Tag Archives: Free Market

Markets in Everything

Airline tickets.  The price of ’em.  Actually, the COST of flying.

Maddening.  Right?

Kinda, but only because they’re changing how they charge.

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Site Hits

So, back in March and April I was excited because traffic to the site increased by 300% over the previous few months.  I thought I was “on my way.”  Whatever THAT means.

However, May and June not only failed to increase traffic, those months actually came in with LESS traffic than the previous months.

July?  Well, slightly better than June, it’s still well below March and April.

As the month came to an end I was bummed.  I enjoy doing this because it’s a hobby; I have fun AND I learn a lot.  But I admit, part of it is an addiction to readers.  And I was stalling even slowing.

I blamed it on summer, lack of interest and all kinds of other things having little to do with me.  Then I noticed something:

I posted just over a third as often as I did in March, just under half of what I posted in April.

Funny thing that free market.  When less is offered for sale, less will be “purchased.”

Also, powerful lesson in cause and effect.  More often the thing that I want but don’t have has more to do with me, my attitude and my effort than any other single cause.

As I often say;

Go. Do.

Payday Loans. Rip Off or Last Resort?

Heave you ever heard of Clark HowardMr. Howard is a nationally syndicated radio show host talking about consumer finances and protection.  His show is full of advice on how to save money, invest money get out of debt and find great deals.  I love it.

But once in awhile, he gets on a topic and stays there.  Time after time he comes back and just continues to hammer it.

And one of my pet peeves is his take on Payday Loans.

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The Changing Face of Labor in China

Slave wages in putrid working conditions.  That’s China.  Right?

If you think so, your opinion is shared by many American’s.  And it’s wrong.

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The Free Market Unleashes Untold Millions

I recently posted that the free market and competition will save consumers $462,000,000 per year.  Turns out I was wrong.

It could be closer to $1,709,400,000.

Per year.

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Competition Saves Americans $462,000,000

And that’s just in the next year. It could even be more.

As more and more corporations are catching onto the fact that American’s wanna spend money on portable book readers, they are working as fast as they can to add features and portability all the while slashing prices.

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And the Market Will Set You Free

I have always said the market will drive us to conserve.

I still say that.

Nothing is going to get me to buy compact fluorescent bulb fast than when they are priced at $0.26 American!

Go market!

Oh yeah, check out who’s funding the price.

UPDATE:

Okay, so this kinda takes the fun out of it:

Progress Energy said today its energy-efficiency program to promote CFL bulbs in this state has resulted in the sale of 1 million of the low-energy bulbs since January.

The Raleigh power company’s Residential Lighting Program pays hardware stores and other retailers in the Progress Energy service area to offer shoppers compact fluorescent light bulbs at an average discount of $1.50.

Progress expects to sell 5 million bulbs in the first two years of the program. Bulb sales are expected to increase next year as more stores participate in the discounts.

Progress introduced the program to comply with a 2007 state law requiring greater use of energy efficiency programs and clean fuels.

Jeez.

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Chinese Labor: Entering Modern Day

For years we have heard about the horrible labor conditions of third world countries.  That people are being forced to work long hours in slave labor conditions for wages that are drastically lower than corporations can pay in America.

We never hear, of course, that these laborers voluntarily put down their farming tools and made their way to the cities to find this work.  This work, that they hope, will transform their lives from one back-breaking agricultural labor to one of living the middle class dream.

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The Power of Markets

In an effort to drive sales and increase profit, Wal-Mart is doing the unconscionable.  Well known for being the outlet of poorer American’s, Wal-Mart is raising prices on all basic needs products.  This, in the middle of the current economic struggle we’re going through is proof enough that Wal-Mart is evil.

Huh?  Wait?  That’s not accurate?

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Competition: Island Style

I was shopping for some computer periphery this afternoon.  I found that I’m not alone in appreciating Puerto Rico:

Puerto Rico Competition

Identical shopping carts; 1 from Wal-Mart and one from “Competencia”.  The Wal-Mart savings?  14%.

Puerto Rican shoppers can save 14%, or $12.68 on $90.70, by shopping at Wal-Mart.  Further, because Wal-Mart exists, people who never shop there even save money as the competition is forced to keep pace.