications of real wellness, intimate wellness, and anxiety, after managing for all socio-demographic covariates. We discuss these findings inside the contexts of regulatory shortcomings, psychosocial anxiety, and racial and financial credit disparities. We claim that in the wider context of credit card debt and wellness, short-term loans is highly recommended a certain risk to populace wellness. Concerns stay, nevertheless, in connection with mechanisms by which financial obligation might influence health insurance and which areas of debt are most crucial. These concerns are complicated by the selection of ways that financial obligation is conceptualized, calculated and operationalized within the literature that is epidemiological. Across studies, unsecured debt is examined as an amount that is absolute ratio pertaining to earnings or assets (Berger and Houle, 2016, Clayton et al., 2015, Drentea and Lavrakas, 2000, Hojman et al., 2016, Walsemann et al., 2016), along with an indebted state (existence or absence of financial obligation, home loan delinquent, or self-reported financial obligation problems) (Alley et al., 2011, Bridges and Disney, 2010, Brown et al., 2005, Drentea and Reynolds, 2012, Jenkins et al., 2008, Lau and Leung, 2014, McLaughlin et al., 2012, Pollack and Lynch, 2009, Reading and Reynolds, 2001, Zurlo et al., 2014). Other measures mirror the fact only a few financial obligation is equivalent when it comes to its implications that are socioeconomic. For instance, while many financial obligation is seen as a marker of economic stress, a house home loan is collateralized (secured) and reflects a pre-requisite degree of investment finance and financial security needed seriously to secure the mortgage. Residence mortgages as well as other secured personal loans consequently, unless delinquent, may be better seen as kinds of money that correlate favorably with other socioeconomic indicators than as possibly wellness harmful financial obligation. Certainly research indicates that while foreclosure risk is connected with illness (Alley et al., 2011, Brown et al., 2005, Lau and Leung, 2014, McLaughlin et al., 2012, Pollack and Lynch, 2009), personal debt, instead of mortgage financial obligation, is often an even more reliable predictor of wellness results (Berger and Houle, 2016, Brown et al., 2005, Clayton et al., 2015, Kalousova and Burgard, 2013, Zurlo et al., 2014). Beyond the nearest moneytree loans difference between secured and personal debt, it is also argued that the many types that financial obligation may take have possibly distinct experiential and wellness implications. Student education loans, by way of example, represent huge monetary burden for brand new university graduates, but are additionally (in concept) assets in the future making prospective and social money in the shape of a level. Charge cards aren’t collateralized and that can carry interest that is high and costs, but can be utilized to smooth over periods of home monetary trouble or uncertainty. All debts aren’t equivalent, therefore, nor also always internally coherent, when it comes to their socioeconomic meaning and effect. There is certainly therefore a need that is strong explore in greater level the different kinds that financial obligation may take as well as the ways that their definitions and relationships with wellness can vary greatly.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.963508129119873, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.firstanguilla.com/forming-a-private-foundation/", "token_count": 1097, "fin_int_score": 4, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.044189453125, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:6cd215a6-2f57-4982-bbad-a3dc3480b084>" }	Foundations are generally non-profit organizations that are funded with the goal of philanthropy. There are just about as many foundations as there are causes that need funding. Foundations could offer scholarships to students that meet certain criteria or help to fund hospitals; they could provide aid to underprivileged groups or poverty-stricken regions. The goal could be replanting areas of deforestation, working to save endangered species, or educating the public about global warming. Whatever the cause or philanthropic goal, you could create a foundation to fund it. There are also different structures for foundations. For example, many corporate entities elect to start corporate foundations as a means of better directing their philanthropy and ensuring all applicable tax incentives. Many wealthy individuals, families or small businesses seeking to gain similar benefits decide to form private foundations. What makes them unique is that they tend to have a single, primary donor and they are managed by their own board of directors or trustees. What separates private foundations from public ones is that they seek no additional donations. Instead, they earn money to continue funding the foundation through investing the initial donation, after which earnings may be distributed annually via charitable or commercial activities, preserving the initial donation for further investment. But why would a family or business want to participate in forming such a foundation? How would one go about setting it up? Here are a few things you need to know. Why Form an Offshore Private Foundation? There are several good reasons to form a private foundation. First and foremost, it provides an opportunity for targeted philanthropy. The funds generated by a private foundation can either be funneled into charitable activities directed by the foundation or they can be gifted to other charitable organizations that are already doing the type of philanthropy the foundation supports. For families or businesses that wish to retain some measure of control over how the foundation’s money is directed, a private foundation can offer more opportunities than its public counterpart. There are also financial benefits to be gained, of course. Individuals, families, and businesses with excess wealth may be interested in philanthropy not only because it makes them feel good to help others, but also because there are potential tax incentives to be gained in the process. Instead of giving money to the government for taxes, many would rather see those funds go to those in need. Notably, not all foundations engage in philanthropy. Frequently, foundations are used for estate planning and asset protection purposes. Creating a foundation makes smart financial management sense, entrepreneurs take advantage of foundation benefits such as minimizing estate taxation liability, creating sustainable employment for family members as well as, ensuring the continuity of their business after death. There are other ways to protect wealth. One need only to seek out a trust company in Anguilla to learn about viable options. However, forming a private foundation serves two goals. It can offer both financial and spiritual benefits to founders. How to Get Started Just like forming an offshore company, a foundation begins with doing some research. You’ll probably want to start by hiring an experienced Trust Manager such as First Anguilla Trust Company Limited to guide you through the process and make sure you set up the foundation appropriately. You’ll need to decide on the amount of the primary donation, how the money will be invested, and the vehicle for fund disbursal (either through directed activities or gifts to other charitable organizations). In addition, you must create bylaws, select a board of trustees, and set award criteria. You’ll also need a plan for managing funds. Before you create a trust to protect your money, you have to find a reputable trust company in Anguilla to help you. The same principle applies to starting a private foundation. With proper guidance, you can ensure a successful undertaking. Why Choose Anguilla? One good reason to form an offshore private foundation in Anguilla is the relatively low costs. There could be any number of costs associated with forming and maintaining an offshore private foundation, depending on where you choose to set it up. Foundations established in Anguilla require government registration fees of $500-700 US, plus annual $500 fees. You’ll also need a minimum of $10,000 to fund the foundation, as well as whatever fees are required by the agent handling the formation of the foundation. Of course, you could pay a lot more to form and manage a private foundation elsewhere. In the U.S., for example, private foundations must pay an annual excise tax of 1-2% of earnings, which could amount to a lot more than a few hundred dollars. Additionally, in Anguilla, you have the option of creating a Registered or Deposited Foundation. Foundations that pursue commercial trade and/ or have by-laws which provide for this are called Registered Foundations and details including purpose, assets, beneficiaries etc.must be entered in a public register. However, foundations that do not engage in commercial activity simply deposit the deed at the registry. Consequently, a high degree of privacy is provided. In addition, those who form foundations in Anguilla can expect the same flexibility, confidentiality, security, and protection they receive from their trust company in Anguilla. This is good news for any individual, family, or business looking to ensure that their endowment is properly managed and that funds are granted according to their wishes.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9346312284469604, "language": "en", "url": "https://open.lib.umn.edu/informationsystems/chapter/6-1-introduction/", "token_count": 686, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.2578125, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:446a7055-58db-48b7-a1e4-2b712515b561>" }	After studying this section you should be able to do the following: - Define network effects. - Recognize products and services that are subject to network effects. - Understand the factors that add value to products and services subject to network effects. Network effects are sometimes referred to as “Metcalfe’s Law” or “Network Externalities.” But don’t let the dull names fool you—this concept is rocket fuel for technology firms. Bill Gates leveraged network effects to turn Windows and Office into virtual monopolies and in the process became the wealthiest man in America. Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, Pierre Omidyar of eBay, Caterina Fake and Stewart Butterfield of Flickr, Kevin Rose of Digg, Evan Williams and Biz Stone of Twitter, Chris DeWolfe and Tom Anderson—the MySpace guys—all of these entrepreneurs have built massive user bases by leveraging the concept. When network effects are present, the value of a product or service increases as the number of users grows. Simply, more users = more value. Of course, most products aren’t subject to network effects—you probably don’t care if someone wears the same socks, uses the same pancake syrup, or buys the same trash bags as you. But when network effects are present they’re among the most important reasons you’ll pick one product or service over another. You may care very much, for example, if others are part of your social network, if your video game console is popular, if the Wikipedia article you’re referencing has had prior readers. And all those folks who bought HD DVD players sure were bummed when the rest of the world declared Blu-ray the winner. In each of these examples, network effects are at work. Not That Kind of Network The term “network” sometimes stumps people when first learning about network effects. In this context, a network doesn’t refer to the physical wires or wireless systems that connect pieces of electronics. It just refers to a common user base that is able to communicate and share with one another. So Facebook users make up a network. So do owners of Blu-ray players, traders that buy and sell stock over the NASDAQ, or the sum total of hardware and outlets that support the BS 1363 electrical standard. - Network effects are among the most powerful strategic resources that can be created by technology-based innovation. Many category-dominating organizations and technologies, including Microsoft, Apple, NASDAQ, eBay, Facebook, and Visa, owe their success to network effects. Network effects are also behind the establishment of most standards, including Blu-ray, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Questions and Exercises - What are network effects? What are the other names for this concept? - List several products or services subject to network effects. What factors do you believe helped each of these efforts achieve dominance? - Which firm do you suspect has stronger end-user network effects: Google’s online search tool or Microsoft’s Windows operating system? Why? - Network effects are often associated with technology, but tech isn’t a prerequisite for the existence of network effects. Name a product, service, or phenomenon that is not related to information technology that still dominates due to network effects.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9163131713867188, "language": "en", "url": "https://solutionlibrary.com/business/human-resources-management/scheduling-resources-and-budgeting-3e7t", "token_count": 118, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.126953125, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:7f3015cd-0335-4941-809c-ddca5fd24b85>" }	Scheduling, Resources and Budgeting Task: Select a project and complete the following: - Identify all of the costs involved in the project. Label the costs as either direct costs, project overhead costs, or general and administrative overhead costs. - Develop a time-phased budget for the project. What will be the cumulative cost of the project? - Identify areas in the budget where cost cutting can be made if needed? - Identify and assess one major and one minor risk inherent to the project. Develop a contingency plan for each of these risks.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9508170485496521, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.ifcreview.com/articles/2013/january/mauritius-making-a-platform-for-business-to-africa/", "token_count": 2551, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.2392578125, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:29377240-1da8-4c10-a42b-50989c7777f8>" }	When Mauritius achieved independence some four and a half decades ago its main industry was sugar, which accounted for some 98 per cent of foreign earnings. Today it represents less than four per cent of GDP, while manufacturing (mainly textile and clothing) accounts for 18 per cent, tourism nine per cent, and financial services 15 per cent (of which global business is five per cent). Its economy has grown in spite of the handicaps arising from its small size, its relative geographic remoteness from its main markets and sources of supplies, and despite having no natural resources. Its development model was based on a foundation that was made up of economic diplomacy on the international front, and continuous public-private sector dialogue domestically with a clear understanding that there will be a social welfare net for the vulnerable groups in terms of free education, healthcare, and old age pensions amongst others. Economic diplomacy was directed towards ensuring market access for products and services from the island: the Sugar Protocol, which provided a guaranteed price and quantum to the European market, the Lome Convention, which gave access to exports and which catalysed the take-off of the Export Processing Zone (EPZ), the African Growth and Opportunity Act for access to the US market, and 36 Double Taxation Avoidance Treaties to support the development of a financial services industry. From independence in 1968, however, Mauritius positioned itself squarely in Africa. It leveraged its colonial past and bilingualism to become a member of the now defunct OCAMM (Organisation Commune Africaine, Malgache et Mauricienne), which held a Heads of States Summit on the island in 1973. It also joined the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which held its Heads of States summit here in 1975. Later it was part of the East African Preferential Trade Area, which became the COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) and in the 1990s it joined SADC (Southern African Development Community). In 1995 Mauritius was also one of the seven founder members of the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative, which became the Indian Ocean Rim- Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) and now has 19 member states. The secretariat is in Mauritius. Interestingly, the coat of arms of the republic of Mauritius still has the motto: Stella clavisque maris indici (the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean) -this is the main reason it was first colonised. With the opening of the Suez Canal, it lost some of its strategic importance. However, with the advent of new technology and improved communications, its position in the international time zone (GMT+ 4) that allows it to straddle part of business hours in the East and the West, Mauritius has the ambition to be once more the star and key of the Indian Ocean. The drive to be part of groupings emanates from the recognition that the continued growth and development of the island depends crucially on access to markets. Africa has always been considered as its natural hinterland. But the unstable political situation in Southern Africa, which delayed the economic take-off of the region did not provide the expected pull for the Mauritian economy. In fact, there was a belief that ‘the flying geese model of development’ of the Asian tigers, which had Japan as the lead goose would be replicated in this part of the world; unfortunately this has not materialised – so far! Now, as Africa becomes the centre of attention of the developed world and emerging countries because of its wealth of natural resources, Mauritius is in a strategic position to facilitate cross-border investment into Africa. Why? Definitely the network of DTAs (the two latest signed with Kenya and Nigeria) and IPPAs does help. More important is the fact that Mauritius can offer integrated services as the ITES/BPO sector is well developed and is servicing global business ( Mauritius was ranked fourth in Africa in The AT Kearney Global Services Location Index, 2011 ). In addition, it ranks well in most competitiveness and doing business indices. The ease of doing business is borne out by the fact that there are 13 international banks in Mauritius today and some 10,000 global business companies, many of them facilitating business into Africa - as the two case studies below demonstrate. Case Study: Funding for African Agriculture Growth This case shows how the presence of an international bank (Barclays) in the Mauritius IFC has facilitated the raising of capital for and the financing of an agricultural project that has a funding requirement of over US$1.0bn on a yearly basis. Barclays’ (BB) client is Africa’s leading entity engaged in the agriculture sector. The customer has benefited from Barclays ‘ONE AFRICA’ strategy, where Barclays Ghana and Barclays Mauritius partnered in providing a solution through a consortium of banks where Barclays Ghana plays a leading role with support from Barclays Mauritius. Each bank has leveraged on its strength showcasing an excellent team work and the capacities of Barclays ‘ONE AFRICA’ network. This co-operation was made possible for two reasons. The first has to do with country strength. Mauritius being a reputable IFC attracts investors which helps build in the liquidity/treasury base of banks. This muscle (obviously foreign currency – US$ in here) allows the banks to assist in providing financial assistance to such big corporates. The same scenario is applied with various other multinational corporates banking within Barclays’ network. The second reason is Barclays specific. BB Mauritius is a branch of BB Plc, UK whereas BB Ghana is a subsidiary. Hence, the ‘single borrower’s limit – SBL’ (which is a cap on lending capacity) does not apply here while BB Ghana is limited in its lending capability as it is a subsidiary. BB Mauritius muscle is equivalent to BB Plc London given the branch status. There is an internal arrangement in Barclays whereby BBM and BBG can use their strength to assist customers and keep these same customers within the Barclays network. Mauritius as a Headquarter Location for Pan-African Firms As a new era dawns on the African continent, African entrepreneurs with international know-how and expertise are beginning to bring in tailored solutions to real African problems. One such solution has been the introduction of an innovative pre-paid payment solution in seven West African countries to address the needs of a stratum of the population that does not have access to banking facilities. Indeed, the charges imposed to maintain a bank account in a number of African countries by practically all retail banks have made access to banking facilities a reserved of the elite. The solution proposed by the operator enables the transfer of money or payment of utility bills electronically - even if the payee does not have a bank account or bank card or not even a mobile phone. The operation occurs through accredited agents such as the local post-office or shopkeepers which utilise a pre-paid card to enable transactions on behalf of clients. A commission is paid by the client for each transaction, which is shared amongst the agent and the operator. The operator established its headquarters in Mauritius in February 2011, whilst maintaining operational subsidiaries in most of the countries in which it is operating. The choice of Mauritius has been motivated by the fact that the island nation provides an eco-system conducive for business structuring, professional services and technology-enabled development and deployment. As one of the most prominent International Financial Centres of Africa, Mauritius offers tax-efficiency coupled with access to international banks, law firms and accounting and audit practices. As one of the leading outsourcing destination in Africa, Mauritius enables the provision of shared services in a cost effective, process optimised manner by bilingual (French / English) professionals. The operator headquarters is organised as a group of companies engaged in the following activities in Mauritius: Mauritius is well connected to Africa through the SAFE , LION and EaSSy Cables. The operator has decided to take advantage of this and to further enhancing its operations in Mauritius through hosting of its main servers in a data centre in Mauritius. All point of sale terminals are connected to these central servers, thus ensuring accessibility, reliability, security and stability of operations. The group runs its back-office and reconciliation activities in Mauritius. This enables invoicing and billing of clients in a timely manner. The availability of bilingual professionals is a major advantage which allows the group to manage a central billing centre for both English and French speaking Africa. Mauritius offers a good platform for central treasury management. First and foremost, there is no exchange control on foreign exchange on both entry and exit. Banks offer the ability to effectively manage sub-accounts in practically all hard currencies from a single main account. This allows the group to maintain its revenue in dollars and euros thus considerably reducing the risk of exchange rate fluctuations. Relocation of Key Personnel Mauritius allows professionals to be work and reside on the island through a single occupational permit. This is delivered in an expeditious manner with minimum administrative burden. The group has relocated its key personnel for the development and maintenance of its technology platform in Mauritius. IT Applications Development The group has an office in Mauritius which acts as a development centre for the technology platform. The latter is structured in a separate global business company such that it can effectively be marketed as a product in its own right. Holding of the Intellectual Property Rights Mauritius currently has the appropriate legal framework, which allows a business idea and concept to be protected. The model adopted is a central registration of the Intellectual Property which could be effectively licensed as royalties to other operators in Africa. Employment of Staff and Wealth Management Given that the group operates in many countries at once and employs staff who have to roam from one country to for operational and marketing purposes, all employment contracts are emitted by the holding company in Mauritius. A split contract arrangement allows salaries to be paid in the countries of operation as well as the bank accounts of the employees in Mauritius. The staff therefore have sophisticated instruments in the financial centre of Mauritius to manage their wealth. The payroll is run centrally in Mauritius avoiding single granular operations in each country of operations. Signing of Partners The group recently signed a contract with a leading Point of Sale (PoS) manufacturer. The contract enables the deployment of PoS in many more markets in Africa without capital investment from the group and with a revenue sharing mechanism thereafter. By signing the contract from the Mauritius companies, the group ensures that the laws of Mauritius become applicable. The hybrid legal framework of British Common Law and French Code Civile in force in Mauritius, ensures that the contract will be valid in all African countries. Furthermore, Mauritius is now a place for international arbitration with a dedicated international arbitration centre. Any dispute during the course of the engagement of the two parties can be effectively resolved in Mauritius in a very cost efficient manner. Sales and Contract Execution The group signs its contracts with its accredited agents through a global business company in Mauritius. By doing so, the group effectively is liable to a maximum corporate tax rate of three per cent. The fact that the operations are in several countries means that the contracts need to be managed in a central location. Centralisation of the sales, marketing, and contracts management operation in Mauritius enables the group to recognise its revenue in Mauritius and thus benefit from very efficient taxation. The retained earnings resulting from this consolidation process allows the group to envisage expansion in other African countries. Corporate and Project Financing As part of its vision to become a pan-African operator, the group is constantly looking for additional financing and investors. Private equity investors find it proper to enter at the Mauritius holding level. The company law in Mauritius enables easy allocation of different types of shares to additional investors. The financial operating system in Mauritius also enables efficient and tax free exit of the investors whenever the time is proper. The operator has structured its investment in various subsidiaries through Global Business Companies in Mauritius. This provides a number of fiscal advantages in view of the fact that there is no capital gains tax and no taxes on dividend distribution in Mauritius. Thus at the time of partial or full exit of the shareholder(s) from the company, there will be full exemption on capital gains irrespective of the value created in the company. Nikhil Treebhoohun CEO, Global Finance, Mauritius
