Policy and Infrastructure Improves National Growth

The development of nations occurs on a constant basis. The policies leaders put in place have a huge impact on the success of any nation and can have long-lasting impacts. A paper by Carmignani & Chowdhury (2010) discusses how specific and broad focus impacts growth. They elaborate on four scenarios of development and the outcomes of each. 

Positive Growth and Decreasing Inequality: Occurs when there is growth in the economy but greater mobility of the classes. 

Positive Growth and Increasing Inequality: Occurs when there is growth in the economy but that growth impacts one class over another. 

Negative Growth and Decreasing Inequality: Occurs when growth is negative but there is greater mobility among the classes. 

Negative Growth and Inequality: Occurs when growth is negative but it impacts one class over another. 

The authors found through their analysis that strong policies and infrastructure improvements help create the right opportunities for a positive growth and decreasing inequality situation. Countries are not limited by their geographical locations, resources, or population. Any country can improve their standing by having the right policies and infrastructure.

Policies have legal implications for businesses and help create an environment for growth. The way in which companies structure, operate and develop are based in part on how they work within particular environments. Policies should focus on business and employment growth and ensure that the environment allows for proper wealth distribution and class mobility. 

Likewise, the infrastructure of a nation naturally can impact the success of business within a particular environment. Proper infrastructure will help ensure that products move quickly, information is transferred appropriately, and money moves easily. Infrastructure encourages growth from the foundations of an economy.

Carmignani, F. & Chowdhury, A. (2011). Four scenarios of development and the role of economic policy. Journal of Developmental Studies, 47 (3).

Keeping it Stylish and Comfortable with Urban Star Jeans

The classic jean has just made a turn to something comfortable. Jeans are just jeans right? Not really. Urban Star jeans by Road Runner Apparel offers something unique for those jean lovers who want to be comfortable but still look great. Just because you are putting your old jeans back in the drawer doesn't mean you can't still enjoy denim.

Price vs. Quality

For those who love their tough and tumble classic jeans, they may be a little put off by the $14 price tag. Price is important when buying products because we associate price with quality.  But this isn’t always the case.  Quality is in the material, design, fit, stitching and only partially in its brand image. A quality brand is that which can consistently provide a high quality product.

Those under the 40 category regularly purchase jeans at $100 or more. The problem is that they are wearing the brand and not necessarily the quality, fit or look. When you’re young fitting in is the most important consideration and just like expensive shoes, cars, and electronic items the clothing becomes an expression of who you are. 

But the jeans they buy are not necessarily better than cheaper alternatives and primarily show the brand conscious nature of social behavior. Urban Star is a brand that doesn’t sell on image only but also ranks high in quality and comfort. Unless someone lifts   your shirt no one is going to know the difference so save your $85 for something else. 

Active vs. Stagnant

Consider how traditional denim stretches and eventually is loose and baggy. By the end of the day the jeans are much looser then they were when you took them out of the dryer. Not particularly flattering considering they don't hug anymore.

Urban Star is active wear which means you can bend, run, move or do anything else and is nearly as comfortable as gym clothing. The clothing bends back in place without losing the original tightness found in traditional jeans. 

Pairing Your Denim

Jeans go well with most other types of clothing. The key to pairing jeans with shirts is to complement but clash. This means that dark jeans go well with white shirts and light colored shoes. They work equally well with black shirts and black shoes. The shirt, shoes, and belt must go together.

The type of shirt and shoes will determine whether you are casual or more stylish. Tennis shoes don’t work well but Converse All Star Sneakers and a t-shirt are strong combinations. For those who are more stylish try a sports jacket and dress shoes. When it was in style you may have also put on a tie. I wouldn't try that today unless you are looking to bring back the 70's.

Developing the Whole Student in Higher Education

Education and training is seen within particular context. Educators often view specific objectives as the total learning process but fail to accept the whole person within that process. A paper by Carter & Donohue (2012) focuses on the total development of the person across the spectrum of scholarship, strategy and service.  The implications are more important for leadership development that must consider the person within his or her environment. 

Scholarship affords the opportunity to understand the foundational knowledge and theory related to particular societal issues. It is the academic process of gaining information through reading, studying, reflecting and understanding. 

Academic knowledge is only part of the solution. One could understand the theory but have no idea of how to apply it within the environment. The application of academic knowledge is based on strategic considerations that come from experience. 

To know how to apply a theory to the environment requires considerable experience that comes from working within and understanding that environment. Strategy is a critical thinking process that weighs and balances the outcomes through understanding how a process works.

Service is a process of having a focal point for actions. Students that have a purpose and focus are often more motivated than students who don’t. Offering a chance to work toward some goal in service can help them integrate the pieces of academic knowledge and strategy. 

Learning doesn’t only come from a textbook and entails the whole person within the environment in which he or she exists. Formal knowledge is important in raising the standard of total understanding so that the strategy can be applied to an activity for greater integration. Without considering the total person within the educational or training environment there is only partial development. 

Vincent, C. & Donohue, M. (2012). Whole person learning: embedding ethical enterprise leadership in business education. American Journal of Business Education, 5 (6).

GDP Improves 4% in Second Quarter

The winter chill has thawed and the economy has rebounded 4% in the second quarter surpassing the governments expectations by 3%. In a spat of heightened economic activity improvement marks a continued trend of increasing economic gain after one of the nation’s worst recessions. The numbers provide some relief for those worried about the previous quarter’s retraction.

“Today’s advance estimate of real GDP is a positive signal that our economy is continuing its steady rebound,” stated U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. She also highlighted that it is necessary to continue work to ensure the rebound is long lasting. 

The plan is to encourage “more companies to export, increase foreign direct investment in the United States, strengthen regional manufacturing and economic development hubs, ensure workers have the skills to find jobs businesses need to fill, and unleash more of our data, all of which helps businesses grow and create American jobs.”

The numbers are complemented by an increase in retail and food services sales, durable goods orders, wholesale trade, new residential sales, personal income, employment and improvement in exports. Housing construction was down substantially but didn’t seem to be creating significant drag. 

Despite the downturn in new construction the overall factors have been positive. Improved international outlook, higher consumer spending, and slack in the system seems to be tightening. Hopefully it will maintain its momentum into the next few quarters.

The Federal Reserve is also cutting its bond from $25 billion from $35 billion. The program was designed to encourage businesses to spend instead of save. As the economy moves to a cruise control stage there is less need for government interference. 

We have a lot to feel thankful for as we move out of the recession period. Increased economic activity will require additional adaptation and investment by companies. With any luck the parity costs of manufacturing with nations like China may provide additional help with investment stimulus and job creation.