Posted by admin / Under Consumption Tax
The average American car owner might be annoyed with gas prices, but despite his opinions on Obama's handling of the nation, he still can afford to drive around in a gas guzzler. Unlike rich Norway and Denmark, where car consumption is heavily discouraged, the car producing nation of Sweden (where I live) could only be rivalled by Switzerland. It shows in Swedish stats on car sales. The average Swede could afford a car the average citizen of no other nation could afford. For 16 consequtive years in a row, the 'close to luxury' Volvo V70 has been the top selling...
Published on Tuesday 22nd of May 2012 08:29:27 AM
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Posted by admin / Under Consumption Tax
Deep down inside we all regret the fact that we have turned Christmas, originally a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, into a feast of consumption. Americans view themselves as being the worst example of this attitude and behavior. But are they? Perhaps there are nations even worse. Below, a report from an American ex-pat living in my home country, Sweden. The article; "Rampant holiday consumerism is hard to avoid, writes US-native and parent Rebecca Ahlfeldt, as she struggles to reconcile competing Swedish and American Christmas traditions in finding gifts for her children. Our family has entirely too much...
Published on Tuesday 22nd of May 2012 08:29:27 AM
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Posted by admin / Under Consumption Tax
Sept. 29, 2011, 6:19 p.m. EDT China hard-landing fears hit high-end retailers The tumble came amid growing fears of a hard economic landing in China, which has emerged as a key driver of the world’s economy in the wake of the global financial crisis. The concerns circle around the possibility that China could face a sharp slowdown in exports in coming months, aggravating the headwinds facing the Asian country and dampening the nation’s demand for premium brands such as Louis Vuitton and Tiffany. “Fears of a hard landing in China have once again intensified. While our base case remains a...
Published on Tuesday 22nd of May 2012 08:29:27 AM
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Posted by admin / Under Consumption Tax
"You see, the only way a society can really increase it's future consumption is to save. and by definition saving is under-consumption, it is a lack of consumption, it represents self sacrifice. But when you save and reduce your consumption today, you have money that you can invest, compound interest, and returns, ultimately you can enjoy enhanced future consumption. In America, we have indulged ourselves in the present at the expense of the future." - Peter D. Schiff 2006
Published on Tuesday 22nd of May 2012 08:29:27 AM
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Posted by admin / Under Consumption Tax
Energy prices have been coming down this spring as fears of a Middle East blowup fade. But persistent global demand, tepid supply growth and easy money mean it may not be long till the next damaging spike, Goldman Sachs economists say. Oil prices could surge again by the end of 2012, economists Jan Hatzius and Andrew Tilton wrote in a note to clients this past weekend. They say the snail-like pace of global oil supply expansion – which Goldman projects at 1% or so annually – can't keep a petroleum-addicted world economy rolling without prices rising, perhaps sharply. So don't...
Published on Tuesday 22nd of May 2012 08:29:27 AM
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