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9270958304405212, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.nwbiotech.co.uk/single-post/2014/10/05/will-the-global-need-for-antibiotics-outpace-that-for-profit-margins", "token_count": 852, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.30078125, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:b4456729-be3d-4eb1-8204-7f8bff36f022>" }	Will the Global Need for Antibiotics Outpace that for Profit Margins? On the 30th of April 2014, the World Health Organisation (WHO) released an analytical report following an in-depth investigation on the effect of antibiotic resistance across a panel of 114 countries. The report lays emphasis on seven bacteria responsible for common infections, which have quickly evolved to pose a threat to human life due to the development of antibiotic resistance. One of the key findings of the report was the assertion that there has been little or no global scientific development for new antibiotics spanning over the last 25 years. This understandably raises concerns on the need for scientific innovation, as there is limited antibiotic development on the horizon. The dismal effects of antibiotic resistance are felt worldwide thus making it a global malaise. Focusing on the European Union, this accounts for 25,000 deaths per year, 2.5 million extra hospital stays with an annual fiscal cost of €1.5billion. The WHO report highlights the need for policy makers and industry to help tackle the resistance by fostering innovation, research and development of new drugs. Promoting cooperation and information sharing among all stakeholders will ultimately support this cause. As stated by Dr Jennifer Cohn from Doctors Without Borders (MSF), this report should serve as a “wake up call to governments to introduce incentives for industry to develop new, affordable antibiotics that do not rely on patents and high prices and are adapted to the needs of developing countries.” A general, albeit wide-eyed, consensus reveals that the lack of antibiotics is neither a medical nor pharmaceutical problem, but rather an economic one. It is of key importance to note that there is no consistent difference between the costs of developing an antibiotic as compared to a cardiovascular or diabetes medication. However, the argument arises because of the lower return on scientific investment, as antibiotic research generates relatively lesser revenue. In view of these dilemmas, the appropriate industry, as well as government hierarchies need to reset their priorities so as to directly allocate more resources for key areas of research and development that lack obvious investment return. This could be in the form of greater incentives and higher subsidies for pharmaceutical bodies and/or general public outreach regarding the relevance of antibiotics in day-to-day health. The Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) is engineering a related proposal by bringing together key personnel in academia, biotech organizations and pharmaceutical companies. Through these collaborations, mostly government-funded, notable enterprises such as GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca and Sanofi will begin research towards antibiotic resistance. Janssen Global Public Health, a branch of Johnson & Johnson set up in August 2013, is a similar rising entity focused on fostering collaborations to harness the best scientists and partners to tackle neglected diseases and unmet medical needs whilst ensuring sustainable and affordable access to such treatment. Such investments in research aimed to improve the lives of humans with little or no profit-seeking motives are highly credible, but can they be sustainable? The Northwest Biotech Initiative’s first event of the year will bring together prominent stakeholders in the biopharmaceutical industry, academia and global health sector to discuss an eminent concern: “Will the global need for antibiotics outpace that for profit margins?” In this discussion led by NBI, an expert panel is invited to elucidate on their perspectives of the task at hand as well as plausible solutions to ensure that these initiatives on the rise remain sustainable. With increasing recognition of the antimicrobial resistance crisis, we discuss how to make these drugs an attractive prospect to pharmaceutical companies and what the future holds for treatment of infectious diseases. On Wednesday, 15th October 2014 at 5:30 PM, the Northwest Biotech Initiative will host the following panel of speakers at the University of Manchester: Professor Jayne Lawrence (Kings College, London and Chief Scientist of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society) Dr Richard Bax (Senior Partner, TranScrip Partners) Dr Keith Williams (KW Drug Developments & Boyd Consultants) Dr Andrew Ratcliffe (Head of Chemistry, Redx Anti-Infectives) For more information on how to join the discussion, please register for the event here.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.946381151676178, "language": "en", "url": "http://www.healthycellsmagazine.com/articles/every-one-of-us-deserves-a-decent-and-affordable-place-to-call-home", "token_count": 1647, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.2265625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:ed6aa5b2-eec9-4022-aa6c-6fe1dec83a67>" }	Submitted by Habitat for Humanity—Greater Peoria Area More than 18 million households—1 in 6—are paying more than half of their income on housing and are considered severely cost-burdened, as of 2019. The largest share of these households includes 9.5 million renters earning less than $30,000 per year and 5.4 million homeowners earning less than $30,000. The latest data also shows that nearly 38 million households are spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing. This burden often means families have to make tough decisions on whether to spend the remainder of their income on health insurance, groceries, child care, better schools, or reliable transportation. That $30,000 each year will not cover everything. The United States is experiencing high rates of housing unaffordability because rising rents and persistently high home prices overrule the slow gains in income. Overall, rents were up another 3.6 percent in 2018, and home prices were near their highest levels since 1980, adjusting for inflation. Add to the mix that we’re building far too few new homes, including too few starter homes for sale, and a miniscule number of modestly-priced apartments and it becomes increasingly evident that there is a housing crisis at hand. In the face of what some are calling an “affordable housing crisis”, Habitat for Humanity is already taking action. Habitat for Humanity Greater Peoria Area is a local affiliate of the Habitat for Humanity International organization, who has been building affordable housing since 1976. That year, in Americus, Georgia, Millard Fuller began the organization that is now known world-wide for its boots to the ground approach to creating a world where everyone has a simple, durable, safe, and dignified place to live. A once small organization has stayed true to its Christian values and humble roots, but grown to serve in all 50 states and in 70 different countries. Habitat for Humanity is fiercely dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally through construction, rehabilitation and preservation of homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. Their work is founded in the conviction that decent shelter in decent communities should be a matter of conscience and action for all. At Habitat for Humanity, housing is a basic human right. For the last 30 years, Habitat Greater Peoria has been partnering with local families who live in substandard housing. These families apply for a homeownership program that requires three things: - Sub-standard housing and financial need - Ability to pay an affordable and interest-free Habitat mortgage - Willingness to partner for 250-500 sweat equity hours to prove their dedication to the program The organization believes education is a powerful tool in improving the quality of life for partner families. That is why Habitat for Humanity Greater Peoria Area requires that families attend 21 homeownership classes, 12 of which are focused on financial management and debt counseling. Partner families are given the support, education, and resources they need to become strong, independent and empowered homeowners. Habitat for Humanity is an equal opportunity housing organization and serves people in need of decent housing regardless of race or religion. Since their start in 1989, Habitat for Humanity Greater Peoria Area has built more than 160 new affordable homes in Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, and Marshall Counties. They recently undertook a neighborhood revitalization initiative with the help of the City of Peoria, where they built 15 homes in a one block radius in a nationally recognized Opportunity Zone. “Habitat for Humanity is grateful to all of the companies, individuals and churches who sponsor our builds; the Peoria area is so generous,” states Lea Anne Schmidgall, Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity Greater Peoria Area. As a nonprofit organization, Habitat for Humanity Greater Peoria Area runs on very low overhead costs and depends on a passionate and diverse volunteer-base to sustain its operations. Volunteers join Habitat on its mission for many reasons: - giving back to the city they love - learning new skills - to meet new people What they all find is their place in the bigger picture. It’s important to know that you can be the change that you want to see in your community. Habitat welcomes volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds. Jack Talcott is one of our tenured ReStore volunteers. After 40 years with Caterpillar, Jack retired and began volunteering with Habitat. His work ensures that all lighting fixtures are wired correctly and working before being sold. Whether you’re interested in joining Habitat as a volunteer individually or with your church or local organization, there are endless opportunities to do so. Volunteers are needed for the following roles: Construction Site Volunteers Construction volunteers are the backbone of Habitat and without their help, Habitat would not be able to sell homes at affordable prices. Construction volunteers are out on the job site doing hands-on work alongside construction staff and homeowners. No construction experience is required and Habitat supplies all of the tools, safety equipment, and materials. Core Construction Volunteers Core volunteers are a team of construction volunteers who make a weekly commitment to join Habitat on the construction site on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. It is a great opportunity to meet new people, be active, and learn construction skills that can be applied on your own home. No construction experience is required and Habitat supplies all of the tools, safety equipment, and materials. Homeowner Support Committee Members This committee helps maintain homeowner relationships and empowers our partner families by building on their strengths and walking alongside them as they become homeowners. Habitat is always looking for good listeners with relationship building skills and life experience to provide resources, guidance and education to partner families. Family Selection Committee Members This committee seeks out applicant families, reviews applications, visits applicant homes for assessment of need, interviews partner families, and recommends the families who need Habitat services most to the Board for approval. Habitat is looking for volunteers who are willing and able to meet with potential homeowners for interviews and have strong family values, empathy, and compassion to help screen and select families to become Habitat homeowners. If you don’t see anything above the appeals to you, Habitat is always open to volunteers providing snacks or lunch at worksites for construction volunteers. Other opportunities are also available depending on your skills and talents. If you are interested in becoming a Habitat for Humanity volunteer, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 309-676-6729 ext. 10. Support Habitat at Our ReStores The Habitat for Humanity ReStores help Habitat fund their construction projects and homeownership program. Habitat ReStores take reusable goods and materials and keep them out of landfills. They get donations from merchants, manufacturers, schools, and individuals that are sold to bargain hunters and those sales generate needed funds for their mission. Our two ReStore locations take donations of: And recently, Habitat ReStores have started selling fresh paint: - Appliances—clean and fully functioning - Carpet—minimum 6’x6’ - Furniture—Visibly clean, all parts present - Garden Supplies - Hardware and Tools - Light Fixtures and Ceiling Fans - Lumber and Trim—At least 6’ long - Plumbing and Electrical - Sheet Goods—minimum 4’x4’ - Tile and Flooring Amazon Paint is premium, high quality, eco-friendly, latex paint that can be used indoors and outdoors. Habitat currently sells Amazon Paint in six, egg-shell finish colors. Get 1 gallon for $15 or 5 gallons for $65. You can shop the Habitat ReStores every Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or schedule a donation by calling 309-676-8402. Back to Top
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9275060892105103, "language": "en", "url": "https://frankdiana.net/2020/09/04/the-next-generation-of-artificial-intelligence/", "token_count": 528, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.05517578125, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:a8e9453a-f9ff-4196-8616-238a4809475f>" }	Two recent articles caught my eye this week. One article focused on the Fourth Generation of artificial intelligence, calling it artificial intuition. The other article explores the shift from artificial narrow intelligence to Artificial General Intelligence. In the case of artificial intuition, author Mark Gazit describes how helpful AI has become, and its ongoing limitations. Machine learning is still fully dependent on historic data. New and unknown scenarios leave data scientists helpless. Mr. Gazit suggests that in order to have true artificial intelligence, we need machines that can think on their own. The article goes on to describe the notion of a thinking machine as artificial intuition. This fourth generation of AI enables computers to identify threats and opportunities without being told what to look for, just as human intuition allows us to make decisions without specifically being instructed on how to do so. Considered impossible not too long ago, companies like Google, Amazon and IBM are working to develop solutions, and a few companies have already managed to operationalize it. The article goes on to describe how it works, and how it can be applied. For example, artificial intuition can be used by large global banks to detect sophisticated new financial cybercrime schemes, including money laundering, fraud and ATM hacking. The second article explores the transition from artificial narrow intelligence (ANI) to artificial general intelligence (AGI). ANI is the current iteration of AI, where applications are use case specific. AlphaGo can win at the game Go but cannot play other games. AGI mimics human intelligence and learning; learning in one domain is applied to another. The visual below (click to enlarge) uses a view of the exponential growth of computing to create a timeline for the realization of AGI, and ultimately the realization of artificial super intelligence. Per this view articulated by famous futurist Ray Kurzweil, AGI is realized by 2040. The referenced article, authored by Gary Grossman, describes the potential for another AI winter. In this scenario, compute power does not follow the path envisioned by Kurzweil, leading to another AI winter, where expectations of the technology fail to live up to the hype, thus lowering implementation and future investment. Mr. Grossman explains that this has happened twice in the history of AI – in the 1980s and 1990s – and required many years each time to overcome, waiting for advances in technique or computing capabilities. The article explores where we are on the AGI journey. Mr. Grossman explains that a consensus of several surveys of AI experts suggests AGI is still decades into the future. However, he describes a transitional AI, that just may exist today.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.8463345170021057, "language": "en", "url": "https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00191-016-0453-9?error=cookies_not_supported&code=af18c619-3ac7-4987-8e32-e73673c21216", "token_count": 2887, "fin_int_score": 4, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": -0.014404296875, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:dd146136-ce73-4e6d-944e-6814057bc229>" }	The financial crisis started in 2007–8, initially in the US, but its consequences have been felt throughout the global economy. However, its effects were far from uniform. While parts of Asia and Africa continued to grow fast, Europe experienced a large set back. This paper emphasizes three important factors: differences across countries in technological development; differences in capacities to exploit the opportunities offered by technology; and differences in the ability to compete in international market. A formal model, based on this approach, is developed and applied to data for 100 countries in the period 1997–2012. Empirical indicators reflecting the various factors are developed, a dataset constructed and econometric estimates of the model performed. The results are used to explore the factors behind the slowdown in economic growth, with a particular emphasis on the continuing stagnation in Europe. A major factor turns out to be the increased financialization of the economy. The negative effect of the growth of finance prior to the crisis is especially pronounced for the countries that suffered most during the crisis. This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution. Buy single article Instant access to the full article PDF. Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout. Subscribe to journal Immediate online access to all issues from 2019. Subscription will auto renew annually. Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout. However, while this earlier work assumed strictly balanced trade, the model presented below allows for deviations from this rule. This may occur through adjustments of the fiscal and monetary policy stance, but it may also be the result of the working of markets, such as the capital, labor and currency markets. As can be seen from Eq. (6), the expected sign of the effects of changing relative prices on growth depends on whether or not the so-called Marshall-Lerner condition is satisfied. We hold it as unlikely that changes in a country’s technological capability and social capacity can be seen as mere reflections of its rate of economic growth. A stronger case may exist for an effect of economic growth on price growth, since the price-level by definition is a relation between the value and quantity of what is produced. However, the largest share of value added consists of wages, which often are determined through negotiations of various sorts, and subject to influence by institutions, politics etc., which we in the present context have chosen to consider as exogenous. In principle, this increases the possibility for reverse causation. Arguably, most countries are too small to have a significant influence on world demand. Nevertheless, there may be a few countries among the one hundred taken into account here for which this assumption can be questioned, and we will test for the sensitivity of the estimates to this. Missing observations were estimated using the impute procedure in Stata 11.2, for more information see Stata (2005, pp. 217–221). The procedure, which is regression-based, uses information from other variables in the data set to fill in missing values. This applies to the following cases (% of estimated observations in brackets): R&D expenditures (11 %); gross tertiary enrolment (1 %); quality of bureaucracy (9 %), freedom from corruption (1 %) and external debt (10 %). If necessary unity was added to avoid logs of zero. See Fagerberg (1994) for an overview and discussion. Both merchandise trade and trade in services are included. While merchandise trade is used at 3-digit level of SITC, rev. 3, with 255 product categories, the available data on trade in services only allow us to distinguish three service categories (transport, travel and other services). Several other potentially relevant control variables were tested for possible inclusion in the model. However, as the estimated coefficients did not come out anywhere close to being significant at conventional levels, they were not retained in the model. This includes the size of government (general government final consumption expenditure as % of GDP), income inequality as measured by the Gini index, access to ocean or navigable rivers, Köppen–Geiger ecozones, Holdridge life zones and the composition of religious adherence. Beta values are reported, i.e. the variables enter the analysis with mean of zero and standard deviation of one, thus the estimated coefficients refer to the impact of change by one standard deviation. Results from these additional tests are available from the authors on request. Arcand et al. (2015) suggest that the effect of financial development (F), measured in different ways, on economic growth should be modelled as F = a1 S + a2 S2, where S is an indicator of the size of the financial sector. However, according to the model developed in this paper, it is the growth of financial capability, not its initial level, that should be expected to affect subsequent economic growth, and this leads to a different specification. Note that, by totally differentiating F we get dF = a1 dS + 2 a2 S dS, i.e., the two terms included in the model here. We also tested for a possible change in the impact of the interaction terms ((Δ finance × finance) and (Δ trade balance × external debt)) during the crisis; however, this hypothesis was not supported. See Fagerberg and Verspagen (2015) for a more in-depth discussion of this issue. Abramovitz M (1986) Catching up, forging ahead, and falling behind. J Econ Hist 46(386):406 Abramovitz M (1994a) The origins of the postwar catch-up and convergence boom. In: Fagerberg J, Verspagen B, von Tunzelmann N (eds) The dynamics of technology, trade and growth. Edward Elgar, Aldershot, pp 21–52 Abramovitz M (1994b) Catch-up and convergence in the postwar growth boom and after. In: Baumol WJ, Nelson RR, Wolf EN (eds) Convergence of productivity – cross-national studies and historical evidence. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 86–125 Arcand J, Berkes E, Panizza U (2015) Too much finance? J Econ Growth 20:105–148 Castellacci F, Natera JM (2011) A new panel dataset for cross-country analyses of national systems, growth and development (CANA). Innov Dev 1:205–226 Cecchetti SG, Kharroubi E (2012) Reassessing the impact of finance on growth, BIS Working Paers No 381, Bank for International Settlements, July 2012 Conference Board (2014) Total economy database. January 2014, http://www.conference-board.org/data/economydatabase/ Cornwall J (1976) Diffusion, convergence and Kaldor’s Law. Econ J 86:307–314 Darvas Z (2012) Real effective exchange rates for 178 countries: a new database. Working Paper 2012/06, Bruegel, 15 March 2012 (Update, 26 June 2014); http://www.bruegel.org/datasets/real-effective-exchange-rates-for-178-countries-a-new-database/ Université catholique de Louvain (2014) EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database. Brussels, www.emdat.be, download on 8. 8.2014. Easterly W (2001) The lost decades: explaining developing Countries’ stagnation in spite of policy reform 1980–1998. J Econ Growth 6:135–157 Fagerberg J (1988) International competitiveness. Econ J 98:355–374 Fagerberg J (1994) Technology and international differences in growth rates. J Econ Lit XXXII(3):1147–1175 Fagerberg J, Srholec M (2008) National innovation systems, capabilities and economic development. Res Policy 37:1417–1435 Fagerberg J, Verspagen B (2015) One Europe or Several? Causes and consequences of the european stagnation. In Fagerberg J, Laestadius S, Martin BR (eds) The triple challenge for Europe economic development, climate change and governance, Oxford University Press, forthcoming Fagerberg J, Srholec M, Knell M (2007) The competitiveness of nations: why some countries prosper while others fall behind. World Dev 35:1595–1620 Fearon JD (2003) Ethnic and cultural diversity by country. J Econ Growth 8:195–222 Gerschenkron A (1962) Economic backwardness in historical perspective. The Belknap Press, Cambridge Heritage Foundation (2014) 2014 Index of economic freedom, all index data. The Heritage Foundation, http://www.heritage.org/index/explore?view=by-region-country-year, download on 13.6.2014. Kaldor N (1981) The role of increasing returns, technical progress and cumulative causation in the theory of international trade and economic growth. Econo Appl (ISMEA) 34:593–617 Kaufmann D, Kraay A, Mastruzzi M (2014) Worldwide Governance Indicators, on-line. World Bank, http://info.worldbank.org/governance/wgi/index.aspx#doc-sources, download on 13.6.2014. Lall S (1992) Technological capabilities and industrialization. World Dev 20:165–186 Law SH, Singh N (2014) Does too much finance harm economic growth? J Bank Financ 41:36–44 Li G (1985) Robust regression. In: Hoaglin DC, Mosteller F, Tukey JW (eds) Exploring data tables, trends, and shapes. Wiley, New York, pp 281–340 Maddison A (1991) Dynamic forces in capitalist development: a long-Run comparative view. Oxford University Press, New York Metcalfe JS (1988) The diffusion of innovation: an interpretive survey. In: Dosi G (ed) Technological change and economic theory. Francis Pinter, London National Science Board (2012) Science and engineering indicators 2012. National Science Foundation, Arlington National Science Board (2014) Science and engineering indicators 2014. National Science Foundation, Arlington OECD (2014) OECD.Stat. Paris: OECD, download on 8. 8.2014. Rodríguez-Pose A (1999) Innovation prone and innovation averse societies: economic performance in Europe. Growth Chang 30(1):75–105 Sachs JD (2003) Institutions don’t rule: direct effects of geography on per capita income. NBER Working Paper No. 9490, http://www.nber.org/papers/w9490. Solow RM (1956) A contribution to the theory of economic growth. Q J Econ 70(1):65–94 Stata (2005) Stata data management, reference manual, release 9. College Station: Stata Press. Thirlwall AP (1979) The balance of payments constraints as an explanation of international growth rate differences. Banca Nazionale del Lav Q Rev 32:45–53 UNCTAD (2014) UNCTAD Handbook of statistics 2012, UNCTADstat on-line. Geneva: UNCTAD, download on 16. 10. 2014. UNESCO (2014) Science, technology and innovation; Data Centre. Geneva: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, download on 8. 8.2014. USPTO (2014) Extended year set - patents by country, State, and Year Utility Patents (December 2013). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/cst_utlh.htm, download on 8. 8.2014. Veblen T (1915) Imperial Germany and the industrial revolution. Macmillan, New York Vernon R (1966) International investment and international trade in the product cycle. Q J Econ 80:190–207 World Bank (2014) World development indicators 2013, World Bank, last updated on 18. 12. 2013, download on 8. 8.2014 World Bank (2015) Quarterly external debt statistics, World Bank, download on 6. 8.2015 Financial support from the VINNOVA Core Funding of Centers for Innovation Systems (project 2010–01370 on ‘Transformation and Growth in Innovation Systems: Innovation Policy for Global Competitiveness of SMEs and R&I Milieus’), Czech Science Foundation (project P402/10/2310 on ‘Innovation, productivity and policy: What can we learn from micro data?’) and Czech Academy of Sciences (institutional support RVO 67985998 and agenda ‘Strategie AV21’) are gratefully acknowledged. Earlier versions of the paper were presented at the 15th ISS Conference, 27–30 July, 2014, Jena, Germany, the 2013 Eu-SPRI Forum Conference on Management of Innovation Policies, 10–12 April, 2013, Madrid, Spain and the Joint UNU-MERIT/School of Governance Seminar, 6 June 2013, Maastricht, Netherlands. By solving for y: About this article Cite this article Fagerberg, J., Srholec, M. Global dynamics, capabilities and the crisis. J Evol Econ 26, 765–784 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00191-016-0453-9 - Technological capabilities - social capabilities - economic growth
