Successful Peace Process in Colombia Projects Economic Growth

The Regional and Global Impact of the Peace Process in Colombia

For many years there have been many attempts to bring peace to history armed conflict in Colombia.  Probably, during President Andrés Pastrana's term, the nation came close to reaching that historic milestone.  However, I believe that vision failed because there was no business continuity, in the perspective that the process needs to be handled by a supra political organization, not necessarily international.  When I say supra political, I mean gathering all political forces beyond the organized existing parties, and the opposition, either organized or not. The fact that the presidential term in Colombia is only four years is a significant factor if every president has a new vision.

I believe that President Juan Manuel Santos is doing a great job and Colombians, and internationl observers, expect the best from the peace process.  While there is a need for overall will to make and keep peace, it is important to preserve life, and end violence.  The will to attain a peaceful and civilized society that generates culture rather than violence, where the youth raises their educational level and carries books instead of weapons is a milestone that not only Colombia but the entire Latin America needs to focus on.  I believe that a general change of attitude is and has been a good starting point, but also the feeling of oppression is the counterpart for many of those who have little hope for a career, and the opportunity to life a peaceful life.  This is why I see that what missed in President Pastrana's model was the need for further vision.  So, I think that the armed conflict should not only include demilitarized zones but a perspective and a plan for economic growth, and obviously the integration of rebels to the civil nation voluntarily and peacefully.  Since the conflict involves a great deal of political ideology and other relevant factors, the perspective of the demilitarized zone is that of officially opening a new community.  In several countries worldwide, there are sub nations such as aborigines and reserve nations in the United States.  During my MBA days, I started my first attempt to the International Business class with Prof. Rodríguez at Montclair State University, but after a few weeks I as disappointed about the fact that the class is based on the Indian communities in the USA only as an entire nation, which to me did not seem to be "international business".  So I actually took the class at a later time with another professor, but the weeks I was in that class inspire me to believe that a similar process could bring peace to Colombia, and that guerrillas like FARC, ELN, and others can be converted into political parties and actually found cities and formal political divisions in those territories.  Similarly, the economy of that new nation can create their own world with their own political representation once they are ready to deliver the weapons and live in the civilized world.

The positive impact to the region would be enormous.  The economic diversification of Colombia could allow the full exploration, and research and development of agriculture, cattle, and mine industries, among others; and a variety of underdeveloped transportation models could be created.  I believe in the full reappearance of the national railroad company, and its integration my dream for the Americas, that some day one can travel by developed highways or a railroad system to joins South America from Patagonia to Alaska, and that no one has to bother about the guerrillas in South America, or the gangs in Central America, or other disturbing communities in its path, just the way it happens Western and Eastern Europe.  Also, the transportation through Colombian rivers, and the on-going development of channels to join the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans will have an accelerated development.

This peace process will greatly united the South Americans and secure the tourism of the nation with the many unexplored regions full of wealth and beauty, as well as those historically given for granted.  It can also enhance the oil and coal industries for both domestic consumption and exportation, when appropriate.

Finally, Colombia would become another economic leader in the region, with further integration with Brasil, and the original Great Colombia nations. Then, Colombia could be a much better role player with North America, as well as other emerging economies in the world, with well calculated protectionist laws in place.

Factors for a Crisis

Money Exchange and Other Factors
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Economists have carefully analyzed the recovery from global economic crisis, and have made very few recommendations and listed very few factors, if any.  I have mentioned in an earlier blog that excessive regulation could be listed as a factor.  In that sense, those controls, that try to make business more ethical, inhibited the ability to do business for some. Likewise, the mechanisms use to enhance security -not only in the USA- can be perceived as intimidating or even discriminatory for many individuals, affecting their ability to partake in economic activities or even being productively employed.  

However, there are other factors.  For instance, the instability of money exchange rates affects the economic balance resulting from the Euro crisis, caused systematically by the slow regional economic growth and the deficit due to the Greek default and other countries in need of a bail out. Similarly, Monetary regulations in China have not looked at the global impact and subsequent retro-impact not to maintain a stable money exchange with other countries. 

