The Economy

In hindsight, many good ideas can seem obvious. Putting wheels on a suitcase. Adding a camera to a phone. Realising such things before they happen, and developing a market for them, can be the difference between not only realising a good idea but making it a great idea. The rise of the sharing economy, in many regards, now seems obvious in hindsight. Frequently it combines technologies both high and low. Taking things, which in the past were perhaps provided by individuals each operating as small businesses, and then using the power of technology to simultaneously meet the needs of people and provide a readily discoverable and searchable marketplace for this. Platforms such as Uber and other ridesharing apps have enabled people to realise that they can use or provide a service with regular cars. In conjunction with the realisation that a car can be put to use earning money rather ...

It’s more than a figurative nod to Hillary Clinton and her nodding ways. Collectibles toymaker Royal Bobbles have taken the literal approach and created a Hillary Clinton bobblehead doll. Both the politician and doll will probably take it on the chin. Then nod back and forth in almost hypnotic agreement. The nodding action which inspired the Hillary Clinton bobblehead doll, has been videoed numerous times. On the campaign trail in America, seemingly its occurrence is more regular than clockwork, Old Faithful, or a patriotic US pensioner on a steady diet of prunes. Whether Hillary is over-coached and overplaying a body language indicator of interest, genuinely agrees with what is being said, or is in the process of microsleeps, her head nods back and forth all the same regardless. It’s the prefect inspiration for a bobblehead doll, and imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness. ...

Voting in the Australian federal election in 2016 came and went, without a definitive result delivered either way, because vote counting continued well beyond the Saturday night. Then it stopped, before resuming again later. By the own admission of the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), it could take up to a month to fully count all of the votes. Which, in this day and age, tends to beg the question: Isn’t it about time voting occurred electronically and online? Naturally there are objections to this, including: Not everyone has internet access or access to such devices; where this is often particularly true amongst some demographics, such as the elderly, those living in remote areas, and amongst the impoverished. Online voting opens up concerns about privacy and the risks of hacking. Unless people are formally required to physically attend a designated venue such as polling places to vote, voter numbers may dwindle. ...

Politics delivers its fair share of laughs, in a tears of a clown kind of way. Where the big red button doesn’t make it stop, instead it’s probably going to make a honking sound and be on the nose. Australian politics is no different in that regard. A look at the names of the electorates is usually enough to start shaping some form of balloon animal. From Corangamite, which could be a challengingly cheap, and surprisingly red, alternative to Vegemite. Possibly sold by Aldi, but only if people look hard enough. To Grayndler, which in modern times isn’t hard to mistake for some sort of poling app. Then there’s the dynamic trio of Batman, Bruce, and the almost misleading Hotham. It doesn’t take the world’s greatest detective to deduce that Wayne Enterprises made some very significant political donations in the state of Victoria. The joke would be on the conspiracy ...

Near one week remains until the outcome of Australian federal election 2016 is officially decided. With voting set for Saturday, 2 July 2016, Australia will make a collective decision by numbering boxes on a number of ballot papers by voting for the House of Representatives and voting in the Senate. Down but Not Out As at the time of writing, 25 June 2016, market-based probabilities imply an 85.8 percent chance of the Coalition (collectively the Liberal Party and the National Party plus a few variations on these) winning the 2016 federal election, placing a corresponding 14.2 percent chance of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) winning. Further analysis, the results of which are shown in the table below, forecasts that in the House of Representatives, the Coalition is likely to win 86 seats, and Labor is likely to win 60 seats, with the minor parties and independents collectively expected to win ...

The murder of British MP Jo Cox has cast a dark cloud over Britain. Aged 41-years-old, Helen Joanne “Jo” Cox, was a member of the British Labour Party, and a Member of Parliament for Batley and Spen. Cox was shot and stabbed to death on Thursday, 16 June 2016, in the street near the Birstall library, in West Yorkshire, England. Her killer has been identified as 52-year-old Thomas Mair, reported as suffering from mental health issues, including depression. Witnesses claim Mair yelled “Britain first” at the time of the murder. It’s unclear whether it was “Britain first” or “Britain First” that Mair is said to have yelled however, and coincidence cannot be ruled out. Britain First is the name of a far-right British political party, known for its nationalist and anti-immigration stances. In response to the murder, both sides suspended their campaigning for three days. However, the debate regarding whether ...

Let it be known that Republican presidential campaign 2016 hopeful and the 43rd Governor of Florida, Jeb Bush, has a gun with his name on. He tweeted as much. America. pic.twitter.com/TeduJkwQF3 — Jeb Bush (@JebBush) February 16, 2016 The tweet from Bush followed his visit to the firearms manufacturer FNH USA in Columbia, South Carolina. Jeb Bush’s apparent lack of gun ownership came to light last year, when the Telegraph revealed that he and two other GOP presidential candidates, Chris Christie and Carly Fiorina, did not own guns. The tweet and engraved name on the gun now suggests otherwise, along with Bush’s likely endorsing of the Second Amendment. As the 2016 presidential election dates continue to roll out across the United States, South Carolina will hold its presidential primary elections on: Saturday, 20 February for the Republicans, and on Saturday, 27 February for the Democrats. Whether the “America” gun tweet ...

As the world mourns the death of David Bowie, born 8 January 1947 named David Robert Jones, and passing away 10 January 2016 due to cancer, many are remembering the man’s music and iconic nature. It may be the hallmark of the truly great artists that they confound, challenge, and ultimately not only gain acceptance but shape society’s perceptions in process. While the musician David Bowie is being praised for his innovation, it went far beyond music alone. Bowie’s innovation also found its way into the world of finance. David Bowie Bonds, or Bowie Bonds, were an early example of asset-backed bonds (or asset-backed securities). Issued in 1997, the Bowie Bonds were debt securities whose cash flow payments were backed by the royalties generated from the back catalogue of 25 albums (with 287 songs) David Bowie had recorded between 1969 and 1990. What was essentially the securitisation of intellectual property ...

An emotional speech from US President Obama proposing increased background checks in an attempt to stem gun violence in America has hit an equally impassioned divide amongst citizens of the USA. Obama’s proposal aims to bolster existing gun laws though: expanded background checks, including usage of criminal records and streamlining the reporting of mental health issues; broadening the definition of a gun dealer; and better tracking of firearms reported as lost or stolen. While the intention appears not to lessen Americans’ right to bear arms or confiscate their guns and weapons, others feel it’s unconstitutional and an overreach of executive power undermining civil liberties. Understandably lines are being drawn around clusters of the anti-gun lobby with victims of past shootings and gun violence often politically aligned with the Democrats versus the pro-gun lobby including the National Rifle Association (NRA) and others often politically aligned with the Republicans. Is there a ...

As of today, 4 January 2016, the cost of a standard postage stamp in Australia will be $1. Australia Post has raised the price of stamps from $0.70 to $1, amidst a significant attempt at restructuring the business following to $222 million dollar loss in the 2015 financial year. The $0.30 jump in stamp price, represents a near 43 percent increase in cost. Leaving many of Australia Post’s customers less than happy about the situation. Under the new stamp pricing structure, to post a standard letter (weighing under 250 grams) domestically will cost $1. A single Christmas stamp will cost $0.65. Concession stamps are available for $0.60 per stamp where a valid MyPost Concession account is held. Pricing of stamps for international postage is subject to the county and letter type. Typical strategies where a business is struggling financially, are often a combination of cutting costs and product prices, as ...