The state of a nation’s economy is affected by a long list of variables including government spending, international trade, manufacturing, availability of jobs and housing and much more. Citizens of a nation might have qualms about their economy if they are having difficulties providing safe, comfor
In the arena of economics, what does it mean to be successful? A simple question deserves a simple answer: MONEY! How much money is required to determine success? That question is a little more complicated. If you have access to money or if you have access to credit sufficient to pay for the things
What is the value of precious gems and are they a good investment? We always say that “diamonds are a girl’s best friend”, but why? Long ago, when people did not trust printed currency, diamonds, rubies, emeralds and other precious gems seemed like reliable and valuable assets. If the economy crashe
In the world of business, the term “capital” refers to money. Venture capital is money that is used for investing in a project that has a substantial amount of risk. Some examples of venture capital are financial investments in new businesses or in a business that is trying to expand. Sometimes ther
All nations need money to manage their countries. It costs money to build roads, maintain a military, operate schools and provide medical care. The list of needs is long. Where does that money come from? The citizens provide that money through taxation. They must work to earn money in order to pay t
As companies grow, they often branch out into various fields. They realize that they can both reduce expenses and increase profits if they control all stages of their businesses, from the production of raw materials all the way to sales. An umbrella company is like a parent with many smaller compani
Working to earn money is part of life for the average individual. We consider the rate of payment and we tally up the hours invested to calculate gross income. That might seem like a fair amount of money to receive for the work performed. That’s when the government gets involved. The government calc
Saving money while spending money is a tricky skill. It means that a consumer has to look for good deals and discounted prices. Sometimes it requires a consumer to make a large quantity purchase in order to get a cheaper price, even if the amount of the item is much more than is needed. Manufacturer
Consumers are at the end of the line in the chain of consumerism. From farmers and raw ingredients providers to agents and sales representatives to marketing people to shipping agents to merchants who provide finished products, every link in the chain takes a piece of the profit. The consumer at the
Advertising is not only for the purpose of informing the public about a product or service that is available. It is a very important method used to persuade people to get involved in something or pay for something that they might not normally be interested in. Advertising must create an impression f
The Internet is an integral part of societies around the world. Smartphones have taken us to a place that only home and office computers occupied, before. Now, you can read, see, write and provide information 24 hours a day. There is a deluge of information and most of it is flowing through the popu
Manufacturing has certain images. Factories that pay low wages to their workers sell their products at low prices. People that buy those items cannot complain about low quality because the prices are low. Low quality because of low prices leads to people making judgements about the whole country whe
Companies sometimes create a rosy scenario of a lucky purchase, but they hide certain expenses in small print. You might be intrigued about a fantastic travel package including airfare, hotels, and meals. The price is right so you are tempted. However, in the small print of the contract it explains
Keeping expenses within a budget is often a matter of discipline. If your household total income is sufficient to pay all of your bills and you still have some money remaining, you are quite fortunate. That so-called “extra money” has value and it would be a bad idea to just waste it. So, what can b
Anybody who is familiar with bookkeeping understands the difference between black ink and red ink. Black ink is used to indicate profits and positive transactions. Red ink is used when there is an expenditure or negative balance. We all have bills to pay, private families and businesses, too. Black
The kitchen is a central part of any home. Making the correct purchases to have a kitchen that suits your family’s needs is very important. As for refrigeration, you want to buy a good quality refrigerator and freezer combined machine. Having an extra cooler for kimchi is nice if you have the space.
It almost always costs money to solve problems. If something is wrong with your car or your toilet or your lower back, the first thing we do is contact a professional. Going to a car repair center or having a plumber visit you immediately, or an exam with a doctor all cost plenty of money. What if y
Are you an important person? Is your personal information important to the world of commerce? Banks and credit card companies have always wanted to know your name, address, and personal identification numbers. Now, it seems that almost every company wants that data. Even to play a game on your smart
Diamonds have industrial usefulness because they are strong and able to cut, drill and grind very hard materials. They are also components in high-end watches, super-computers and even audio speakers. Diamonds are also used to create beautiful jewelry. Unscrupulous diamond mining companies treat wor
Sugar makes almost everything taste better. Pure sugar from sugar cane is expensive and has always been a commodity that trades like gold around the world. High prices drive manufacturers to look for alternatives. One of the most commonly used alternative sweeteners is corn syrup. Corn-based product