Used in ice cream, India’s guar gum is also so necessary for fracking that the rise of oil prices created a guar bean bubble.…
Developing Economies
Developing economies are countries that display the earlier stages of a market system. Including China, India, the Philippines, they have fast growth rates and are helping propel the world economy. Because each one is different, econlife looks at examples of their businesses, consumers and governments.
The Money That People Won’t Spend
Swinging from hyperinflation to deflation, the value of Zimbabwe currency has created uncertainty for more than a decade.…
Looking at a Global Supply Chain With a Smile (Curve)
A smile curve is a handy way to see that the global supply chain for technology is much more complicated than a Made-in-China label.…
Where Smartphones Have to be Clever
Targeting a less literate, poorer population, developing nations’ smartphones are different from their “sisters” in industrialized countries.…
The Development Debate About Chickens
When Bill Gates expressed his foundation’s support for giving chickens to people in extreme poverty, he ignited a debate about development programs.…
The Mystery of the Costly Crustacean
Combine Maine’s lobster glut with China’s lobster demand and you come close to solving the mystery of why lobster prices have not sunk.…
The Exciting Side of Vanilla Economics
If your ice cream cone costs more this summer, just think of supply and demand and Madagascar’s soaring vanilla bean prices.…
When Buying a Bond Might Not Be Ethical
Enjoying rich returns from emerging market funds, Venezuela’s bondholders have ethical investing dilemmas because the cost could be starvation.…
Why We Need Stock Markets
Whether looking under a buttonwood tree on Wall Street 225 years ago or at a contemporary African nation, we can see why we need new stock markets.…
How Affluence Relates to Pollution
China’s first three five-year plans had no mention of the environment. Then in plans five through nine, there was more. And now, looking at plans 11 to 13, we would see that 5% of all words rela…