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economics

Education's Economics Of Scarcity

Colleges are beaches. People are walking and picking up degrees like seashells. As we hand out more and more degrees, each degree becomes less and less valuable. I’m amazed no one has pointed this out. READ»

Infographic Of The Day: Is "The 1%" Inevitable, Given How Networks Work?

The viral protest meme known as "Occupy Wall Street" is still going strong, and according to some provocative research to be published in PLoS One, it may never have reason to run out of steam. Why? Because "the 1%"--#OWS-speak for ...READ»

Bill Gates And The Chinese Government Want To Take On World Hunger

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is teaming up with Beijing to fund a series of revolutionary agricultural and biotech initiatives. China might be using Gates to further its economic imperialism. But maybe that's not such a bad thing.READ»

The True Cost Of A "Free" Hotel Buffet, And Why It's Squeezing Our Economy

A recent visit to a free hotel buffet got me thinking about the broadly subsidized costs of such things. As the debt-ceiling dialogue revealed, the ethos of wanting things cheap or free has saturated our political culture. Cheaper government now, many clearly think, won't entail costs later. But isn't everyone--including me--indirectly paying?READ»

FINANCE   |  Comment

Does the World Have Financial PTSD?

When FDR said: "We have nothing to fear but fear itself," he was right. PTSD is the fear following an intial trauma -- that caused you to feel vulnerable -- of retraumatization, that you're afraid will finish the job and destroy you.READ»

24-Hours: Where Does The Time Go? [Infographic]

This week the U.S. Department of Labor released their annual time-use survey for 2010. Based on annual research that has been conducted over many years, it provides a rich repository of information on how American's spend their time. This infographic examines these latest government figures further. READ»

ANALYTICS   |  Comment

Analytics And Info Overload: Insights From eBay, Adobe, And Oracle

Are analytics a prescription for information overload? Three top Silicon Valley tech titans share views on what's new in e-commerce and retailing. READ»

5 Triggers That Make Your Product Addicting

Sure, games are fun, and group buying is a hot trend, but there’s more to them. What exactly creates the strong attraction for customers? Here are five ways to get the attention your product or service deserves.READ»

How To Gain Buy-In For Your Idea In 60 Seconds Or Less

Yes, there is a formula for successful pitches. Sam Horn shares secrets to selling your idea based on her extensive work with successful entrepreneurs, best-selling authors and speakers.READ»

With 8.4 Million American Millionaires, Billionaire Is The New Goal

Most of us are still working our jobs, waiting for our paychecks and hoping or wishing to someday be millionaires. The problem with that is that having the title of "millionaire" just doesn't hold the same oomph that it once did. Do we now have to shoot for billionaire status to really have "made it" in this world?READ»

Time Magnets: Louis XIV, Social Strategy, and Games

Was Louis XIV a party animal? Or master social strategist?READ»

Want To Be A CMO? The Career Path May Surprise You

Think that being a wizard at developing splashy ads, branding, and social media campaigns generates an automatic ticket to become the next CMO or VP of Marketing? Think again.READ»

Here's Your Chance to Advise the White House on Innovation

The White House's "Advise the Advisors" crowdsourcing effort seeks input from valuable readers like you.READ»

Global Warming-Resistant Biofuel: Agave

In the near future, agave could entertain your guests, sweeten your iced tea, and power the designated driver to take eco-friendly partiers back home. READ»

Mea Culpa Marketing: Were Groupon's Gaffes Intentional?

Were Groupon and Kenneth Cole's actions genuine marketing mistakes with authentic responses? Or master-crafted publicity stunts? Is it okay to be politically incorrect for a good cause? READ»

Stop Wasting Money on Brand Preference. Think Brand Relevance.

David Aaker, vice-chairman of Prophet, shares thought-leading views on applying branding to innovation in his new book "Brand Relevance: Making Competitors Irrelevant."READ»

7 Game-Changing Customer Trends for 2011

We all know that time and attention are scarce resources today. But what impact does this have on customer buying behavior and today's markets?READ»