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9494224190711975, "language": "en", "url": "https://news.ilri.org/2014/05/29/hard-numbers-making-the-business-case-for-massive-investments-in-one-health-to-protect-one-world/", "token_count": 2610, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.1162109375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:7b662da6-3fce-4941-8514-4ee45a2500f4>" }	Europa and the Bull, Attic red figure, Tarquinia Museum, Italy, circa 480 BCE: Zeus, in the guise of a friendly bull, tempts the Phoenician princess Europa to climb onto his back; when she does, he carries her across the sea to Krete. A recently published paper by Delia Grace, a veterinary epidemiologist and food safety expert at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), outlines a pathway to develop the business case for One Health. Grace says One Health can add value and reduce costs in five areas: (1) sharing health resources between the medical and veterinary sectors (2) controlling zoonoses in animal reservoirs (3) early detection and response to emerging diseases (4) prevention of pandemics (5) generating insights and adding value to health research and development Grace gives examples for each category along with preliminary estimates of the potential savings from adopting the One Health approach. The literature she reviewed suggests that one dollar invested in One Health can generate five dollars worth of benefits and a global investment of US$25 billion over 10 years could generate benefits worth at least US$125bn. Grace argues that the time has come to make the bigger case for massive investment in One Health to transform the management of neglected and emerging zoonoses and to save the lives of millions of people and hundreds of millions of animals whose production supports and nourishes billions of impoverished people per annum. Her article draws on experiences of ILRI gathered through several One Health and Ecohealth projects over the last decade and incorporates findings from a literature review. One Health is a broad movement that recognizes the fact that human, animal and ecosystem health are interdependent and that multidisciplinary collaborations are often necessary in order to attain optimum health solutions. But although One Health is well understood and appreciated, it has yet to gain large-scale traction in the medical and donor communities. Despite a large and growing body of evidence supporting the usefulness of One Health, the great majority of medical education, clinical practice, ancillary services, development programs and research continue to operate within disciplinary boundaries. Grace’s article discusses the process of building a compelling business case for One Health. It presents a ‘Big Five’ framework for categorizing One Health problems and related interventions, estimates of the costs of the One Health problem as well as the likely costs and benefits of One Health interventions and recommendations for building a convincing business case for One Health. Relations among human, animal and environmental health have been recognized throughout the historical development of medicine on all continents. But as medicine developed into a profession, a separation grew between those who treated humans and those who treated animals, with human doctors given higher status. In the 20th century, three major movements sought to bring these disciplines closer together: ‘One Medicine’, ‘Ecosystem Health’ or ‘Ecohealth’ (which adapted thinking from ecology and environmental management to the improvement of human health and wellbeing) and ‘One Health’, which arose because of increasing concern of disease emergence at the interface between animals, humans and ecosystems triggered by a series of disease emergencies of global importance in the 1990s, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), avian influenza and West Nile virus; One Health had strong participation from veterinary and, to a lesser extent, human public health. One Health can be defined as the collaborative effort of multiple disciplines to attain optimal health for people, animals, and our environment. The disease theme of the CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health, which is led by Grace, focuses on food-borne diseases and zoonoses but also goes beyond zoonoses and occupational hazards to consider such things as obesity and anthroponotic but agriculture-related diseases as being One Health issues (e.g. malaria, which is linked to irrigation but is not a zoonosis). A ‘Big 5’ framework for One Health 1 Join up health resources: Share health resources between sectors Sharing health resources across human and veterinary health sectors would appear to be an easy win. This is especially the case for laboratory facilities as most pathogens and chemical hazards are common to both humans and animals. Joint laboratory facilities are particularly important in developing countries where scarcity of human and financial resources challenge the sustained operation of laboratory resources. Second and third areas are shared education resources and surveillance systems. Estimating the benefits of collaboration across medical and veterinary services is challenging. Human health expenditure in developing countries was estimated at US$521 billion in 2012. Estimations for veterinary health expenditure are less solid, but are appear to be in the order of US$1bn–2bn on public animal health services in developing countries. We assume joint operations can save around 10% of the combined medical and veterinary budget devoted to those functions amenable to sharing. Best available evidence suggests that laboratories, education and management of zoonoses are services that can be shared and that these constitute 5% of the human health budget and 40% of the veterinary health budget. This implies that the total savings of joined-up services could be US$2.68bn per year. Given estimates of the cost of collaboration, net savings of around US$3bn imply gross savings of around US$4bn per year. 2 Control zoonoses in animal reservoirs Historically, most major zoonoses that have been controlled successfully have concentrated on the animal reservoir. This includes diseases such as brucellosis, tuberculosis, rabies, salmonellosis, cysticercosis and trichinellosis.The median ratio of benefits to costs was around four to one, with human health benefits at least equal to animal health benefits and often greater. Regarding the costs and benefits of controlling zoonoses in developing countries, a recent study by Grace estimates that around one in seven (14%) livestock in developing countries each year are currently or recently infected with one or more zoonoses and that each infection reduces their productivity by around 10%. According to the FAO, the value of livestock production in developing countries in 2012 was US$639bn per year at the time of their study, suggesting that the productivity losses related to zoonoses is around US$9.26bn per year. In addition to morbidity, mortality is an important cause of loss for livestock. Livestock losses as well as sickness are high in developing countries, which currently lose approximately 68 million tropical livestock units (TLU) because of zoonoses. Assuming that the value of a TLU is US$366, this costs developing countries US$25bn per year. The human health costs of zoonoses are typically equal to or greater than the livestock sector losses, a trend which is becoming more pronounced with time. A recent study by Grace suggests 2.2 million human deaths and 2.4 billion human illnesses a year from zoonoses, equaling losses of at least US$50 billion in 2013. This implies that the annual costs of zoonoses may be US$9bn in lost productivity, US$25bn in livestock mortality and US$50bn from human health – rounded up to US$85bn in all per year. As the costs of control are typically one-fourth the benefits and a control program may extend for five to 10 years, the US$85bn in annual losses could be averted by an expenditure of US$21bn over this period (excluding discounting). 3 Detect disease outbreaks early Rapid response is key to reducing the cost of highly contagious disease outbreaks. While it is difficult to estimate the costs of a counterfactual, we can compare the costs of controlling of the bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE) outbreaks in Britain and Canada and see that if control had been as timely and effective in the UK as in Canada, 88% of the costs could have been averted. Comparisons of effectively and poorly controlled epidemics indicate that well-functioning surveillance systems and timely responses may reduce the cost of outbreaks by 95%. The World Bank estimates that outbreaks have cost on average US$6.7bn from 1997–2009. They estimate that a US$3.4bn investment in animal health systems per annum would support these systems so that they could function effectively and efficiently, enabling them to avert the losses incurred through delayed or inadequate response. A 95% reduction in costs amounts to US$6bn saved per year. 4 Prevent pandemics In addition to the ongoing losses from disease outbreaks, which have become the ‘new normal’, there is considerable concern over the possibility of a civilization-altering pandemic or plague. These have occurred regularly but infrequently throughout history and pre-history, with the most recent example being the HIV pandemic. A landmark study by the World Bank of the possible impacts and costs of averting high-impact but low-probability pandemics drew the following conclusions. A severe pandemic costing US$3 trillion may occur, on average, once in a hundred years. If the investments in One Health systems are made and such a pandemic is prevented, the global expected benefits are US$30 billion per year. Every year, an investment of US$3.4 billion would produce an expected benefit of US$30 billion for the international community. This expenditure of US$3.4bn on strengthening veterinary services would hence deliver two streams of benefits: averting major pandemics with an expected benefit of US$30bn and improving the timeliness of response to outbreaks with an annual expected benefit of US$6bn a year. 5 Add value to health research and development One Health and Ecohealth approaches lead to better research and disease control programs as well as ecosystems better able to provide health as a regulatory service. Whilst a large and growing body of evidence supports the hypothesis that adopting both approaches improves the effectiveness and efficiency of health research and delivery, the costs and benefits of adopting these approaches, especially those that are highly participatory and multidisciplinary in nature, to research and development are difficult to quantify, and thus an important area for future research. With a dearth of information on the burden of zoonoses, this preliminary review, first presented last year, developed the following initial (non-definitive) estimates of the possible costs of zoonoses, the investments needed to control them and the benefits derived therefrom: A US$25bn annual investment over 10 years would generate annual benefits worth at least US$125bn (excluding discounting). Additional benefits include saved DALYs (disability adjusted life years), which reflect the disutility of illness, as well as conserved ecosystem health regulation through reduction of zoonoses spillover to wildlife. Developing a comprehensive and credible ex ante assessment of the business case for One Health and Ecohealth approaches requires investment. A first step is to develop and evaluate metrics that capture the impact of zoonoses and emerging disease on human health, the livestock sector, the broader economy and ecosystem health regulation. Long-term solutions need to include the upgrading of reporting systems for disease prevalence and impacts to ensure quality, transparency and reliability. Developing a detailed business case covering the economic case, options, risks and priorities for One Health investments would require a multidisciplinary team with skills in epidemiology, economics and an understanding of developing-country livestock sectors. Grace estimates that a 5–10-person team of experts, supported by research assistants and information technology, could build the business case in one year, whilst 30 people would take just months. She argues that a credible body of evidence about the costs, benefits and feasibility of controlling zoonoses would stimulate investments by donors and national governments as well as by the non-profit and private sectors. Emerging and neglected zoonoses have often been managed sectorally, but recent decades have shown, in case after case, the benefits of One Health management. The growing body of evidence suggests the time has come to make the bigger case for massive investment in One Health to transform the management of neglected and emerging zoonoses, annually saving the lives of millions of people as well as hundreds of millions of animals whose production supports and nourishes billions of impoverished people. This work was funded in part by support from the Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation Programme (ESPA), which is funded by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). Delia Grace leads ILRI’s Food Safety and Zoonoses Program and a component of the CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health called Agriculture-Associated Diseases.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9544223546981812, "language": "en", "url": "https://studentsthinktank.org/factors-that-affect-standard-of-living-essay-sample/", "token_count": 739, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.10693359375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:feb6e3aa-f49e-4b7a-95e3-afb806c985b0>" }	The standard of living is the measure of the level of richness, comfort, ownership of material goods and necessities. It determines the socioeconomic class of an individual a demographic group, a region or a country. Economics utilizes this to define the prosperity of people in a country. The standard of living develops because of a composition of various factors that influence the quality of life. The primary determinant is income. Household income determines the level of living as it determines the purchasing power and earning of a person. In the present monetary world, the productivity of an individual correlates with the quantity of necessaries, comforts, and luxuries that one affords and enjoys. Thus, a poor person is likely to have fewer luxuries or those cheaply acquired, thus putting their standards low. On the other hand, a wealthy person can afford expensive and more luxuries, which put their standard of living very high. Life expectancy of individuals determines their level of living. Life expectancy refers to the projected average period a person will live. Expectancy is recorded from birth through an average calculation of individuals born in the similar year to determine it. Life expectancy varies in different countries due to the economic growth and standard of living. Countries, where the expected survival rate is high, has a prosperous economy that empowers the people to access proper housing, adequate medical care, healthy quality foods and entertainment. However, people in developing countries have a lower expectancy rate due to a struggling economy, lack of access to health care and poor quality food or drought. Thus, countries whose life expectancy is high have a higher standard of living. Family planning is crucial in determining the standard of living of a family, which varies based on the size of the household. For instance, an individual with a large family and an average income cause an increased strain on the revenue as they try to meet the needs of all the family members. Thus, it lowers a family’s standards of living. However, the standard of living is higher for an individual with an average income and a small family. Availability and value of housing tell a lot about the standard of living. A population’s income determines the conditions of housing present, the capability of payment and availability. On estimation, housing in developed countries is of average and high prices due to their high quality and condition. Contrary, in developing countries, most of the housing is of poor and average quality that in most cases are rental with a small percentage being of high quality. Thus, one can conclude through the different housing choices of a population, their standard of living as it projects what they can afford. Education of an individual also affects the standard of living. Attaining an education increases an individual’s knowledge in making sound decisions, selecting a right path in life, for instance, making an informed choice on avoiding drugs and attaining higher levels of education. Additionally, education creates more opportunities through expanding the number of quality and well-paying jobs one can get, due to their increased skills. Thus, a person’s taste, inherited culture, the choice of lifestyle and purchasing power changes for the better, thereby raising their standard of living. For instance, an individual whose family culture dictates marrying of more than one spouse can change, as education enlightens them of the possible adverse effects such as strain in providing for a large family. Economists recognize that education, life expectancy, income, the size of the family and quality of housing are vital to the living standards. Hence, individuals should strive to improve these factors to intensify their living standards. More useful samples & examples in https://essays.io/movie-review-examples-samples/
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9703150987625122, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.achrnews.com/articles/139708-repealing-energy-efficiency-program-means-lost-jobs-higher-electric-bills-for-indiana", "token_count": 422, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.15625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:ac0d4329-f50a-4199-ab16-116a3009a564>" }	If Indiana’s legislature had not repealed the Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS) in 2015, the state would have saved more energy, ratepayers would have saved millions of dollars, and many jobs would have been created, according to a July 2018 study by the Applied Economics Clinic (AEC). The study was commissioned by Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana. It compared energy efficiency savings, saved energy costs, and job impacts since the repeal of EERS in 2015 with what would have been achieved had the program not been repealed. The policy brief concluded that: - Indiana utilities would have saved an additional 136 GWh on average over the 2015 to 2019 period; - Ratepayers would have saved millions of dollars — from $16 million in 2015 to $44 million in 2019; and - During the program’s lifetime from 2012 to 2014, Indiana’s EERS directly created 19,000 jobs, a number that has declined dramatically since its repeal. The EERS required Indiana’s electric utilities to cut energy delivery by an average of 2 percent annually, as well as providing home energy assessments, low-income weatherization, and efficiency rebates for businesses, homeowners, and schools. In 2014, Indiana legislature passed SEA 340 to cancel the EERS. Then Gov. Mike Pence did not veto or sign the bill, so it became law, and Indiana became the first state to repeal its energy efficiency standard. According to the AEC report, Indiana’s replacement legislation (SEA 412), passed in 2015, has done little to fill the gap. For all utilities in all years studied, costs to implement the efficiency program were less than avoided costs; every kWh of energy efficiency saved money for consumers. Ratepayers and utilities have missed out on almost $150 million in savings between 2015 to 2019, the study concluded. A 2016 report from the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance found that the number of jobs created due to energy efficiency investments in Indiana dropped 37 percent from 2014 to 2015, after the EERS was repealed. Publication date: 9/19/2018
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.8980005383491516, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.gafspfund.org/projects/climate-resilience-rice-commercialization-sector-development-program-rice-sdp", "token_count": 720, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.080078125, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:a324134a-bb09-4bf2-946e-3f8b5130fc7c>" }	Agriculture is one of the main engines of economic growth in Cambodia. Rice accounts for about 90% of the cropped area and 50% of the agriculture sector output, which is mostly consumed domestically. However, nearly a quarter of the provinces face food deficits despite a paddy surplus. The agriculture sector faces constraints, including: an underdeveloped seed industry with a lack of legislation to protect the interests of seed developers to produce quality seeds; an inadequate legal system and structure governing agriculture associations and contract farming; and a high risk of climate change events affecting land use, such as floods and droughts. The Climate Resilient Rice Commercialization Sector Development Program (Rice-SDP) supports the implementation of Government of Cambodia’s Policy on the Promotion of Paddy Production and Rice Export to improve household and national food security and to expand rice export. The project transforms the predominantly subsistence rice subsector in Cambodia into a commercially oriented one by removing the legal and regulatory constraints that inhibit rice commercialization, by improving the productivity of paddy crops and consistency in the quality of milled rice, by enhancing rice value chain support services, and by addressing the risks associated with climate change through mitigation and adaptation. The project involves the rehabilitation of over 10,000 hectares of irrigation systems, the establishment of paddy drying and storage facilities in partnership with private rice millers and rural development banks, the renovation of a seed testing laboratory, and the introduction of weather-indexed crop insurance. Fifty thousand poor people, of which 40 percent are expected to be women, will benefit from the project. - Climate Change The project aims to benefit 50,000 poor people, of whom 40 percent are expected to be women, and to rehabilitate more than 10,000 hectares of irrigation systems. As of December 2019, the project has reached 49,520 people, incl. 51.14 percent women. Provided 80,680 farmers, community members, and other beneficiaries with 6,010 training days on extension services; and completed preparation of Commune Agro-ecosystem Analyses in all ninety target communities with participation from 2,933 community members, incl. 889 women. As a result, 5,903 farmers and 19,614 hectares of land have adopted project-promoted technology. Rice-SDP collected, analyzed at the National Agricultural Laboratory, and entered into the database all the targeted 300 field point samples, then produced the first draft of the land use and soil classification maps for each of the three targeted provinces. And, the project rehabilitated six irrigation sub-projects: Prey Sangha, Chhuk Ksach, Anlong Char, Chamcar Kuoy, Ta Mao, and Anlong Run, benefitting 48 villages and 10,343 households, of which 1,519 are female-headed households, creating a combined potential irrigated area of 10,373 hectares and providing 49,520 farmer beneficiaries, including 25,326 women, with access to water. Senior Project Officer [email protected], +855 23 216 417 Additional Financing Documents: - Cover Letters with Endorsements - GAFSP Proposal - Background documents: SAW Program Design, Annexes for Program Design Document, Statement of Partnership Principles, and Investment Terms of Reference - Sector Strategies: Food Security and Nutrition, Nutrition, Strategic Development Plan Update, Sub-National Democratic Development, Rice Production and Export, and (regional) Asean Integrated Food Security Framework - Technical Peer Review: Independent Review and Meeting Summary
