Who’s Happy About the Falling Price of Gold?

Allisa Eunsol Hwang
4.19.2013 

http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2013/04/18/whos-happy-about-the-falling-price-of-gold/

published April 18,2013

by Sudepp Jain and Debiprasad Nayak 

INDIAREALTIME

Recently, gold has been considered as a safe bet, because its value was stable, and is not affected by inflation. But since last Friday, its price dropped. This decline has done significant effect to India, For some groups of Indians, gold price falling is not that bad news. Those are new buyers, India's finance minister, central banks, and gold bears.

I think nowadays economics are not that good. I thought decreasing gold price only means bad thing, but it is interesting that there are some groups that would glad this situation. I hope no one would get harmed by this.  

Worst PC sales drop in history

Allisa Eunsol Hwang
4.12.2013

http://money.cnn.com/2013/04/10/technology/pc-sales/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Published April 10, 2013

by Julianne Pepitone

CNN

According to IDC, shipment of computer dropped about 14% last quarter. The article says the is the worst yearly decrease since 1994. IDC expected about 7.7% of decline, but it decreased about twice more. also, another technology consultant, Gartner said similar thing on Wednesday, too. The analysis firm said only 79 million PCs were sold worldwide in first quarter. This is the fewest shipment since 2009. PC companies had made a lot of new things, and Microsoft made Windows 8. But Windows 8 didn't help increasing shipment. Consumers feel uncomfortable with a lot of changes in Windows 8. So shears of every computer companies dropped.

I think the shipment will increase naturally when time passes, and people needs new computer. So I think it will be okay. Also, I agree with customers who said Windows 8 is complicated. I saw Windows 8, and it was difficult and very unfamiliar and uncomfortable. It was interesting, though. I hope those computer related companies would rise again. 

Chemical accidents face tough sanctions

Allisa Eunsol Hwang
4.5.2013

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2013/04/116_133325.html

published April 4, 2013

by Kim Jae-won

The Korea Times

This article is about a policy about environment. This policy states that if any company have at least three chemical accident in particular amount of period, the company should shutdown. Also, if there is any damage on environment, like pollution and chemical accident, the assailant responsible for recompense everything. The policy about chemical accident will start from next year, and its particular period is not yet decided. For the other policy, that assailant recompenses everything, if the amount of damage is over assailant's ability, he should pay it by insurance. Also, they will make damage of environmental pollution helping fund, so that they can pay for it if there is no particular assailant. 

I think this policy is cool, and I hope this would work well. I think this is good example of government regulation. Even though I like this policy for environment, I think this will hurt companies, because they should work on regulating and take caring of things that might pollute environment. No matter what type is the company, and how big it is, this policy will influence a lot if they against it. 

Apple Sued In China Over Siri Patent Claims

Allisa Hwang Eun Sol
3.29.2013

http://news.sky.com/story/1070385/apple-sued-in-china-over-siri-patent-claims

published March 27, 2013

by Sky News 

Its subtitle is "The technology giant has appeared in court accused of copying software used in a similar voice recognition system". Apple's Siri was sued by Zhizhen, a company from China. Zhizhen's technology is 5 years faster than Siri. Lawyer for Zhizhen said "The company will ask Apple to stop manufacturing and selling products using its patent rights, once Apple's infringement is confirmed". 

I think this is very complicated. I thought that Siri is the first and Samsung is following them, but actually there was another one that started earlier than Apple. While I was reading this article, I thought why didn't Zhizhen sued Apple earlier. Anyways, this was interesting story, and by this I could understand more about how people trying to get technological monopoly. 

Will raising minimum wage help New Yorkers?

Allisa Hwang Eun Sol
3.22.2013

http://www.whec.com/news/stories/S2970495.shtml?cat=566

published March 20, 2013

by Lynette Adams

WHEC

This article is says minimum wage should not raise. People thinks raising minimum wage is needed to help those who earn minimum wages. However, there are people says it will harm more than good. History supports this opinion. According to the Employment Policies Institute, "history shows us that raising the minimum wage hasn't helped ease poverty or put money in the pockets of people who are the poorest in our society". Saltsman says if minimum wage increases, it will be herder for businesses to hire and train workers. So this article suggests to find other way instead of rising minimum wage if you really want to help people who are in real hard situations. 

I agree with this opinion, because when minimum wage, the input cost, increases, supply decrease. Also then, equilibrium price will increase. As its price increases, consumers may think that it is time to find other supplementary products, then the owner will eventually close his or her business. Then, it will led to decreasing jobs, and finally unemployed person will increase. I'm pretty sure real poor people will be there. And if so, setting minimum wage to help employee will finally kick them out. So if government wants to help people who live by minimum wage, they should find other way to help.  

With the arrival of yellow dust, retailers see gold

Allisa Hwang Eun Sol
3.15.2013

http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2968472

published March 13, 2013

by Kim Jung-yoon

Korea JoongAng Daily

Every spring, Korea is influencing by yellow dust from China, that causes some illnesses. This year, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration, many areas of Korea had been attacked since mid-January. Since yellow dust is not good for our health, consumers try to buy things to protect themselves immediately when dust arrives. As a result, according to many big convenience store chain, such as CU and GS25, sales of masks, hand sanitizes, mouthwash, soap, wet wipes, and contact lens cleaner increased rapidly compared to usual sales. Also, sales of every other dust-related supplies, or air-cleaning goods like air purifiers, stroller covers, children’s capes, and plants, increased significantly. 

I think it is funny that sales of air related things increases a lot because of yellow dusts. I guess it will drops after yellow dusts go. I think it will be a great time for producers to cell air cleaning things or dust-related goods in higher prices, because consumers' demand is higher than usual. If there are some new goods, related dust, consumers will try to buy that even though that is quiet expensive than others. Especially mothers would do that more, for their children. 

Tax Credits Help With Higher Education

Allisa Hwang Eun Sol

3.8.2013

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2013/03/05/tax-credits-help-with-higher-education/

published March 06,2013

by Kay Bell

Foxnews

There are many tax credits in U.S.A., and among them, American Opportunity credit and Lifetime Learning credit can help you and your parents pay educational expenses like tuition. However, they are credits, not deductions. So they will take more tax bill. The American Opportunity credit is worth $2,500, and 40% of them are refundable. then, you can get $1,000 back even though you don't owe any taxes. It is improved, but still it has some restrictions. It is just during the first four years of college, and it is temporary. However, the lifetime learning credit can be used for undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree courses for everyone. 

There are other many restrictions on both the American Opportunity credit and the Lifetime Learning credit. Even though they have restrictions, I think it has better conditions than others. However, I'm very sad that it is only for Americans, and I cannot get it.