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9674133062362671, "language": "en", "url": "https://bmp.assam.org/2020/08/06/24-million-may-drop-out-of-school-due-to-covid-19-impact-u-n/", "token_count": 525, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.11328125, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:6f742433-8e97-431c-b7ab-f81b58b3c218>" }	Almost 24 million children are at risk of not returning to school next year due to the economic fallout of COVID-19, according to the United Nation’s policy brief on the pandemic’s impact on education, released on Tuesday. The educational financing gap is also likely to increase by one third, it said. More than 1.6 billion learners across the world have been affected by the disruption of the education system, but the pandemic has also served to exacerbate existing disparities, with vulnerable populations in low-income countries taking a harder and longer hit. For example, during the second quarter of 2020, 86% of children at the primary level have been effectively out of school in poor countries, compared to just 20% in highly developed countries.“UNESCO estimates that 23.8 million additional children and youth [from pre-primary to tertiary] may drop out or not have access to school next year due to the pandemic’s economic impact alone. The number of children not returning to their education after the school closures is likely to be even greater,” says the policy brief, adding that girls and young women are likely to be disproportionately affected as school closures make them more vulnerable to child marriage, early pregnancy and gender-based violence. Even for those who do not drop out of school, learning losses could be severe, especially in the foundational years. “Simulations on developing countries participating in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) suggest that without remediation, a loss of learning by one-third [equivalent to a three-month school closure] during Grade 3 might result in 72% of students falling so far behind that by Grade 10 they will have dropped out or will not be able to learn anything in school,” says the brief. “The economic loss might reach $16,000 of lost earnings over a student’s lifetime, translating over time into $10 trillion of lost earnings globally.” In early 2020, it was estimated that low and middle incomes faced a $148-billion gap between their education budgets and the money available to reach the Sustainable Development Goal of quality education. The COVID-19 crisis is likely to increase that financing gap by up to one-third. “Education budgets need to be protected and increased. And it is critical that education is at the heart of international solidarity efforts, from debt management and stimulus packages to global humanitarian appeals and official development assistance,” said U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, in a video statement at the launch of the brief
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.951961100101471, "language": "en", "url": "https://scholarshipstory.com/federal-financial-aid/", "token_count": 1765, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": -0.04443359375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:6a29f1b0-96d2-4f3a-8a53-f6138e5d4c01>" }	The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid provides more than $120 billion in federal financial aid to help pay for college or career school each year. Learning about financial aid can seem overwhelming when you’re trying to get ready for college or career school. Well, it doesn’t have to be! We’ll walk you through how federal financial aid works, types of the available financial aid, and what you can do to keep the financial aid. What does federal financial aid mean? Financial aid is money to help pay for college or career school. Grants, work-study, loans, and scholarships help make college or career school affordable. Federal financial aid comes from the federal government – specifically, the U.S. Department of Education. It’s money that helps a student pay for education expenses at a postsecondary school (e.g., college, vocational school, graduate school). Federal student aid covers such expenses as tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. Aid also can help pay for a computer and for dependent care. What are the 3 types of financial aid? Federal financial aid offers three types of financial aid. - Grants: Financial aid that generally doesn’t have to be repaid. - Loans: Borrowed money for college or career school; your loans must be repaid-with interest. - Work-Study: A federal work program through which undergraduates and graduate students at participating schools earn money to help pay for school. How does financial aid work? The way federal financial aid works is that students must first apply for aid by answering a series of questions used to determine their ability to pay for college. Then, aid is awarded based on that application, and students have the choice to accept or reject the aid offered. The type of aid offered determines whether it will have to be repaid. Sometimes, students must complete additional applications to be considered for other scholarships or private aid. What are the eligibility criteria for getting federal financial aid? The most basic eligibility requirements are that you must: - be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen - have a valid Social Security number - be making satisfactory academic progress - be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program - show you are qualified to obtain a post-secondary education by 1) having a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certificate, 2) passing an approved ability-to-benefit test (if you don’t have a diploma or GED certificate, a school can administer a test to determine whether you can benefit from the education offered at that school), 3) meeting other federally approved standards your state establishes, and 4) completing a high school education in a homeschool setting approved under state law. When will I receive my financial aid? The type of aid you accepted effects when you’ll get your aid. Grants and Student Loans Generally, your school will give you your grant or loan money in at least two payments called disbursements. In most cases, your school must give you your grant or loan money at least once per term (semester, trimester, or quarter). Schools that don’t use traditional terms such as semesters or quarters usually must give you your grant or loan money at least twice—for instance, at the beginning and midpoint of your academic year or program. If you’re a parent taking out a Direct PLUS Loan to help pay for your child’s education expenses, your loan funds will be disbursed according to the same type of schedule. The following may apply if you haven’t taken out a federal student loan before: - If you’re a first-year undergraduate student and a first-time borrower, you may have to wait 30 days after the first day of your enrollment period (semester, trimester, etc.) before your school is allowed to give you your loan money. Check with your school to see whether this rule applies. - If you’re a first-time borrower of a Direct Subsidized Loan or a Direct Unsubsidized Loan, you must complete entrance counseling before your school can give you your loan money. - If you are a graduate or professional student taking out a Direct PLUS Loan for the first time, you must complete entrance counseling before you receive your first loan disbursement. Note: Counseling isn’t required if you’re a parent taking out a Direct PLUS Loan to help pay for your child’s education. If you’re going to have a work-study job, you’ll be paid at least once a month. How do I apply for financial aid? The first step is to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA. This application is used by many state agencies and colleges and universities to determine college aid. Refer to our article “FAFSA Financial Aid Explained” to understand better about how it works. The FAFSA is available for free through the Department of Education’s website. Families can begin filling out the form as early as Oct. 1 for the following academic year. The deadline for the FAFSA is June 30. But that deadline is only for federal financial aid. Many schools use the FAFSA to determine aid set earlier deadlines. Some schools – mostly private colleges – use a supplemental form called the College Scholarship Service Profile to determine how to give out their own financial aid funds. The form is more detailed than the FAFSA and can be time-consuming to complete. The initial submission fee for the CSS Profile is $25; each additional report is $16. A list of schools that require the CSS Profile can be found on the website for the College Board, the organization that administers and maintains the application. How long can I get financial aid? You can receive the aid for no more than 12 terms or the equivalent (roughly six years). You’ll receive a notice if you’re getting close to your limit. What do you need to do to keep the financial aid? You’ll need to continue to meet the basic eligibility criteria, make satisfactory academic progress, and fill out the FAFSA® form every year. Once you’ve filled out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form and received your grant, loan, or work-study funds to help you pay for college or career school, make sure you stay eligible throughout the academic year—and in subsequent years. Remember, the basic eligibility criteria that allow you to get federal student aid continue to apply throughout the time you’re receiving aid—not just when you first fill out the FAFSA form and are awarded aid. Besides, you need to make satisfactory academic progress in order to continue receiving federal student aid. In other words, you have to make good enough grades, and complete enough classes (credits, hours, etc.), to keep moving toward successfully completing your degree or certificate in a time period that’s acceptable to your school. Each school has a satisfactory academic progress policy for financial aid purposes; to see your school’s, you can check your school’s website or ask someone at the financial aid office. Your school’s policy will tell you: - what grade-point average (or equivalent standard) you need to maintain; - how quickly you need to be moving toward graduation (for instance, how many credits you should have successfully completed by the end of each year); - how an incomplete class, withdrawal, repeated class, change of major, or transfer of credits from another school affect your satisfactory academic progress; - how often your school will evaluate your progress; - what will happen if you fail to make satisfactory academic progress when your school evaluates you; - whether you are allowed to appeal your school’s decision that you haven’t made satisfactory academic progress (reasons for appeal usually include the death of a member of your family, your illness or injury, or other special circumstances); and - how you can regain eligibility for federal student aid. Many families are shocked by a college’s sticker price. While the price of tuition can be overwhelming, federal financial aid can make higher education affordable. If you need an option to fund your education, financial aid is a great opportunity for you.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9643481373786926, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.marketing91.com/the-economic-cycle/", "token_count": 1716, "fin_int_score": 4, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.010986328125, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:56c20c19-ee36-4b1c-922a-81399e3fae08>" }	The upward or downward movement of GDP or gross domestic product around a long duration trend of growth is called an economic cycle. It is also termed a business cycle or trade cycle. This fluctuation between growth and degrowth is natural and part of the boom and decline phase of the business cycle. Multiple factors like income of people, economic factors, etc. are to be taken into consideration and help to determine the stages of different people in different stages of the cycle. Stages Of The Economic Cycle Typically there are six stages of the economic cycle. These phases follow each other and are irrevocably connected and affected with each other. Following are the six stages: The expansion phase of the economic cycle, as the name suggests, is the growth phase. In this stage, not only the expansion of the economy takes place but also production rate increases. Since both of them directly affect each other, it is obvious that if one increases, the other will rise. Since its expansion phase everywhere, it also pushes the interest rates low and encourages people for investment. The growth rate, ideally, should be in double-digit, and the interest rate is a single digit. The peak phase in the economic cycle is characterized by a max out in the growth of the economy. The growth in the peak is maxed out and does not grows beyond a further limit. Economic growth is the highest, and it is an indication that there will be no further rise in its growth. Prices have increased to their limit, and in some cases, the spending capacities of people also go up. This is because the income of people is also at its peak. Soon after the peak phase, the phase of recession follows. Things start to go downhill on a slower but consistent pace. Its steady decline in almost everything characterizes the recession phase. This phase is exactly opposite to that of the growth phase. The investment slows down, and so does the flow of capital in the market. The positive factors of the economy, including growth slows down, and the descent begins. The phase that follows the peak is that of the recession. The graph starts going down, and there is a decrease in jobs and an increase in unemployment. The prices that had gone up during peak phase either further go up or stay stable, and in either of the cases, people will not be able to afford to purchase. Even the necessities are purchased only as and when required on the availability of the money. In depression, which follows the degrowth, the phase is the one in which the growth rate plunges even further. The decrease goes down further until the cycle of demand and supply is severely affected. The expenses are more than that of income on a national level. The graph finally reaches stability in which the growth is lowest, and it is the lowest that a graph can go. This phase is exactly opposite to that of the peak phase. As the name suggests the recovery fees, which follows that rough is the one in which slow growth starts. There is a turnaround of the graph from the earlier phase, and recovery of the economy is seen at a steady rate. Since the prices are at their lowest and could not go any further lower the demands slowly starts to pick up, and this affects the supply positively. It is also seen that investment and unemployment slowly start to pick up, which ultimately increases production. Since the employment resumes, this also positively affects bankers, and investment slowly picks up. Recovery takes a very long time depending on the recession that has taken place, but once the recovery phase is completed, this slowly turns into the growth phase and continues the cycle. Features Of The Economic Cycle Following a few of the common features which are found in the economic cycle: - The economic cycle is one of the crucial affecting factors for the turnover of consumer goods like washing machines, television sets, houses, etc. These goods are the ones who are affected the most by the fluctuations in the economic cycle. - The economic cycle or economic cycle is one of the important factors which affects many variables, including consumption, employment rate, price rise, rate of interest, and investment in many sectors. - All of the phases of the economic cycle are considered to be synchronized with each other. That is depression or expansion occurs at the same time in almost all of the industries and their sectors in the economy. - It is often observed that this recession or expansion forms a chain and is passed from one industry to other until it affects the entire economy. The reason this happens is that most of the industries are dependent on other industries for procurement of raw material for the processing of the final product. This is observed in both receptions for depression and expansion phase. - It is a common assumption that business cycle frequently occurs repeatedly and regularly. The regularity may often differ, and the frequency of the economic cycle may differ, but the unique phases of the economic cycle, which are expansion, peak, trough, etc. make their presence anyway. The variation in the routine of this economic cycle is from 2 years to 10 years. - It is often seen that inventories are the ones who suffer a lot and immediately due to expansion for the growth of the economic cycle. When there is a reception, all of the inventory management fails, which leads to negative effects in production. On the other hand, when there is a rise from the trough phase, the production is affected positively. In the case of the earlier scenario, businessmen are discouraged from increasing the orders and investing in production while in letter case investment is increased. - An important characteristic of the economic cycle is that there is a huge fluctuation of profitability during every cycle of the economic. This leads to a lot of uncertainty, and it also makes it very cumbersome for businessmen to invest. - One of the important characteristics of the economic cycle is that most of the economic cycles of different countries are related to each other. That is to say when one country is going through a particular phase of the economic cycle that phase soon starts to pass to other countries as well because of international trade. For example, if there is a recession in the United Kingdom then and it will affect the import of united kingdoms from different countries which will affect the export of different countries which will affect them directly. Causes of The Economic Cycle One may often wonder why do economic cycle takes place. There are multiple reasons associated with the economic cycle. Following are a few of them: Population affects the economic cycle directly because an increase or decrease in population affects the demand and supply ratio, which is a direct responsible and primary affecter of the economic cycle. More the number of people more will be the demand and more has to be the supply and vice versa. Not only the population but the growth of the population rate affects the economic cycle. This can be seen from the vast difference in developing and developed countries. Sometimes there may be a rising demand without the rise of population because of other factors. For example, there would be seen a rise in sales of an umbrella as if the natural calamities like excessive rain occurs. In this case, the population is the same, but natural calamity is the one which affects. This is why demand is directly responsible for causing an economic cycle. #3. Monetary and government policies in The Economic Cycle: This can be considered perhaps as the primary cause of the economic cycle. Change in the policy of the government on monetary policy impacts directory to the economic cycle. If the government policy introduces a new policy that a certain product cannot be sold in India, then it affects the sales of that product, and in turn, this affects inventory of the product. #4. Interest rates: One of the important factors which affect the economic cycle is government interest rates. If there is a rise in increase rate that discourages investors from investing and then there is hardly any growth seen in the economic cycle. On the other hand, if the interest rates are low more and more investments will come forward, which will increase the opportunities and grow the economy. Examples of the business or The Economic cycle in history In July 1890, the USA saw a peak of business activities, but in 1891 May, it faced trough. In Jan 1913 there was a peak in the USA, but in 1914 Dec, there was a trough. In July 1990 the USA had peak phase, but in march 91, it converted to trough.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9374872446060181, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.thecgo.org/research/zoning-for-opportunity-a-survey-of-home-based-business-regulations/", "token_count": 13504, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.333984375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:7d547efe-02ac-4d52-9fd3-0c95de262429>" }	Home-based businesses (HBBs) constitute an increasingly important part of the American entrepreneur- ial ecosystem. With the rise of information technology and the increasing decentralization of work, more and more Americans are choosing to run small businesses out of their homes.1Joanne Pratt, The Impact of Location on Net Income: A Comparison of Homebased and Non-homebased Sole Proprietors (Washington, DC: Small Business Administration, 1993); Census Survey of Business Owners (2012), https://planning-org-uploaded-media.s3.amazonaws.com/document/Division-Economic-Development-News-2017–08.pdf. The benefits of an HBB run the gamut from providing economic opportunity to traditionally marginalized groups (such as stay-at- home parents and those with mobility-related disabilities) to acting as incubators for titans of the modern economy (Disney, Apple, and Amazon all started out as HBBs).2 Vivian Giant, “6 Incredible Companies That Started in a Garage,” American Express, June 2, 2014. This large and growing role of HBBs is not reflected in the average American zoning ordinance. On the contrary, many contemporary ordinances continue to reflect biases against HBBs, enforcing strict standards and requiring costly permits. All of this puts undue regulatory burdens on those entrepreneurs least equipped to handle them, driving many HBBs underground. This has generated a wave of reforms de- signed by cities and states alike to make it easier to start and operate an HBB in jurisdictions as politically different as Arizona and California. This paper examines this phenomenon in four parts. First, we survey the research to understand who starts HBBs, the types of industries that HBBs are in, and the unique benefits of and challenges faced by HBBs. Second, we explore the history of HBB regulations up to the current day and draw on recent research to paint a picture of the degree to which current HBB regulations are needlessly onerous. Third, we discuss the current reform movements, from the emerging Arizona standard for “no impact” HBBs to the nation- wide push toward reform in common HBBs such as cottage foods and daycares. Finally, we close by charting next steps for reform, including both a framework for thinking about HBBs and actionable reforms for local and state policy makers. HBBs: What We Know Researchers Colin M. Mason, Sara Carter, and Stephen Tagg define HBBs as businesses that are registered or based at the residential address of the owner.3Colin M. Mason, Sara Carter, and Stephen Tagg, “Invisible Businesses: The Characteristics of Home-Based Businesses in the United Kingdom,” Regional Studies 39, no. 2 (2011): 183–219. This includes both businesses where most of the activity is based inside the residence and businesses in which large portions of activity take place at external sites, as in the agricultural sector, or at client or customer residences, as in financial services.4Darja Reuschke and Markieta Domecka, “Policy Brief on Home-Based Businesses,” OECD SME and Entrepreneurship Papers No. 11, OECD Publishing, Paris, 2018, https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/industry-and-services/policy-brief-on-home-based-businesses_abfe755f-en. The very nature of HBBs makes them difficult to measure, but estimates suggest that their impact is far from small. The broader category of small businesses—a category of which HBBs are a subset—punches above its weight economically, having created approximately 64 percent of all new jobs in the United States between 1993 and 2011.5Small Business Administration, Small Business GDP: Update 2002–2010 (2012). Based off of surveys of business in the UK, Reuschke and Domecka suspect that many small businesses start off based in a residence.6Reuschke and Domecka, “Policy Brief,” 14. According to research conducted by the Small Business Administration in 1992, HBBs made up just over half of all firms and 10 percent of total receipts in the U.S. economy.7Pratt, Myths and Realities. As of 2012, approximately 9 million firms appeared to operate primarily at a residence. This impact has only grown: Other calculations show that the number of HBBs in the United States grew from 16.37 to 27.63 million between 1992 and 2012.8M. Nolan Gray and Olivia Gonzalez, “Making Room for Home-Based Businesses: A Survey of 12 Zoning Ordinances,” American Planning Association Economic Development Division News & Views August (2017): 1–7. More recently, Kane and Clark find that HBBs represented nearly one in six businesses in 2014.9Kevin Kane and William A. V. Clark, “Mapping the Landscape of Urban Work: Home-Based Businesses and the Built Environment,” Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space (2018). Reasons for Running an HBB The biggest reason that many entrepreneurs, and business owners more broadly, choose to locate their business within their home is the lower associated operating costs.10Reuschke and Domecka, “Policy Brief.” Costs for HBBs are lower when com- pared to the alternative of operating out of a dedicated commercial space since operators need not take on additional rent payments or taxes. This decreases the pressure to generate an immediate financial return. Another major consideration is that running a business from home makes it easier to manage one’s professional and family responsibilities.11Ibid. Home-based work offers a level of flexibility that ultimately improves work–life balance and quality of life.12K. Loscocco and S. R. Bird, “Gendered Paths: Why Women Lag behind Men in Small Business Success,” Work and Occupations 39, no. 2 (2012): 183–219. This effect is most pronounced among vulnerable populations. Added flexibility, for example, is a major reason why HBB operators are so often individuals who face unique family obligations or economic hardships.13Ibid. Cases abound of women able to better meet the demands of motherhood while also providing financially for their family through an HBB.14C. Ekinsmyth, “Mothers’ Business, Work/Life and the Politics of ‘Mumpreneurship,’” Gender, Place, and Culture 21 (2014): 1230–48. This partly explains why working from home appears to be more common among self-employed women than self-employed men. This is so at least in the UK; other research suggests a similar trend in other developed countries as well.15Reuschke and Domecka, “Policy Brief ”; Elizabeth Walker and Beverly Webster, “Gender Issues in Home-Based Businesses,” Women in Management Review 19 (2004): 7–8. Although family responsibilities can be just as important for men, research has shown that home-based work—or self-employment—more often offers a path for women to become economically independent.16Walker and Webster, “Gender Issues.” Some researchers argue that the attractiveness of home-based work comes down to other quality-of-life considerations. Of the entrepreneurial characteristics that Risselada and Schutjens identify, they find that when an individual performs caring tasks (e.g., caretaking for a senior relative), he or she is more likely to operate a home-based business.17Anne Risselada and Veronique Schutjens, “Firm Location Choice in the New Economy: Exploring the Role of Entrepreneurial Work- Lifestyles of Neighborhood Entrepreneurs in the Business Location Decision,” Exploring the Entrepreneurial Society (2017): 142-54. They found this result even when controlling for firm size and neighbor- hood features. It is precisely the lower cost associated with the start-up phase of a business that creates more opportunities for disadvantaged and marginalized groups. HBBs help to level the playing field in this regard, allowing even capital-poor households to pursue entrepreneurial activities that would not otherwise be accessible.18Reuschke and Domecka, “Policy Brief.” One study found that when compared to other small business owners, HBB owners were more likely to have been economically inactive immediately before starting their business.19C. Mason, S. Carter, and S. Tagg, “Invisible Businesses: The Characteristics of Home-Based Businesses in the United Kingdom,” Regional Studies 39, no. 2 (2011): 183–219. This means many HBB owners often start off either unemployed, retired, disabled, recovering from an illness, or returning to work after maternity or paternity leave. This effect makes the accessibility of HBBs even more vital during economic downturns. If large employers are pressured to lay off employees, the option to start an HBB can offer a fast and low-cost avenue for employees to get back on their feet until the market improves. In a survey by Enterprise Nation, researchers found that unsatisfying or insecure work and unemployment were the third most important motive for starting an HBB in the UK.20Enterprise Nation, “Home Business Report” (2014), https://static.guim.co.uk/ni/1414079504761/Home-Business-Survey-(1).pdf; Reuschke and Domecka, “Policy Brief ”; Enterprise Nation, “Home Business Report.” Home-business ownership is not always a back-up plan, however. Residents often start their HBBs on the side to supplement pre-existing income, while others jump in full time in search of a new career.21Diane Cook, “Homework: Corporate Downsizing Makes Home-Based Businesses the New Trend,” Delaware Business Review (1996). Whether because of involuntary unemployment or a newfound inspiration to pivot professionally, running a business from home provides residents with the option to take their fate into their own hands.22 J. H. Pratt, The Impact of Location on Net Income: A Comparison of Homebased and Non-homebased Sole Proprietors (Washington, DC: Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, 2006). The Economic Benefits of HBBs Beyond the benefits to budding entrepreneurs, HBBs also offer certain underappreciated benefits to their communities. Ultimately, HBBs help to strengthen local economies.23D. Reuschke, C. Mason, S. Syrett, and M. van Ham, “Connecting Entrepreneurship with Neighourhoods and Homes,” in Entrepreneurship in Cities; Neighborhoods, Households and Homes, eds. C. Mason, D. Reushcke, S. Syrett, and M. van Ham, 1–16 (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 2015); D. Reuschke, C. Mason, M. van Ham, and S. Syrett, “Integrating Entrepreneurship with Urban and Neighbourhood Studies: Lessons for Future Research,” in Entrepreneurship in Cities: Neighborhoods, Households and Homes, eds. C. Mason, D. Reuschke, S. Syrett, and M. van Ham, 273–85 (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 2015); F. Hollis, Beyond Live/Work: The Architecture of Home-Based Work (Abingdon: Routledge, 2015); W. Steenbeek and V. Schutjens, “The Willingness to Intervene in Problematic Neighbourhood Situations: A Comparison of Local Entrepreneurs and (Un) employed Residents,” Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie 105, no. 3 (2014): 349–67; R. Huggins and P. Thompson, “Entrepreneurship and Community Culture: A Place-Based Study of Their Interdependency,” Entrepreneurship Research Journal 2, no. 1 (2012): 1–34; Ekinsmyth, “Mothers’ Business.” HBBs come in every shape and size. With the flexibility of working from home comes the latitude for each owner to define what their business means to them. In their 2018 OECD report, Reuschke and Domecka summarize what this means for their contribution to growth as well: Operating from home does not mean that these businesses are insignificant. Many are important actors in local economies and some trade nationally and internationally. While some home-based businesses display growth potential, many home-based entrepreneurs seek to remain small in order to maintain the home location.24Reuschke and Domecka “Policy Brief,” 5. For the HBB owners that do have a desire to grow, their potential is quite large. In the UK, the only area for which such surveys have been conducted, as many as 60 percent of HBB entrepreneurs have expressed a desire to grow their business.25Mason, Carter, and Tagg, “Invisible Businesses.” Houston and Reuschke find that over half of surveyed home businesses in 2004 had grown to employ ten or more staff by 2008, typically either relocating or hiring remote employees along the way.26D. Houston and D. Reuschke, “City Economies and Microbusiness Growth,” Urban Studies (2017): 1–19. Eleven percent employed more than fifty employees four years later. Researchers also found that HBBs in 2004 were just as likely as businesses located in dedicated commercial premises to “make the transition from being a non-employer to an employer between 2004 and 2009.”27Reuschke and Domecka “Policy Brief,” 15; Houston and Reuschke, “City Economies.” Although comparable surveys have not been conducted within the United States, the implications apply here as well. HBBs in the United States can and often do outgrow the attics, basements, and spare rooms that host them, occasionally to spectacular results. Amazon and the Walt Disney Company had humble beginnings based in their owners’ homes. Now employing 647,500 people, and generating $265.47 billion in revenue, Amazon in particular is having no small impact upon the U.S. economy.28Amazon’s Yahoo Finance profile, accessed November 3, 2019. https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/AMZN?p=AMZN. Many states and cities devote much of their scarce resources to securing large companies already formed, as with the recent bidding war for Amazon HQ2.29Nick Wingfield and Patricia Cohen, “Amazon Plans Second Headquarters, Opening a Bidding War among Cities,” New York Times, September 7, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/07/technology/amazon-headquarters-north-america.html. In a race to lure Amazon’s second headquarters, New York and Virginia offered the company benefit packages that ultimately won Amazon over. Virginia’s package, for example, included subsidies and other incentives worth $845 million over fifteen years.30Michael Farren and Anne Philpot, “What Could States and Municipalities Have Done with That Amazon HQ2 Money?” Bridge, December 6, 2018. Although policy makers may feel politically incentivized to offer these large and targeted economic development packages, research suggests that they are not worth the cost for a myriad of public choice reasons.31Matthew Mitchell, Michael Farren, Jeremy Horpedahl, and Olivia Gonzalez, “The Economics of a Targeted Economic Development Subsidy,” Mercatus Center Research Paper, Mercatus Center at George Mason University (2019). Instead of spending money to subsidize fully formed Amazons, policy makers can very cheaply create a regulatory environment that fosters future Amazons. As the route to secure already-formed Amazons through subsidies and tax breaks is very costly, localities would be better off working to help develop their small businesses. Re-evaluating a regulatory environment hostile to HBB formation and growth offers one such avenue. One way to assess the vitality of HBBs is by calculating their economic multiplier, or the number of dollars of additional output one dollar of new output can help generate. Rowe, Haynes, and Stafford demonstrate how the HBB service industry in Iowa generated $408.7 million in 1988 and generated an additional $0.9458 of output for each of the original dollars spent.32Barbara Rowe, George Haynes, and Kathryn Stafford, “The Contribution of Home-Based Business Income to Rural and Urban Economies,” Family Business Review (1999). This means that the multiplier for service-industry businesses in Iowa was 1.9458. Multiplying the sales by the multiplier shows that HBBs contributed a total of $795 million of economic activity, which includes both the direct and indirect results of HBB activity. By looking at the direct and indirect effects, as measured by an economic multiplier, we can learn a lot about how much an industry contributes to the local economy. Imagine how this might work with a common HBB: a daycare. A woman starting a daycare service within her home can employ an assistant to help take care of children in the neighborhood while their parents go to work. An accessible daycare may help parents cut down on how far they must travel to drop off their children. It may also help to lower prices by economizing on floor space. The time and money parents in turn save can be used for savings or purchasing other goods and services for their family. At the same time, the HBB owner and her assistant both have a new income source that they can use to save or purchase new goods or services in the local economy. Similar examples could be worked out for other common HBBs. Building on multipliers calculated by the US Department of Commerce, Rowe, Haynes, and Stafford calculate how much of total economic activity HBBs contribute to each state.33Ibid. Their study highlights HBBs in Hawaii, Iowa, Missouri, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Utah, and Vermont. They find that HBBs directly and indirectly contribute 3.5 percent of total gross sales, 4.6 percent of total earnings, and 6.7 percent of total employment for local economies.34Rowe, Haynes, and Stafford, “Contribution.” This varied by state and industry, but the takeaway is clear: HBBs help produce more than what they explicitly contribute to the economy. In fact, these findings convinced the authors of the study that HBBs are often more than just a holding position for employees hoping to get a job elsewhere someday; on the contrary, HBBs can be significant entrepreneurial incubators. Not every home-based business will be the next Amazon, but the possibility of any growth depends on the feasibility of surmounting the hurdles they encounter. If regulations succeed in restricting the high growth potential of HBBs, many of the benefits detailed in this section are less likely to materialize. In the next section, we briefly summarize the most significant barriers to HBBs before turning to their history. Before we turn to this issue, we must first make the case for why HBB regulations matter. The Disproportionate Cost of Regulation Reuschke and Domecka identify the main barriers to HBB formation and growth, including difficulty accessing business support infrastructure and networks, business finance, lack of access to high-speed internet, and restrictive zoning and housing regulations.35Reuschke and Domecka, “Policy Brief.” Other barriers include homeowner associations, taxes, and licensing fees.36Sidney Kess, James R. Grimaldi, and James A. J. Revels, “Starting a Business from Home: Legal, Tax, and Financial Concerns,” CPA Journal (June 2017). These are all barriers that businesses of any kind have to face, but HBBs do so to an even greater degree.37The main focus of our paper is on how the last category of Reuschke and Domecka’s report—restrictive zoning regulations—can either hinder or facilitate HBB growth. It’s important for cities and states to know that they have a choice when it comes to whether these regulations become a barrier to HBBs. For a more in-depth look at the other barriers listed, see Reuschke and Domecka, “Policy Brief.” The reason for special concern about zoning restrictions is their potentially disproportionate effect on HBBs. As small businesses, their relative costs of complying with regulations are consistently higher when compared to larger businesses that have to face the same compliance measures.38Henry B. R. Beale, “Home-Based Business and Government Regulation” (Washington, DC: US Small Business Association, 2004), 72–90.. Regulations impose high fixed costs that HBBs are less equipped to handle.39Peter T. Calcagno and Russell S. Sobel, “Regulatory Costs on Entrepreneurship and Establishment Size,” Small Business Economics 42 (2014): 541. As we identified previously, regulations can require firms to spend more time trying to interpret rules and filing paperwork, as well as spend more money on paying regulatory fees or hiring legal assistants.40Gray and Gonzalez, “Making Room.” Because of this, regulations can prevent HBBs from forming, drive existing companies underground, or inhibit HBB growth. Worse yet, many zoning ordinances prohibit home-based work outright. This further “contributes to the general invisibility of the sector and makes it difficult to enact policies that facilitate and strengthen entrepreneurship.”41Reuschke and Domecka, “Policy Brief ”; F. Holliss, “Designing for Home-Based Work: Lessons from Two English Villages,” Architecture and Culture 5, no. 1 (2017): 21–39. These barriers have a direct effect on HBB owners and their livelihood.42Arlene Mackanic, “Know the Rules,” Black Enterprise (2004); Marshall McKnight, “Home-Based Companies under Siege,” NJBIZ (2003); Eben Ingle, “Teachers Are Not Criminals: The Stokes Zoning Case,” American Music Teacher (2002); Mary Vizard, “Home-Business Outlaws.” Home Office Computing (1993). Some HBB owners—particularly those of means—are able to research what rules apply to them and pay the corresponding fees when possible. Others, however, are frequently unaware of zoning requirements until they are asked by zoning officials to become compliant or cease operations. Regulatory requirements can vary, and where they are more stringent and inconsistently enforced, business owners often operate underground. For these reasons, the zoning restrictions facing HBBs deserve special attention from policy makers. History of HBB Regulation As a commercial activity in otherwise-residential zones, HBBs have been an object of contention since the inception of American zoning in the early twentieth century. HBBs, originally referred to as “home occupations,” were tolerated by early land-use planners under a first-generation regulatory framework that restricted them to occupations that were “customarily” performed in the home, incidental to the residential use, and not a business.43Edward M. Bassett and Katherine B. McNamara, Zoning: The Laws, Administration and Court Decisions during the First Twenty Years (New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 1940). The shortcomings of this stop-gap regulatory framework quickly became apparent. As zoning grew in complexity, professional planning organizations set out to develop a second-generation regulatory framework incorporating both the traditional “customary” standard and new performance standards regulating business operations. Yet the continuous evolution of the nature of work—driven by rapid technological change in the late twentieth century—and growing confusion about this mixed standard gave rise to calls for a third-generation regulatory framework among land-use planners and business groups alike. The following section maps out the evolution of each of these frameworks, exploring both their historical basis and inevitable shortcomings in order to contextualize the tangle of HBB regulations enforced in many US cities today. Yielding to Custom: The First-Generation Regulatory Framework While home-based work is seen as the exception today, it was in fact the norm for much of human history. Prior to the twentieth century, most nonagricultural work took place in the home: manufacturing centered on cottage industries, retailers and artisans lived above storefronts or workshops, and professionals operated out of home offices.44Kenneth T. Jackson, Crabgrass Frontier: The Suburbanization of the United States (New York: Oxford University Press, 1987). Although important primary uses such as ports, government offices, and natural resources made clustering essential, workers typically responded by co-locating and both living in and hosting commercial operations on a single lot. Indeed, this norm shaped the traditional American Main Street, with shopkeepers living above storefronts. Three major elements of the budding Industrial Revolution reversed this historical norm, particularly for manufacturing and retail. First, the rise of large corporations in the post–Civil War period led to the increasing centralization of work in industrial-scale office buildings, factories, and warehouses. As Jane Jacobs notes in her study of Manchester (England), the benefits of said centralization could be a mixed blessing; while productivity initially skyrocketed in cities with heavily concentrated industry, these local economies often proved to be less resilient.45 Jane Jacobs, The Economy of Cities (New York: Random House, 1969), 86–96. Second, the gradual improvement of transportation technology, beginning with the omnibus in the 1820s, allowed for the concentration and segregation of work.46Jason M. Barr, Building the Skyline: The Birth and Growth of Manhattan’s Skyscrapers (New York: Oxford University Press, 2018), 10-11. Once bound by the limits of a comfortable walking commute, a middle-class worker could now feasibly leave a central business district to go to an exclusively residential neighborhood at the end of the workday. Innovations in urban rail transit expedited these trends in the early twentieth century. While the concentrating effects of economic centralization and the segregating effects of transportation have moderated with time, a third element persists: culture. Enabled by organizational and technological innovation, more and more households came to see the separation of work and life as a morally superior arrangement, with commercial activity characterized as having a corrupting influence among cultural elites.47Robert Fishman, Bourgeois Utopias: The Rise and Fall of Suburbia (New York: Basic Books, 2008). Although macro trends gradually phased out many forms of HBBs, such as home manufacturing and retailing, many traditional HBBs survived this shift, including certain services and small crafts. This posed a unique challenge as zoning came online in the 1910s and ’20s. Unlike earlier forms of land-use regulation, which sought to mitigate negative externalities or segregate certain noxious land uses, Euclidean zoning reflected the emerging cultural preference for total use segregation and expressly sought to separate all residential and commercial activities. Where do otherwise socially acceptable HBBs fit into this equation? To resolve this puzzle, early land-use planners developed the concept of a “home occupation.” As defined by zoning framer Edward M. Bassett, permissible home occupations had to meet the following three conditions. First, they had to be customary, meaning that only occupations that traditionally took place in the home were to be permitted.48Bassett and McNamara, Zoning, 100. To enforce this standard, first-generation ordinances often explicitly list permitted occupations. Second, they had to be incidental to the residential use. Home occupations must not take precedence over the lot’s primary use as a home. Finally, a home occupation “must not be a business.” As this may be confusing to the modern reader, this final condition deserves further elaboration. Bassett and early planning colleagues principally sought to restrict major commercial uses in residential neighborhoods.49Ibid., 101. Yet undesirable back-office functions and small workshops may often be indistinguishable from traditional HBBs such as law offices or dressmaking. Thus, early land-use planners turned to two novel classifications characterized as distinct from businesses: customary home occupations (such as tutoring or laundering) and home professions (such as law or medical offices). On the one hand, this first-generation regulatory framework likely achieved the goals of the early zoning framers. Itemized lists of permitted HBBs, combined with vague general standards, allowed early land-use planners to carve out a legal space for customary home occupations—particularly those accepted among cultural and economic elites—without opening the floodgates to commercial activity in residential areas. Indeed, the first-generation framework accomplished this goal without the need for discretionary actions such as special permits or licensing, which risk overburdening HBB operators. Yet as the US economy continued to change, a regulatory framework expressly designed as a kludge to allow for 1920s preferences would increasingly present challenges. Beginning in the postwar period, the search for a new framework began. Mixing Standards: The Second-Generation Regulatory Framework As early as 1953, planners at the American Society of Planning Officials (APSO)—a precursor to the American Planning Association (APA)—identified two major problems with the first-generation regulatory framework. First, the standards were vague.50Zoning Regulations for Home Occupations, Planning Advisory Service (Chicago, IL: American Society of Planning Officials, 1953). What occupations qualify as customary? At what point is an occupation no longer incidental? What distinguishes an occupation or a profession from a business? The framework made decisions seem arbitrary and unpredictable, leaving residents unclear as to whether their occupation was legal, in turn requiring regular court intervention. Second, the first-generation regulations were simultaneously too strong in some places and too weak in others. On the former, explicit lists of permitted occupations started out too restrictive and aged poorly. This left many ordinances explicitly allowing antiquated professions (such as clock or piano repair) while leaving emerging HBBs (such as home daycares) illegal. Worse yet, a near total lack of externality regulation left neighbors with few protections in the face of bothersome HBBs. First-generation ordinances rarely addressed issues like noise, hours of operation, or traffic generation. If the use qualified as customary, incidental, and not a business, few additional rules applied, beyond recourse to a nuisance suit. Bassett and McNamara are slightly obtuse on this point: “There seems to be no demand for more specific rules.”51Bassett and McNamara, Zoning. Needless to say, more specific rules eventually were in demand. According to an APSO survey of postwar zoning ordinances, more and more municipalities had started to tinker with how to regulate HBBs. Lists of permitted and prohibited occupations—a mainstay of the first-generation framework—were rarely scrapped and occasionally expanded. On top of that, second-generation ordinances added two new features: performance standards and permits. Where the first-generation ordinances itemized permissible occupations and left the rest open to interpretation, second-generation ordinances added regulations covering everything from hours of operation to off-site employees to signs and exterior modifications. To ensure compliance with these rules, second-generation ordinances also often required that HBBs pursue special permits and licenses, typically administered in a discretionary fashion. As with the first-generation regulatory framework, the second-generation framework likely achieved the desired results of its framers. For the planners and aggrieved neighbors, a complex set of standards would regulate all HBB activity, typically enforced by permits requiring annual review. Yet this new regulatory framework also came with substantial drawbacks, as the APSO report identifies: For HBBs, compliance became more difficult, with many run-of-the-mill businesses remaining off the lists of permitted occupations while an additional layer of restrictive regulation and permitting increased burdens on permitted occupations. For courts, the casual mixing of the customary and performance standards only caused confusion. If performance is what matters, why prohibit noncustomary occupations that had no impact on neighbors, such as insurance brokers?52Otis v. Evans 259 Appellate Division 957, 20 N.Y.S. 2d 426. If custom is what matters, why institute performance standards that make customary operations functionally illegal, such as physician’s offices?53Red Acres Imp. Club, Inc., et al., v. Burkhalter et al., Supreme Court of Tennessee, July 27, 1951, 241 S.W. 2d 921. (4 ZD 7). Like the first-generation regulatory framework, the second-generation regulatory framework was a kludge, a slow accumulation of responses to specific complaints and concerns. Laying performance standards atop an inherited customary standard resulted in a generation of confused and overly restrictive ordinances. On top of that, mounting technological and cultural change left second-generation ordinances increasingly untenable. Kludges can only survive for so long. Toward a Third-Generation Regulatory Framework? As it did with so many other spheres of American life in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the rise of personal computers and the internet disrupted HBB regulation. With service-based remote work on the rise and more and more households running computer-based businesses that were anything but customary, lists of permitted customary home occupations increasingly became out of date. Professions that had once required face-to-face interaction and had thus been left off of lists of permitted HBBs—such as stock and real estate brokerage—could now be done from home, strictly over the internet. Activities historically prohibited under performance standards—such as retailing—could now be done online, completely unbeknownst to neighbors. Mounting change in the nature of work gave rise to a new wave of scholarship on HBB regulation in the early 2000s. In a manner similar to the causes of the 1950s wave of criticism discussed above, this new generation of work would in turn give rise to an emerging third generation of HBB ordinances. In a 2000 report for the APA characterizing second-generation ordinances as “neither sensible, useful, nor enforceable,” urban planner Charles Wunder calls for a new regulatory approach tailored to accommodate the rise of computer-based HBBs.54Charles Wunder, Regulating Home-Based Businesses in the Twenty-First Century (Washington, DC: American Planning Association, 2000). Taking the critique a step further, legal academic Nicole Steele Garnett calls for a top-to-bottom shift from the mixed second-generation framework toward a framework exclusively focused on how HBBs affect neighbors.55Nicole Stelle Garnett, “On Castles and Commerce: Zoning Law and the Home-Based Business Dilemma,” William & Mary Law Review 42 (2001): 1191. This paradigm shift received some official sanction from the Small Business Administration in a 2004 report, which criticizes many second-generation performance standards—such as prohibitions on off-site employees—as unnecessary barriers to an emerging source of entrepreneurial activity.56Beale, “Home-Based Businesses.” This contemporary work can be interpreted as a search for a new framework for HBB regulation, a framework that recognizes the often-arbitrary and outmoded nature of the first-generation customary standards and the overly restrictive effect of second-generation performance standards. In its stead, the emerging contemporary framework aspires to regulate HBBs strictly based on the measurable impacts they may have on neighbors. As discussed below, uptake of this new regulatory standard has been slow, likely because it involves quantifying certain fuzzy standards while relinquishing other controls altogether. Yet the third-generation framework is supported by two unceasing trends: the ongoing digitalization of work and entrepreneurship and a growing recognition of the importance of home-based work. The computer-based HBBs are coming. Will our ordinances keep up? How Do Cities Regulate HBBs Today? Given the mounting complexity and restrictiveness of HBB ordinances, widespread noncompliance increasingly seems to be the norm. While data on types of HBBs are limited, a cursory view on Google Maps of a residential area in any US city will usually reveal dozens of illegal HBBs. A quick survey of the suburban residential neighborhood that one of the authors grew up in reveals a medley of businesses that reflect the contemporary HBB landscape: a software developer, an advertising firm, an African hair braider, and an artisanal candlemaker. Although all of these uses likely impose no externalities upon neighborhoods, all are illegal under current zoning, putting operators at substantial legal and financial risk. To what extent are zoning ordinances evolving to accommodate this changing reality? In a recent survey of zoning ordinances, we looked at whether and to what extent contemporary HBB regulations have moved toward this third-generation standard.57Gray and Gonzalez, “Making Room.” Randomly selecting major cities from regions across the country, we assessed twelve cities on the basis of fourteen standard features of HBB ordinances. Many of these features can be characterized as holdovers from the first-generation framework, such as the enduring requirement that HBBs be customary and the lists of permitted occupations. Other features can be understood as second-generation additions, including permit requirements and various performance standards. This study also looked for lists of expressly prohibited occupations and general nuisance restrictions, but these can be interpreted as compatible with a third-generation framework, given their general focus on mitigating the impact that certain HBBs have on neighbors. According to our survey, most cities remain squarely within the second-generation framework: they allow only listed customary occupations that are subject to detailed performance standards. Eight of the cities surveyed fell within this category. Charlotte, North Carolina, is a good example of the prevailing second-generation framework: “customary” language permeates the text, though the list of permitted occupations ranges from graphic design to millinery. These rules are supplemented by an assortment of performance standards. Some of these rules are reasonable. For example, a general prohibition on noise or odor generation is narrowly tailored to protect neighbors. But many others are either too vague (such as a prohibition on equipment “not normally part of a household”), too strict (such as prohibitions on all non- resident employees), or unenforceable (such as the rule that HBBs must not take up more than a specified percentage of a home’s floor area).58Charlotte Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 12, Section 12.408 (2007), accessed June 24, 2019, https://charlottenc.gov/planning/Rezoning/Pages/Zoning%20Ordinance.aspx. In addition to complying with these rules, all HBBs in Charlotte must also seek a permit with a fee of $145. While on the high end—HBB permits in Louisville and Milwaukee cost $25 and $50, respectively—this fee is not an anomaly: an HBB conducting online retail faces an upfront registration fee of $150 in Las Vegas, with recurring annual fees based on revenues and further costs to the extent that it forces operators to keep sophisticated financial records.59LasVegasNevada.Gov, “Business Licenses,” accessed June 24, 2019, https://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Business/Business-Licenses. Between strict compliance standards and a costly fee, the incentive for HBB operators to remain underground is strong in cities such as Charlotte. Two of the ordinances surveyed could be characterized as remaining within the first-generation framework. Boston, Massachusetts offers an illustrative example: elements of the original “customary, incidental, not a business” framework remain on the books, and an anachronistic list of example permitted uses includes professions such as sewing. Any kind of “trading in merchandise” is broadly prohibited. At the same time, performance standards are lax: a small “professional announcement sign” is permitted, off-site employees and customer visits are permitted in certain circumstances, and there is no general restriction on nuisance behavior.60Boston Zoning Code, Article 2019. 10, Section 10–2 (2019), accessed June 24, 2019, https://library.municode.com/ma/boston/codes/redevelopment_authority?nodeId=ART10ACUS. Nonetheless, certain conventional, second-generation performance standards have slipped in, such as a cap on floor area and restrictions on the use of machinery. Only two of the ordinances surveyed could be characterized as third generation. A useful example of what might be considered a “best practice” ordinance can be found in San Diego, California. The last vestiges of the first-generation framework, including “customary” language and lists of permitted uses, are gone. Likewise, many often-criticized second-generation performance standards have been removed: there are no difficult-to-enforce floor-area standards, nor are there prohibitions on mechanical equipment or accessory structures. One nonresident employee and one customer are allowed on the site at a time, and a general prohibition on nuisance-generating activity protects neighbors. HBBs that conform with these standards are not required to pursue any additional permit or license. HBBs that require additional permissions or may impose potential costs on neighbors must seek special permit.61San Diego Municipal Code, Chapter 12, Article 6 (1997), accessed June 24, 2019, https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/pc-16–061-attachment12.pdf. In contrast to Charlotte, San Diego’s liberal performance standards and lack of a costly permit provide operators of innocuous HBBs with a strong incentive to operate openly and in full compliance with zoning. HBBs that do not have a measurable impact on neighbors enjoy legal status without needing to worry about running afoul of excessive or complicated rules. For growing HBBs or those with potential impacts, the option to pursue a special permit adds appropriate flexibility to the system, treating operators on a case-by-case basis subject to meaningful standards. In all cases, neighbors are duly protected: the performance standards that San Diego does enforce are strictly tailored to prevent nuisances, and any HBB that seeks to bypass these standards must earn the approval of the City Planning Commission and be subject to its findings and a public hearing. This third-generation framework puts San Diego in a strong position to grow as the nature of work continues to evolve. Current Efforts at HBB Regulatory Reform Despite a growing consensus within the planning literature and despite model cities such as San Diego, the shift toward a third generation of ordinances that focus on clear impacts has been slow going. As discussed above, most cities continue to enforce a second-generation framework, emphasizing out-of-date customary standards and overly strict performance standards. This is not a surprise: municipal policy makers, who traditionally enjoy wide latitude in zoning, may be loath to relinquish inherited powers, and the political will to act can be weak where risk-averse homeowners constitute the most powerful political group.62William A. Fischel, The Homevoter Hypothesis: How Home Values Influence Local Government Taxation, School Finance, and Land-Use Policies (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2005). To bypass this problem, many HBB reformers have turned to state governments for reform. We examine two such efforts in the following section: First, we examine what we refer to as the Arizona standard, which defines a category of “no impact” HBBs, allowed as-of-right, and places parameters on how municipalities may regulate them. While such a proposal narrowly failed in the 2018 Arizona state legislature, it provides a workable framework for state-level reforms that is sure to come back in future iterations. Second, we explore the raft of profession-specific reforms that states such as California and Colorado have adopted to ease restrictions on specific HBBs, such as daycares and cottage foods. Though short of the broad reforms called for by the literature, these reforms have helped to ease barriers to important and often-controversial varieties of HBBs. No-Impact HBBs and the Arizona Standard In early 2018, Arizona legislators came close to adopting the most sweeping reforms to HBB regulation since the adoption of the first comprehensive zoning ordinance just over a hundred years earlier. Yet the reforms set out in SB1387 were quite modest: the state would designate a category of “no impact” HBBs, which were permitted to operate without having to seek a special permit or license.63Arizona Senate, Fifty-Third Legislature. Second Regular Session, Senate Bill 1387 (2018), accessed June 29, 2019, https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/53leg/2R/bills/SB1387H.htm. To qualify as “no impact,” HBBs would be held to the following standards: - No more than three nonresident employees may be on site at once. - No more than three clients may be on site at once. - The HBB must not generate any on-street parking or result in a substantial increase in traffic. • The HBB must operate exclusively within the residential dwelling. - The HBB cannot be visible from the street. - The HBB must be compatible with residential uses. - The HBB must remain a secondary use to the site’s primary (residential) use. - The HBB must operate in compliance with all city and county health and safety regulations.64Arizona Free Enterprise Club and the Goldwater Institute, Home-Based Business Fairness Act (Phoenix, AZ: 2018). Two features of the Arizona standard stand out: First, it dispenses altogether with the customary standard and many of the strict performance standards that weigh down HBBs under the second-generation framework. Total prohibitions on nonresident employees are gone, for example, as are strict floor-area standards. Second, those performance standards preserved are easily measurable and enforceable. Vague customary standards and unenforceable performance standards are gone, ensuring that HBB operators and regulators alike can be certain about what is and is not compliant. All HBBs remain subject to standard municipal health-and-safety, building-code, and nuisance regulation. But to mitigate impacts that are often most upsetting to neighbors, the Arizona standard also forbids any measurable impact by the HBB on on-street parking or traffic. The open-ended “compatible with neigh- boring residential” standard is designed to prevent historically undesirable business such as veterinary clinics and auto body shops. While this standard is potentially open to abuse owing to vagueness, the introduction of state oversight acts as a valuable and currently nonexistent check on this risk. Most objectionable forms of HBB, such as those that incorporate narcotics or adult uses, are prohibited outright. Another approach to reforming the regulation of HBBs is through the treatment of profession-specific regulations. Reforming regulations specific to an industry one at a time, though time consuming, may be superior to failing to reform any area. Here we highlight the features of two prominent profession-specific HBB reforms: food preparation in Colorado and daycare facilities in California. Enacted in March 2012, the Cottage Food Act in Colorado allows certain types of food to be sold directly to consumers without licensing or inspections.65The act was subsequently amended in 2013, 2015, and 2016. Under the act, most baked goods can be sold out of home kitchens. Sales of foods that must be refrigerated, such as cheeses, pastries, or custards, are not permitted under the law; the foods must instead be prepared in commercial kitchens. For similar reasons, meat sales are not permitted. All HBB owners operating under this act are considered cottage-food producers and face some restrictions. First, cottage-food producers in Colorado are prohibited from supplying restaurants or grocery stores and face strict labeling requirements. They must provide disclaimers indicating that the food they are selling was produced in a home kitchen. Additionally, cottage-food producers cannot generate net revenue of more than $10,000 per product and cannot sell more than 250 dozen eggs per month. Expanding beyond either of these limits would require registering as a food manufacturer or becoming a licensed retail food establishment. According to research by the Pew Charitable Trusts, every state except New Jersey now allows HBBs to make and sell certain nonhazardous foods.66Marsha Mercer, “As Home-Cooked Cottage-Food Industry Grows, States Work to Keep Up,” Pew Charitable Trusts, 2019, https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2019/03/19/as-home-cooked-cottage-food-industry-grows-states-work-to-keep-up. Cottage-food laws such as the one in Colorado vary considerably in structure, however. Oklahoma, for instance, only allows baked goods as cottage foods, meaning that most food products are are off the table for home producers, and sales may only occur out of the home.67Harvard Law School, Food Law and Policy Clinic, “Cottage Food Laws in the United States” (2018), https://www.chlpi.org/flpc-releases-cottage-food-laws-united-states-report/. Colorado’s law is more inclusive since it allows its permitted foods to be sold at farmers’ markets as well. Delaware is an example of a state with a more restrictive approach: it has cottage-food laws, but they largely only allow farmers to make cottage foods from home. Maine, North Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming have enacted what are called “food freedom” laws that exempt HBBs from regulations that apply to grocery stores, restaurants, and other food establishments. Discussions about cottage-food laws can quickly escalate to debates about regulatory details and to concerns about food safety. What exact foods should be permitted? Should foods sold at farmers’ markets be frozen? These are important questions, as there are major safety considerations in play. But fewer and fewer states are enforcing a regulatory default of outright prohibition on selling food made within the home. Individuals making and selling food from their home are often only selling to neighbors in their community. Even when HBB-produced food is sold at farmers’ markets, a large degree of market discipline faces operators, in that a poor product can result in strong and immediate reputational repercussions. Addition- ally, as long as the labeling is clear, consumers will know where their food is coming from and can make their own decisions on the relative risks. Cottage-food laws such as Colorado’s can help better align the risks and opportunities associated with home-based food production and allow for more diversity in the provision of food. Another profession-specific regulatory area covers the provision of child care services within the home. Recently, in 2018, California passed the California Child Day Care Act, which comprehensively established a statewide system for licensing child care.68Cal. Health & Safety Code §§ 1596.70. As part of policy makers’ efforts to ensure a supply of affordable and high-quality licensed child care, the act preempts local zoning, building, and fire codes that conflict with its provisions. It requires that small child care facilities must “be considered a residential use of property for the purposes of all local ordinances.”69Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1597.45 (b). See Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1597.45 (a). As a result, the act prohibits localities from implementing business-license requirements or imposing restrictive zoning requirements on small child care homes. The key distinction is that the act largely protects small, home-based child care facilities. Under the act, local governments are still allowed to regulate large home-based child care facilities, but only under the guidelines of the legislation. The difference between the two types of daycare is that small facilities usually have only one adult child care provider who is living in the licensed home, possibly has one assistant, and can enroll approximately six to eight children. Large daycares, on the other hand, tend to have two adult providers and one assistant and enroll approximately twelve to fourteen children. Basic health and safety regulations covering daycare facilities remain as robust as ever. After all, all daycares still have to be licensed by the California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division. The California Child Care Facilities Act merely helps to ensure that daycares are treated like other businesses when it comes to local licensing and zoning requirements. Particularly for small daycare facilities, local governments cannot apply any restrictions that are not also applied to all other single-family residences. Despite the slight difference in what is permitted in the regulation of small versus large daycares, the act crucially does not allow cities or counties to prohibit daycares in single-family dwellings, regardless of home size. The ultimate goal of this California legislation was to address the lack of child care availability by encouraging the establishment of family child care homes. As the law just passed last year, it is too soon to know exactly how the California law is impacting daycare provision and costs, but it is likely that by simplifying the regulatory process, it will increase access to more affordable child care options. This is important for operators and consumers alike, as HBB child care is often cheaper relative to more conventional options.70HuffPost, February 17, 2016, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/4-secret-alternatives-to_b_9253798. Data from California indicate that annual cost of child care was $2,976 lower when offered within the home than in conventional daycare centers.71“Annual Cost of Child Care, by Age Group and Facility Type,” KidsData.org, https://www.kidsdata.org/topic/1849/child-care-cost-age-facility/table#fmt=2358&loc=347,1763,331,348,336,171,321,345,357,332,324,369,358,362,360,337,327,364,356,217,353,328,354,323,352,320,339,334,365,343,330,367,344,355,366,368,265,349,361,4,273,59,370,326,333,322,341,338,350,342,329,325,359,351,363,340,335,2, 127&tf=88&ch=984,985,222,223&sortColumnId=0&sortType=asc. The average annual cost of child care provided by child care centers between 2009 and 2016 was $11,083. The same average for child care provided in the home was $8,107. Three commonalities can be observed in the experiences of Arizona, Colorado, and California. First, small operations are generally exempted from the conventional regulatory system, which is often designed for large operators. While in Arizona these limits on size are de facto, in Colorado these limits on size are de jure. Second, discretion and vagueness are removed to the greatest extent possible. In Arizona, as in California, ensuring that regulations are narrowly tailored is ensured through an added level of state review. Third, standards are preserved to deal with the genuine potential harm that an HBB might cause. The Arizona standard allows for some continued regulation of parking and traffic, while the Colorado and California initiatives remain appropriately strict on issues of health and safety. This addresses the true impacts of the HBBs in question, without resorting to the blanket prohibitions and opaque standards that have historically characterized HBB regulation. Recommendations for Policy Makers How Should Policy Makers Think about Home-Based Businesses? One of the biggest problems with the regulation of HBBs currently is the inconsistent and vague nature of many rules and the uncertainty that this introduces. As Reuschke and Domecka write in their policy brief, there is uncertainty in many areas about whether permission is needed to use parts of the home for business purposes.72Reuschke and Domecka, “Policy Brief,” 23. In the most stringent cases, zoning ordinances are “more often written in broad terms, essentially banning all home businesses on the theory that they might lead to problems.”73Christina Sandefur, “Getting Out of Your Business: Cities Nationwide Are Making It a Crime to Work from Home,” Regulation 2018–2019 (Winter 2018–19): 16–20. The uncertainty that this creates for HBBs is detrimental to entrepreneurship. Writing regulations in fear of something that may someday happen is often inspired by what is known as the precautionary principle. This policy disposition, as economist Adam Thierer describes it, focuses on risk minimization and requires entrepreneurs and business owners to seek approvals before they develop any new goods or services, inspired by the sentiment that it is “better to be safe than sorry.”74Adam Thierer, “Embracing a Culture of Permissionless Innovation,” Cato Institute (2014), https://www.cato.org/publications/cato-online-forum/embracing-culture-permissionless-innovation. Regulation inspired by the precautionary principle impacts not only HBBs, but businesses in many other regulatory areas. It ultimately stifles opportunities for experimentation and entrepreneurialism. We recommend that policy makers consider the alternative policy disposition called permissionless innovation. As Adam Thierer writes, the concept “refers to the notion that experimentation with new technologies and business models should be permitted by default. Unless a compelling case can be made that a new invention or business model will bring serious harm to individuals, innovation should be allowed to continue unabated and problems, if they develop at all, can be addressed later.”75Ibid.; Adam Thierer, “Permissionless Innovation: The Continuing Case for Comprehensive Technological Freedom” (Arlington, VA: Mercatus Center at George Mason University 2014). For the best case study on why permissionless innovation is important, consider the explosive growth of the internet and information technology sectors since the 1990s. The fact that none of the entrepreneurs in these industries had to ask for permission based on out-of-date standards to develop these new tech- nologies allowed them to innovate more easily and provide opportunities for others to follow. Had the precautionary principle been the default regulatory position, the culture required for taking risks may have not developed. A permissionless-innovation approach is especially important with HBBs, for as the nature of work evolves, notions of work–life balance will change and new opportunities will come into focus. But many zoning ordinances continue to reflect the precautionary principle as they prohibit HBBs altogether in fear that they might cause some ill-defined harm. This prevents many residents from partaking in no-impact, in- come-generating commerce that could improve their well-being. If planners instead embrace permissionless innovation, they can help foster a culture of innovation that can unlock long-term growth opportunities. Embracing a permissionless-innovation policy disposition does not prevent planners from addressing serious concerns. It merely switches the burden of proof. Instead of HBB owners having to navigate a complicated process to try to prove to planners that they are worthy of existence, under a permission- less-innovation approach, planners are asked to explain why ongoing trial-and-error experimentation with a new business model should be disallowed.76Thierer, “Embracing a Culture.” Permissionless innovation is especially important given the information problems facing urban planners. To be able to anticipate each and every potential harm that could result from an HBB would mean accessing an impossible amount of information. Asking planners to try to predict just how HBB owners will innovate and to then try to preemptively regulate based off of these predictions is asking too much. As Nobel laureate F. A. Hayek has written, planners face informational constraints that limit their ability to anticipate how the economy will respond to the needs and wants of consumers.77F. A. Hayek, “The Use of Knowledge in Society,” American Economic Review (1945). Any ordinance trying to regulate the minute details of the economy will end up falling behind, as we saw with the outdated occupation lists in many first-generation zoning ordinances. Instead, by allowing permissionless innovation, planners are able to create a more conducive regulatory environment for the fast-paced nature of technology and work. This disposition can thus serve as a helpful guiding principle for regulatory reform. Actionable Policy Recommendations We join the broader literature in recommending that municipalities move away from the second-generation regulatory framework and toward a third-generation framework. States and localities interested in being leaders in making their zoning ordinances suitable for HBB growth should consider the following recommendations. The specific recommendations listed below would each move cities closer to a regulatory environment amenable to home-based entrepreneurship while addressing the meaningful concerns that neighbors may have. Phase out “customary” language. As documented above, the traditional “customary” standard for permissible HBBs has aged poorly, as have explicit lists of permitted HBBs. While occasionally updating these lists may work as a short-term fix, the more sustainable long-term regulatory solution is for policy makers to phase out the customary standard altogether and shift toward regulating the measurable impacts of HBBs. Tie all performance standards to measurable health, safety, and welfare impacts. Current HBB ordinances enforce performance standards that are to varying degrees too vague, too strict, or unenforceable. The prevailing vagueness and lack of enforceability leaves the legality of many HBBs up to the whims of enforcement officers while the excessive strictness needlessly criminalizes many harmless HBB activities, forcing HBB operators to either cease operations or go underground. Enforcement of these rules is thus often arbitrary and complaint-based, with enforcement actions resulting in undesirable invasions of homeowner privacy. Policy makers should critically evaluate all performance standards for their ability to address serious, measurable impacts. Create a permit-free “no impact” category of HBB. The vast majority of HBB activities are not only harmless but produce many underappreciated social benefits. Municipal ordinances should reflect this by demarcating a no-impact category of HBB, which would not be subject to undue licensing or permitting. To the extent that states can define this category and preempt over-regulation at the local level, this pre- emption is appropriate. Offer flexible review and permitting for unconventional HBBs. Many desirable HBBs may at times run afoul of standard “no impact” rules. This is especially the case with HBBs that start small but grow over time. In many cases, these impacts can and should be mediated by a prudent agreement between HBB operators, city planners, and neighbors. Policy makers should offer a permit to allow such impactful HBBs on a predictable and public basis. Develop profession-specific regulations that work for HBBs. Many HBBs are small, informal operations that deserve to be treated differently from large, incorporated businesses. This is especially true of important professions such as child care and food preparation, which both have a long history of taking place within the home but come with serious health and safety considerations. In such cases, policy makers, preferably at the state level, should develop profession-specific HBB regulations that address import- ant risks without making compliance overly burdensome. The economic benefits of HBBs, both to households and communities at large, are numerous and meaningful. The regulatory questions surrounding them are complicated and important, spanning a century of planning theory. Both the benefits and the complications give policy makers reason to take the question of HBBs seriously. But at the end of the day, the impetus to act on this issue should start with a human perspective. HBBs reflect the best of what the economy has to offer, providing individuals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to chart their own path, serve their neighbors, and innovate in ways that can reshape the entire economy. Our land-use regulations should acknowledge this by making space for the humble HBB.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9652523398399353, "language": "en", "url": "http://www.parody-pages.com/2020/12/27/7-perks-of-finance-that-may-change-your-standpoint/", "token_count": 1040, "fin_int_score": 4, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.0263671875, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:ec583b5b-f9b0-4cec-ba01-0e7615daacef>" }	Financial is actually a broad phrase utilized to illustrate a variety of problems regarding the research study, advancement, control as well as allotment of funds. In particular, it primarily copes with the questions of: why and just how a person, […] Financial is actually a broad phrase utilized to illustrate a variety of problems regarding the research study, advancement, control as well as allotment of funds. In particular, it primarily copes with the questions of: why and just how a person, association or government obtains the funds required for its normal functions; as well as how those funds are used or even spent. Money management is additionally worried about the organization of those funds. This second task is embarked on so as to meet objectives, techniques and/or goals referring to the control and use scarce funds. ARMGOLF.COM The research study of financing may be split in to three branches: small, macro and financial markets. Within these branches, there exist many methods to the study of financial. Conventional financial seeks to address the concern: what figures out the cost degree of certain financial properties? Another division of modern money management deals with the problem of “liquidity” which means the availability of funds when required. Erin Rosenbruch Among the primary activities of money is actually financial. Banking is the process of borrowing loan from banking companies and other lending institutions in profit for safe fundings, which, in turn, are brought in through lending institutions like banking companies. Funds market funds are one instance of mortgage. While financial provides the means to protect small business loan, it additionally helps with the regulation of credit score by developing economic products like negotiable instruments (Guaranties, Bonds, Certificates of deposit) and valuable protections (such as possibilities and futures). Business financial institutions, savings and loans, bank as well as other banks provide the means of business banking. Modern business ventures are actually identified by their complex monetary units and also their reliance upon outside money management. Economics students examining organization financial need to be equipped along with a wide understanding of social money management, consisting of taxes, monetary plan, budgeting, and also monetary markets. The main concentration of economics majors in current years has been actually the study of service finance. Company money management is the science of making profits through making use of financial systems. The production of market value is the primary objective of service financial, but it needs to also feature the development of discounts that can be actually made use of for the growth or replacement of existing information. The method of generating brand-new information, either by utilize of existing ones or even by the creation of brand-new products, is actually known as financial. Financial money is a vital component of all contemporary economic conditions. Numerous factors of the economic climate rely on monetary units, and also the study of business economics aids to know just how these units work and also why they are essential to the economic climate. One branch of economics that straight impacts banking is the area of financial, which makes use of banking resources as a method to produce new funds. Financial institutions can provide debt, supply financings, as well as investment various other monetary resources, including protections. An amount of authorities companies, such as the Federal Get, concern Treasury bonds, which are obligations of the USA authorities. These authorities bonds are released to raise money, which is actually after that provided to households as well as businesses. Company money management is actually one more essential limb of business economics. Corporate money is actually the method whereby organizations use their economic devices to obtain as well as manage their own assets. There are actually two significant forms of business financial: public and personal. Private business lending entails the financial investment of the owner’s capital by a corporation into various tasks; nonetheless, the risk of such financial investments is reduced due to the truth that the owner is actually the a single entailed. Social business money management occurs through the federal government, the financial institutions, or even other big organizations. Finance is a vast phrase including several features of the science, advancement, as well as managing of expenditures and funds. Especially, it worries the concerns of just how as well as why a company, individual or authorities obtain the funds needed and utilized by means of several transactions, such as borrowing, finance, or even outright committing. Some types of financing include: personal money management, organization finance, social financing, insurance, property lending and risk administration. In this particular article, our company’ll go over a few topics that are associated with fund. Before you may acquire right into the a lot more specialized as well as tough places of money, nevertheless, you initially require to possess a sound academic history in a non-business related field like English, Mathematics, Nursing, Service, or also Social Sciences. Many money grad schools additionally supply a program along with a powerful focus on financial as its own primary educational program. Investments and savings accounts are actually probably the pair of most usual areas of money management research study. While these are actually certainly not extensive investment regions, they perform work with some of the even more preferred locations of financing research studies.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9280457496643066, "language": "en", "url": "https://business-accounting.net/bond-discount-or-premium-amortization/", "token_count": 1613, "fin_int_score": 4, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.0712890625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:cc0a60c9-560e-411e-b179-e7c1dc799c45>" }	You can calculate payment amounts using the straight-line amortization method if you know the total value of the loan including interest and its length. Mortgage repayment constitutes amortization because the bank loses its claim to the loan, and thus loses an intangible financial asset. Accountants like the straight line method because it is easy to use, renders fewer errors over the life of the asset, and expenses the same amount everyaccounting period. Notice that the effect of this journal is to post the interest of 4,249 to the interest expense account. In the straight line amortization method, the bond’s carrying value changes each period while the bond interest expense each period remains the same. This displays a changing interest rate when the carrying value fluctuates each period while interest remains the same. This amount is applied as an expense each year rather than entered as a one-time expense because it provides a long-term benefit for the company. For example, something like manufacturing equipment – a tangible asset – has long-term benefits for a company. Now, say some manufacturing machinery will benefit a business for five years. Thus, the accounting handbooks advise to only use this rule when the results do not differ significantly from the effective interest method. With effective interest method, the bond payable and discount/premium is calculated using the effective market interest rate versus the coupon rate used in straight-line method. Below is the amortization schedule for this bond issue using effective interest. The table below shows how this example bond would be accounted for over the full 10-year period. Note that the only static figure is the amount of cash interest — interest expense and amortization are different in every single year. Over time, the carrying amount of the bonds is slowly reduced to $100,000 due to the amortization of the premium each year. Each year, the company will have to pay $8,000 in cash interest (coupon rate of 8% X $100,000 in face value). In addition, it will also record a charge for the amortization of the discount. Simply divide the cost of the patent by the number of years that the patent will be useful. In this example, the amount is $10,000 divided by 10 to get a cost of $1,000 per year that you apply to your accounting documents. Say your company purchased a patent for $10,000, and its useful life is 10 years. To calculate depreciation of that patent, an intangible asset, you use the straight-line amortization method. - Notice that the effect of this journal is to post the interest of 4,249 to the interest expense account. - The straight line bond amortization method is one method of amortizing the premium or discount on bonds payable over the term of the bond, the alternative more acceptable method is the effective interest rate method. - As before, the final bond accounting journal would be to repay the face value of the bond with cash. Unlike more complex methodologies, such asdouble declining balance, straight line is simple and only uses three different variables to calculate the amount of depreciation each accounting period. At the end of the eachaccounting period, Tiger would record a journal entry by debiting interest expense for $4,772 and crediting discount on bonds payable for $772 and cash for $4,000. This graph shows the monthly cash interest payments allocated in to the total interest payment (the static $30,000) and $8,790 that is amortized from bond discount. As you can see, the figures remain the same throughout the 6 payment periods due to the straight-line amortization method. Below, you will see the numbers will change for the effective interest method because we will be amortizing the discount on bonds payable at effective market interest rate, instead of a constant rate. The straight-line amortization method is one of the simplest methods to use to account for the cost of intangible assets. To use this method, you need to know the cost of the asset and its useful life. Notice that the effect of this journal is to post the interest calculated in the bond amortization schedule to the interest expense account. From the bond amortization schedule, we can see that at the end of period 4, the ending book value of the bond is reduced to 120,000, and the premium on bonds payable has been amortized to interest expense. The final bond accounting journal would be to repay the par value of the bond with cash. The straight line amortization method is one method of calculating how the premium or discount on bonds payable should be amortized to the interest expense account over the lifetime of the bond. What is Straight Line Amortization? Intangible assets include patents, trademarks, copyrights, research and development, brand name recognition, company goodwill and certain proprietary business methodologies. These things provide a benefit for a business but are not physical products that can be touched or spent. The company incurs a $38,790 bond interest expense each period but only pays out $30,000 in cash because the remaining $8,790 will be repaid when the bond becomes due. This $8,790 credit to Discount on Bonds Payable account increases the bonds’ carrying value because it is a contra-asset account, which is subtracted from the Bond Payable account. The below table shows the decreases in the Discount on Bond Payable along with increase in bond’s carrying value each period. This annual amortization amount is the discount on the bonds ($10,000) divided by the 10-year life of the bond, or $1,000 per year. Thus, the company will record $9,000 of interest expense, of which $8,000 is cash and $1,000 is the amortization of the discount. Straight line amortization is always the easiest way to account for discounts or premiums on bonds. Under the straight line method, the premium or discount on the bond is amortized in equal amounts over the life of the bond. Though straight-line amortization applies to bonds in the investment industry, the method can technically apply to any situation in which a person or a company must make uniform payments over a set period of time. Depreciation is a way for companies to account for the costs of assets over a period of time rather than all at once on their financial statements. Unlike depreciation, which applies to tangible assets, amortization applies to intangible assets. Straight-line amortization is one of the simplest methods, dividing the cost of assets equally over the time that they are used. Systematically moving the same amount each accounting period from a balance sheet account to an income statement account. If the amount of discount is significant, the effective interest method of amortization should be used. It’s a common accounting tool used alongside depreciation when an asset is being expensed over the years. When it comes to bonds, amortization is an adjustment used to account for the difference between the bond’s stated interest rate and the amount for which the company actually sold it. Join PRO or PRO Plus and Get Lifetime Access to Our Premium Materials The straight line bond amortization method is one method of amortizing the premium or discount on bonds payable over the term of the bond, the alternative more acceptable method is the effective interest rate method. As before, the final bond accounting journal would be to repay the face value of the bond with cash. Rather than accounting for the total cost of the machinery on the balance sheet all at once, the cost can be allocated over the five-year period. This way, the cost is balanced against the benefit that is acquired from the machinery over time. The same thing can be done for intangible assets and is referred to as amortization rather than depreciation.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9487075209617615, "language": "en", "url": "https://gigaom.com/2013/10/01/a-new-power-grid-battery-emerges-with-a-deal-from-siemens/", "token_count": 733, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": -0.16796875, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:c046dcc1-cf44-44b1-be7c-1382dd35e294>" }	Batteries could do wonders for the power grid — but odds are, the winning technology won’t come from those good ole’ lithium ion batteries that power our laptops and which Tesla is using for its electric cars. Startup Aquion Energy thinks the answer to the future of grid batteries will come from an entirely new type of chemistry — one that uses basic materials and is ultra low cost — and the company on Tuesday plans to announce an important partnership with grid heavyweight Siemens that could help see Aquion’s brand new grid batteries move into the market more quickly. Aquion said that Siemens has purchased a shipment of its grid batteries and it will be testing those batteries with Siemen’s power inverter technology. If Siemens likes the technology — and it works as advertised — the idea is that Siemens could eventually bundle the batteries with its power grid infrastructure and sell it to customers like solar farm developers; though the partnership is just a memorandum of understanding at this point. It might sound like a routine agreement, and in some respects, it’s the type of relationship that all new technologies need to score. But it’s a big deal for the young startup that was founded in 2007 and which has yet to scale up its manufacturing to a commercial level. That won’t happen until mid-2014, and Aquion is just starting to deliver its final battery products to pilot customers now. So what’s Aquion’s energy storage innovation? The startup — which is backed by Bill Gates and VCs like Kleiner Perkins and Foundation Capital — is making a low cost, modular grid battery made from basic materials like sodium and water. The battery pairs a carbon anode with a sodium-based cathode, and a water-based electrolyte shuttles ions between the two electrodes during charging and discharging. The technology was developed out of Carnegie Mellon University by founder and chief technology officer Jay Whitacre. By using basic materials, Aquion is hoping its product is inexpensive enough to disrupt the current grid battery market. Aquion’s CEO Scott Pearson told me that several years from now, when the battery has been manufactured at a commercial scale for awhile, the price point of the battery could be $300 per kilowatt hour. That’s about a third of the cost of some of the more expensive lithium ion battery grid products currently on the market. Pearson said that even now at the pilot scale that its batteries are “not radically above that” $300 per kwh level. A low cost and easily installed grid energy storage option could be a game changer. Over the next few years solar and wind farms are going to be built at a record pace in various markets across the globe and reliable and low cost batteries will be crucial for banking clean power at night or when the wind dies down. Pearson told me that there’s at least a dozen applications for which power companies and utilities could use the batteries, like renewable energy integration, power grid load shifting (helping utilities handle spikes in load) and ancillary services like frequency regulation (the power grid has to maintain a specific frequency). Aquion managed to raise $20 million back in 2011 and started working on another $35 million earlier this year. Investors in the company include Bill Gates, Bright Capital, Gentry Venture Partners, Kleiner Perkins and Foundation Capital. Kleiner Perkins’ David Wells played a key role in helping incubate the technology and Whitacre and Kleiner sponsored an incubator at Carnegie Mellon for Whitacre to develop the tech.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.8890523314476013, "language": "en", "url": "https://support.clearbooks.co.uk/support/solutions/articles/33000203097-how-to-explain-transfers-from-one-bank-account-to-another", "token_count": 243, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.15625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:b90f323c-114b-49dd-81c7-505275a49a95>" }	The Bank Explain screen allows you to explain payments and receipts in multiple different ways. You can reach the Bank Explain Screen by either importing/re-creating a statement or using the manage money options on the Money > Bank accounts menu. This guide helps demonstrate how to explain a payment or receipt as a transfer from one bank account to another on the Bank Explain screen. Both bank accounts must be set up in Clear Books. To streamline the process of explaining recurring transactions on an imported statement, you can set up bank import rules and explain transactions in bulk. On the Bank Explain screen click on the Transfer tab. i. Select the bank account the money is being transferred from for receipts ii. Select the bank account the money is being transferred from for receipts Hit the Confirm transfer button to complete. Explaining transfers in Clear Books updates the balance on the account receiving money and the account sending money. If you import statements for different bank accounts you will find that transfers between these bank accounts will appear as a receipt on one statement and a payment on another. Explaining both the payment and receipt on both separate statements will result in a duplicate. Please delete one of these transactions.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9349161982536316, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.economicgreenfield.com/2018/07/13/charts-indicating-economic-weakness-july-2018/", "token_count": 982, "fin_int_score": 4, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.045166015625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:a7440ee2-42d5-4795-b703-a8b9b1d8b3bf>" }	U.S. Economic Indicators Throughout this site there are many discussions of economic indicators. At this time, the readings of various indicators are especially notable. This post is the latest in a series of posts indicating U.S. economic weakness or a notably low growth rate. While many U.S. economic indicators – including GDP – are indicating economic growth, others depict (or imply) various degrees of weak growth or economic contraction. As seen in the July 2018 Wall Street Journal Economic Forecast Survey the consensus (average estimate) among various economists is for 2.9% GDP growth in 2018. However, there are other broad-based economic indicators that seem to imply a weaker growth rate. As well, it should be remembered that GDP figures can be (substantially) revised. Charts Indicating U.S. Economic Weakness Below are a small sampling of charts that depict weak growth or contraction, and a brief comment for each: Total Federal Receipts “Total Federal Receipts” growth continues to be intermittent in nature since 2015. As well, the level of growth does not seem congruent to the (recent) levels of economic growth as seen in aggregate measures such as Real GDP. “Total Federal Receipts” through June had a last value of $316,278 Million. Shown below is the measure displayed on a “Percent Change From Year Ago” basis with value -6.6%, last updated July 12, 2018: source: U.S. Department of the Treasury. Fiscal Service, Total Federal Receipts [MTSR133FMS], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, accessed July 12, 2018: The Yield Curve Many people believe that the Yield Curve is a leading economic indicator for the United States economy. On March 1, 2010, I wrote a post on the issue, titled “The Yield Curve As A Leading Economic Indicator.” While I continue to have the stated reservations regarding the “yield curve” as an indicator, I do believe that it should be monitored. As an indication of the yield curve (i.e. a yield curve proxy), below is a weekly chart from January 1, 1990 through July 11, 2018. The top two plots show the 10-Year Treasury and 2-Year Treasury yields. The third plot shows the (yield) spread between the 10-Year Treasury and 2-Year Treasury, with the July 11, 2018 closing value of .27%. The bottom plot shows the S&P500: (click on chart to enlarge image)(chart courtesy of StockCharts.com; chart creation and annotation by the author) U.S. Auto Sales U.S. auto sales have experienced significant growth over the post-2009 period as seen in the chart shown below. The current reading (through June) is 17.381 million vehicles SAAR. Of great economic importance is whether auto sales have peaked, which I believe has occurred, as well as other problematical characteristics of the light vehicle market. A long-term chart is shown below: source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Light Weight Vehicle Sales: Autos and Light Trucks [ALTSALES], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; accessed July 10, 2018: Vehicle Miles Traveled I find the flagging growth trend in the “Vehicle Miles Traveled” (NSA) measure since 2015 to be notable. “Vehicle Miles Traveled” through April had a last value of 272,442 Million. Shown below is the measure displayed on a “Percent Change From Year Ago” basis with value -.2%, last updated July 2, 2018: source: U.S. Federal Highway Administration, Vehicle Miles Traveled [TRFVOLUSM227NFWA], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; accessed July 12, 2018: Alternate Growth Trend Measures Another facet of economic activity is seen in the ratio of the Conference Board’s Coincident Composite Index to the Lagging Composite Index. I interpret the trends seen in this measure to be disconcerting, as the ratio has generally been sinking for years: source: Haver’s June 21, 2018 post (“U.S. Leading Economic Indicators’ Rate of Increase Eases“) As mentioned previously, many other indicators discussed on this site indicate economic weakness or economic contraction, if not outright (gravely) problematical economic conditions. The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic situation SPX at 2798.29 as this post is written
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9445589184761047, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.gep.com/blog/mind/fueling-the-future-how-biofuels-can-help-india-achieve-greater-energy-security", "token_count": 1367, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.2197265625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:42ba6847-11c9-4fe6-9e76-992e0e6a6d84>" }	Fueling the Future: How Biofuels Can Help India Achieve Greater Energy Security Biofuels obtained from organic matter or waste are one of the most valuable renewable energy sources that can help reduce carbon emissions. Bio-diesel, bio-ethanol and biogas are the three most commonly used biofuels. At present, biofuels represent approximately 3% of all road transport fuels around the globe1. According to the Renewable Fuels Association, biofuels have helped reduce more than 230 million metric tons of carbon emissions since 20072. Recently, the global biofuel industry is focusing on increasing the use of biofuels in the aviation and marine sector. The Indian Government’s Biofuel Policies In India, the importance of biofuels was felt as early as the 1970s, with committees being set up to examine the scope of using bio-ethanol and bio-diesel as fuels in India. Under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Program, it was made mandatory to blend 5% ethanol with petrol in 9 major sugar producing states and 4 union territories by 20033. This mandate was made optional in 2004 due to a supply shortage. The National Biofuel Policy was announced to oversee the step-wise implementation of ethanol blending in petrol across most Indian states. 5% ethanol blending in petrol was made mandatory from October 2008 and a further 20% ethanol blending target was set to be accomplished by 2030 (along with 5% biodiesel blending)4. At present, the EBP program requires public sector oil marketing companies to sell ethanol-blended petrol, with a minimum of 5% and a maximum of 10% blending, across all states and union territories (except Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands) from April 2019. However, with all the initiatives and targets set by the Indian government, ethanol blending in the country remained at just over 4% by 20185. Challenges and Risks Despite the new policies and mandates, the Indian government has not been able to boost the biofuel industry in India. In 2016, public sector oil marketing companies in India procured around 1.1 billion liters of biofuel, which will only be enough for a blending rate of 3.5%6. This primary cause of this shortcoming is a supply crunch. The major industrial consumers of ethanol in India are the liquor industry and the chemicals industry, which together use more than 90% of the total ethanol produced in India. Producers prefer to sell ethanol to liquor manufacturers as it is an assured market with fixed selling prices and steadily increasing demand. The situation has been compounded by the fact that public sector oil marketing companies are unwilling to sign long-term supply agreements with ethanol suppliers. The bulk of the ethanol in India is produced from fermenting molasses, a by-product of the sugarcane crushing process. With regulations in place to restrict the use of sugarcane juice and other food crops directly for ethanol production — to insulate consumers from a rise in food prices — the availability of feedstock for ethanol production has reduced in recent years. These regulations have been relaxed since 2018 and ethanol production directly from sugarcane juice has been permitted. However, these steps are unlikely to have any fundamental effect on the ethanol production or supply until the Indian government provides incentives, low-interest loans and guarantees to set up distilleries for ethanol production from sugarcane juice and molasses. Supply chain challenges have also been instrumental in hindering the biofuel industry’s growth in India. Ethanol, a highly flammable liquid, requires safety and risk assessment measures during its production, transportation and storage. It also requires a dedicated distribution network and interstate movement with transportation and storage centers because of the non-uniform distribution of raw materials in India. These factors have negatively affected the development of the biofuel industry in India. The Way Forward A key strategy to increase ethanol supply in the country is to concentrate more on second and third generation bio-ethanol. Since the use of food grains and sugarcane juice for ethanol production has always been under scrutiny in a developing nation like India, the use of agricultural and household waste for biofuel production will have significant positive effects on the supply scenario. Presently, second-generation biofuel production is negligible in India. However, public sector oil marketing companies, such as the Indian Oil Corporation and Bharat Petroleum, have been setting up production plants and investing in second-generation biofuel production in the last few years. The results from these developments are yet to be seen in the industry, though. It is estimated that the net availability of agricultural residue for biofuel production in India by 2030 would be approximately 166.6 million tons7. The demand for ethanol for fuel blending (considering the target blending rate of 20%) by the same year would be around 13.7 million tons8. Thus, investments in developing technology that can produce ethanol from cellulosic and lignocellulosic biomass while setting up production plants will help shift the focus from food-based biofuels and will help curb the unavailability of ethanol feedstock in the future. Government initiatives to facilitate ethanol production from corn will also be a key strategy in the future. Corn requires much less water for cultivation compared to either paddy or sugarcane, both of which are now in oversupply in the Indian market. Corn is being extensively used for ethanol production in the U.S., which is the largest ethanol producer and consumer in the world. Encouraging farmers to shift land used for paddy cultivation to corn, providing financial assistance for cooperative distilleries and production plants, and ensuring a fixed price and assured market for ethanol will come a long way in increasing ethanol supply across the country. This will also help save large amounts of water that are traditionally used for paddy cultivation, a key factor as India is poised to witness severe water crises in the near future. These steps will help India increase ethanol production and blending rates and can lead to a reduction in foreign exchange, which is currently being used for fuel imports. - 5 https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/oil-gas/ethanol-blending-with-petrol-may-reach-7-2-pc-in-2018-19-season-from-4-2-last-year/articleshow/68705372.cms?from=mdr - 8 https://unepdtu.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/second-generation-biofuel-potential-in-india-sustainability-and-cost-considerations.pdf
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9367935061454773, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.internetvibes.net/2018/10/30/all-you-need-to-know-about-electronic-market-places-in-commodity-market/", "token_count": 1038, "fin_int_score": 4, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.10107421875, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:64ec310f-389f-46f1-8fe8-e378cc3bfee2>" }	You Can Listen to This Article Here Understanding the Concept of Online Commodity Trading The history of trading in commodities and the Commodity market in India is as old as the Indian Civilisation itself. The desire of humans for various forms of commodities developed international trade in India with traders from all over the world would travel to India for trade attracted by its spices, tea, textiles, etc. The Commodity market in India has undergone numerous stages of transformation throughout the course of history, i.e., from the centuries-old barter trade system to the present day electronic marketplace for commodities. Trade, commerce, and employment flourish whenever any form of institutional support is provided to the market. For instance, various Agriculture Committees which regulate the market or provide minimum support prices for commodities can lead to the steady growth of within the primary sector. With the increased development in technology and innovations in the financial sector, the commodities market has witnessed a revolution as well which has wholly transformed commodity trade with traditional commodity marketing practices been replaced with trade processes. Commodity exchanges are aiding cost effective and economic transactions, improving the efficiency within the value chain, enabling integration of geographically disperse and diverse markets, and introducing advanced transaction practices. For instance, in an electronic spot commodity exchange, can provide a higher degree of transparency for spot transactions, which can lead to effective pricing, the establishment of quality standards, and the formalization of trade and commerce through an organized market-place. Electronic Market Place for Commodities In spite of various challenges including various regulations of the State and the Central Government about the regulation of spot commodities platforms, most of the electronic commodities marketplace has been more interconnected with the financial services industry and the financial markets towards delivering the benefits of financialization of the commodity market. Commodities need to be standardized as per prevailing market practices, and these standards require the support of an appropriate governing or regulatory body towards certification of quality. The Electronic marketplace can aid in eliminating the multiple standards of involved in the storage and trading of commodities in different regions into a single standard nationwide, which can be set as per best prevailing international standards. Also, the electronic receipts issued by recognized warehouses under the e-NWRs and the commodity repository mechanism has already established legal recognition for commodities involving agricultural goods, and these receipts can aid in the development of a secondary market for these receipts, which can be offered in lieu of delivery on the spot commodity exchanges. Also, the Electronic marketplace for commodities offers an enhanced trading experience along with the potential of financing which can further lead to enhance transparency in commodity trading having assured markets, an enhancement inflow of finance into the commodity markets, institutionalisation of various standards related to the production, process, storage and trading of a particular commodity etc. A large amount of existing commodity such as gold, oil, etc. can be financialised with the aid of electronification and conducting trade on spot exchanges, at this moment unleashing the value of an idle asset besides formalizing the same. Similarly, extending the WDRA guidelines for warehousing of commodities of non-agriculture in nature can aid in establishment of standards, financialisation of idle or stored metals which can further help to ease the working capital needs of various players within a value chain, and also develop a forward curve, thereby providing a boost to the metal markets and its existing ecosystem. Catalyst for Change To bring about such a revolutionary change, developing and deploying supporting technology is essential. The technology needs to ensure a seamless connection between a various institution which includes the banking system, spot trading platforms, repositories, warehouses, etc. while being cost-effective. Revolutionary technologies such as the blockchain can aid in providing information access, making seamless transactions of recordkeeping of the same, providing an enhancement towards connecting the stakeholders to the trading platforms, at this moment making the process of price discovery information-based and robust. Advanced technologies in the electronic commodities marketplace also aid in gathering, processing, and distribution of real-time data and information from various sources. This makes information readily and timely available and the price discovery process more robust. Previously, one of the biggest roadblocks in commodities trading was the lack of adequate and relevant information in a timely fashion, which often made decision making a difficult task. The electronic marketplace for commodities offers a solution to the said issue of relevant and timely information. Electronic commodities marketplace also aids to enable a fiscal regime. With the aid of favorable tax policies which incentivize the movement towards electronic commodities marketplace from an unregulated commodities market, can aid the players in the commodity sector to raise finances from financial institutions in a cost-effective manner, which is very difficult in the prevailing unregulated commodity markets. The GST has already paved the way for an integration of these disjointed market, eliminate the economic borders between states and create a unified single national market. Along with the linking of electronic commodities marketplace like the e-NAM along with logistics, warehousing, quality test, and control need to be strengthened for ensuring a mass migration from the traditional commodity marketplace to the mass-adoption of the electronic marketplace.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9807628989219666, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.memoriavotorantim.com/en/", "token_count": 153, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.46875, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:566884e8-21ac-4c13-8e64-b433fbe7e976>" }	In January 1918, the bankrupt estate of a Sao Paulo bank was bought by the Portuguese entrepreneur Antonio Pereira Ignacio. Among the properties acquired, there was Fábrica de Tecidos Votorantim, which was the largest textile factory in the interior of São Paulo. It was in the looms of this factory, in the cotton bales and by the tireless hands of workers and workers that the company’s history began. In 1918, Brazil was a country to be built, only three decades ago it had abolished slavery and proclaimed the Republic, and longed for a future that would place it among the important nations of the world. It took courage to risk business, and this was a mark of Antonio Pereira Ignacio.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9793312549591064, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.simplyswitch.com/energy/guides/ofgem-the-office-of-gas-and-electricity-markets/", "token_count": 939, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.1064453125, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:27c3575d-4487-45ae-b52e-21b267790cb5>" }	Ofgem have been at the centre of a lot of controversy in recent times. Ofgem are the regulator for the gas and energy markets in the UK. This means that their job is to monitor the behaviour of the energy suppliers in the UK. It is their job to ensure that we, as consumers, are protected from mistreatment when it comes to the way in which we receive our energy. Compare energy suppliers and save over £350* in five minutes! Ofgem are the regulator of the electricity and gas companies in the UK. They are charged with overseeing the practices of all the energy suppliers in Great Britain. Like Ofcom or the FSA, Ofgem are an official government body. This means they wield quite a large degree of power over the companies that they regulate. Before Ofgem was created, two bodies existed for the regulation of the energy companies within Britain. These companies were the Office of Gas Supply and the Office of Electricity Regulation. There is a levy placed on the energy companies in the UK that gets paid to Ofgem. This is how Ofgem receives their funding. However, whilst it does receive payment from the energy companies it still remains an independent body. The main reason for Ofgem’s creation was the opening up of the gas and electricity markets in the UK to general competition. Before 1996, British Gas was responsible for almost all of the energy that was produced in the UK. Once households had the freedom to choose between different energy suppliers on an open market, there was a clear need for a regulating body. Ofgem took over responsibility for the setting of a maximum price, thereby protecting consumers from exploitation. However these limits on a maximum price have since been removed. As a result of this gas and electricity prices in the UK have gone up by over one and a half times its level in 2004. Ofgem has been given the task of ensuring that energy consumers are getting a fair deal on their gas and electricity. They are also in charge of ensuring that the supply of energy is protected. This means that they must make sure that there is always enough energy available to meet the demands of the UK. Ofgem also monitors the performance of energy suppliers when it comes to their customer satisfaction. This means that they also keep an eye on how many complaints the energy companies receive. Ofgem forces the energy suppliers to publish these complaints clearly on their websites, so that new customers can see what kind of treatment they are likely to receive. Ofgem’s confidence code is designed to govern energy comparison sites, like this one. This code make sure that we provide you with clear, fair and impartial information on the cheapest gas and electricity deals that are available to you. This means that when you use our website, you can be sure that we are showing you the best energy deals that are out there on the market. We will never try and influence you towards one energy company or another. As a result of Ofgem’s confidence code, energy comparison sites like ours have become the best way to find a good deal on gas and electricity. In just a few minutes, with a very small amount of your information, we can find great offers on energy rates that are relevant your needs and your lifestyle. Ofgem have repeatedly stressed the need for customers to become “Energy Shoppers”. This means that they recommend that you look around at the options on the market, in order to try and find the most competitive plans that are out there. This review was aimed at investigating whether or not the energy market in the UK was doing enough to protect its customers. Here are some of the main things that they identified needed addressing: Ofgem have decided that, in order to allow customers to easily compare energy rates that they are on, all gas and electricity bills must display the key data of the tariff that is being paid. They also decided that all energy rates should have one set tariff and a clear amount that customers pay per unit of electricity. The only tariffs that were allowed to vary were ones that offered cheaper rates at low use times e.g. Economy 7, Heatwise etc. Energy companies are now obliged to let you know when you could be paying less on your energy bills. This is aimed at people who have been on the same energy plan for a long time. A Set Number of Tariffs Ofgem found that many energy companies were offering so many tariffs that it became increasingly difficult for their customers to see which one may offer them the best deal. The RMR has suggested that each energy supplier be limited to offering four core tariffs.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9652222394943237, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.smartcapitalmind.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-capital-expenditures.htm", "token_count": 531, "fin_int_score": 5, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.12890625, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:0613c381-df25-4d9c-b208-7428578e3b08>" }	Purchases of fixed assets and purchases made to upgrade fixed assets are the two different types of capital expenditures (capex). Fixed assets are physical property with a useful life that extends far beyond the current year. The property also has to be of a certain nature to qualify as a fixed asset rather than a current asset. Physical property treated as a fixed asset has to have a quality of permanency, such as real estate or major machinery, rather than something that may have a useful life of many years but that is easily moved or sold, such as a computer printer. The fixed assets category is commonly referred to on a budget as property, plant, and equipment (PP&E). Business expenses must be correctly categorized for accounting and tax purposes. Assets that a company acquires during a fiscal year can either be treated as current or fixed, which affects how the asset is treated for tax purposes. An asset is considered current if it used up in the current or subsequent year or can easily be converted to cash. The expense to acquire a current asset is written off on the company's books in the year the asset is acquired. A fixed asset is property that has a long useful life and cannot be easily sold or converted into cash. This type of property cannot be expensed in the year it is acquired. The tax code requires the cost of fixed assets to be amortized over its useful life, meaning the entire cost has to be spread out over the years the property will be used and an equal portion is deducted every year. Property depreciates each year, which is another expense the company has to record in its accounting system. Capital expenditures are monies spent on PP&E. There are two types of cash outlays that will qualify the expense as capital for tax purposes. If a company buys anything that is considered a fixed asset, the expense is a capital expenditure. Expenses to upgrade a fixed asset or extend its useful life are also considered capital. Any outlay of money to acquire a current asset is instead considered an operational expenditure (opex). The importance of classifying capital expenditures is primarily related to tax treatment, but it has other implications for a company's financial operations as well. Businesses operate according to a yearly budget, and operational budgets manage cash flow over the course of a fiscal year. Fixed assets are carried separately on a capital budget that only reflects capital expenditures. Buying or developing PP&E typically requires large outlays of cash, complex financing, and an acquisition plan that spans multiple years, which requires management to identify assets upfront so they can be properly accounted for in the company's financial plan.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9423726201057434, "language": "en", "url": "https://www.thelazysite.com/how-a-sovereign-default-affects-international-trade/", "token_count": 713, "fin_int_score": 4, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.482421875, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:91de69a6-27dc-4e60-a2b7-472e5ad828b7>" }	A sovereign default occurs when the government of a country fails to make its sovereign debt payments. The failure to make payments results in what is called a default. In cases of sovereign default, the U.S. government is generally notified first. If such notification has not been received, then the State Department typically initiates a complaint for a sovereign default. A number of other countries also commonly file such complaints. A sovereign default is not very common. sovereign default When a country defaults on its debt, it does so voluntarily. This means that it makes its financial institutions available for negotiations. Usually, the primary reason for the default is that the domestic economy will not be able to support the defaulted loan or interest rate. Such circumstances are usually temporary. During a sovereign default, there are many important issues that arise. In order to resolve them, the government needs to make sure that the institutions involved in sovereign debt management are properly organized. Without proper structure, none of these arrangements can survive. One of the most important things that happens during sovereign default is that the value of the currencies of all nations involved goes down. In addition, the governments of sovereign nations do not receive the appropriate credit they would normally receive. With low commodity prices, fewer foreign investors can easily finance businesses. A decrease in the value of a nation’s currency makes its products and services less competitive on the market. Because of the negative impact on credit, the governments of sovereign states are often eager to find a way to regain the lost credibility. The institutions that manage sovereign debt do not always make the best decisions. Sometimes, this results in poor-quality loans to businesses and bad-quality interest rates for consumers. Such circumstances make it difficult for companies and individuals to obtain credit. When this happens, the defaulting government may use its control over the institution to reorganize the way it administration and manages sovereign funds. Another way in which sovereign debt management can affect the global economy is through the loss of trust in the institution. Banks and other financial institutions will not extend credit to sovereign entities. As a result, trade and investment slow down as investors become skeptical about whether they can trust these financial institutions. As a result, money is withdrawn from the economy, reducing growth and employment. As people lose confidence in the ability of banks to loan money, other commercial sectors begin to suffer as well. Manufacturing companies and manufacturers of durable goods, like cars, airplanes, and pharmaceuticals, are especially effected when their major customers move their manufacturing operations to other countries where they don’t have a formal relationship with. The loss of thousands of jobs in these sectors will have a ripple effect on the rest of the economy. In addition, some of these companies will choose to close their doors rather than make risky investments in new ventures in other countries. All these factors will contribute to the rise of sovereign default risk as more nations find themselves on the brink of default. In the past, sovereign debt has rarely posed a threat to a country’s solvency. Interest rates on sovereign bonds are usually manageable and easy to meet, and they always default at some point. However, following the recent developments in the world’s economies, it is now possible for sovereign debt to cause more damage to a country’s finances than its economic goods. If the current trends continue, a sovereign default will soon follow. This time, however, the financial institutions will be far less willing to finance a sovereign government due to the lack of confidence in their ability to recover.
{ "dump": "CC-MAIN-2021-17", "language_score": 0.9625955820083618, "language": "en", "url": "https://allthewhileinstyle.com/only-30-percent-of-us-wives-earn-more-than-their-husbands-data/", "token_count": 238, "fin_int_score": 3, "fin_score_model": "en_fin_v0.1", "risk_score": 0.380859375, "risk_score_model": "en_risk_v0.1", "id": "<urn:uuid:eb79cd67-73cc-4b43-9f0e-58bb85c23a2e>" }	Throughout America’s dual-income households, only 30 percent of wives on average earn more than their husbands, according to new federal data. It’s a disparity that has held constant over the past decade after climbing steadily starting 40 years ago, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 1981, only 15.9 percent of wives earned more than their husbands on average. Wives whose husbands who work in teaching and childcare see the greatest income disparities, out-earning their spouses by 40 percent or more, according to an analysis of labor and census stats in Self Financial. How female breadwinners fare compared to their husbands varies region to region, the Self analysis also shows. They do better in the northeast, where education levels are higher. Vermont and New York are home to the greatest share of wives who outearn their husbands, at 36.2 and 32.9 percent respectively. Wives earn the least compared to their husbands in Utah and Idaho. In Utah, only 22.4 percent of wives earn more than their husbands; in Idaho, it’s 24.7 percent.

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