Significantly so, since aggregate economics have acquired a more complex dimension doing business on the web, I have observed that there are a few main streams, and that they should converge as martingales that can be equated in an equilibrium point. Such it is possible to list the coins that are aligned with or pegged to the dollar and Euro, and those that are neither aligned nor pegged and are in constant adjustment in a protectionist fashion, which while normal, on excess could have critical consequences as the difficult financial times the world is living today.

I am enclosing my presentation on Money Exchange during my MBA years at Montclair State University. The presentation was part of my International Business class.

Call Centers go to the Phillipines

Phillipines beats India

In an unprecedented strategic outcome, Phillipines, where it rains torrentially these days, beats India in the call center market. This takes place at a time, when Indians consider that the population living at the poverty level is still there due to the lack of creation of safficient jobs. This is also in spite of the US perception that India is being given sufficient promotion to their emerging market competing also regionally with China.

On the other hand, India which deals with a diverse population with a good percentage still living below the poverty level suggests that it has not generated enough employment to overcome it, in spite of the large number of H1B visas and outsourcing jobs migrated to that country from the USA in the past decade.

IT Sectors Recent Views and Questionable Predictions

Will there be a new predictable 

IT Stock Bonanza?

As the economy shows some signs of recovery and corporations feel in the mood to invest in information technology, positive-minded CE0s drive decisions that can also raise the IT sector into a multi-year bonanza.

The politics economics are quite complex and the lack of stability in other aggregate economic sectors could convey an unpredictable scenario in a financial sector that has suffered significantly since the beginning of the millennium.

Apple shows signs of turning around an unusual recent slip, and has overcome its results to nearly 40% YTD growth.

Other companies such as Oracle, IBM, and Microsoft have provided a perspective towards a long-term recovery in the information technology financial market landscape.

The Tough Life of Artists

 An art and fashion exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York

In a difficult, yet recovering economy, artists of all genres are facing the most difficult times of their life ever.

A study shows how the reduction in the number of grants, scholarships, a direct government funding has greatly affected the artistic world in many dimensions, including galleries, museums and activities and events at these and other venues.

But most importantly the quality of life seems to be deteriorating, in comparison to others who work regular jobs, and have kept it consistently for many years. But artists could smile as the economy improves greatly in the right direction.

It seems though that the ("private") philanthropists have been more consistent with their investment in art, as non-government organizations (NGO’s), than the government itself.

The return on investment in art has greatly failed to meet the expectation of many artists who have for the most part put a great deal of their talent capital and their personal investments, as well as that of venture capitalists.

However, a small minority of artists has consistently succeeded in project networking and has predictively attained a resilient increasing income, which entices them to further creative work, validating their sense of independence as well as their ability to work in group projects, with private and public investments.

Certainly, museums, historic art sites, galleries, and artists deserve better appreciation of their talent and creative capital in a difficult economy.

A couple of decades ago, I read an interesting article on professions that suggested for artists, writers, and poets, to be a more loved community among professions in the 21st century, in comparison to professions such as engineers, doctors of medicine, lawyers, and other liberal arts and traditional professions.  While the truth remains to be seen, the quality of life fluctuates with more realistic difficulty than those with white-collar jobs, wearing a tie or not, or even solidly established blue-collar professionals or technicians.

The Economics of Love

THE POWER OF TWO

Last Sunday's New York Times referred to the love economics. Economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers disserted about economic issues in the household, emphasizing that like, many, they have stayed unmarried for financial reasons. A few weeks ago, a report by France24 and Radio France Internationale presented a government study where couples, and especially women involved in a relationship, would do better working part-time than full-time and that women having a freelance job would dramatically exceed their career development opportunities as they also had a better chance to be dedicated parents. Also, just a few weeks ago, DANE in Colombia, an government entity that gathers national statistics in that country revealed that the number of marriage registrations decreased from about 160,000 per year to roughly over 50,000 per year. So, free union has unfortunately become a habit in many South American countries, but for many polygamy, abuse, and concubinage are a sample of a one-side power, usually the male one. Also, many marriages have been anulled or under a divorce action that is typically unilateral. When a marriage is anulled, it no longer counts in the public record, as it in fact it never happened. 
As I learned the rules of engagement and union, as being raised as a Catholic in an all-boys primary school that, I received a decisive ethical perception in spite that the rest of my education was not received at a Catholic or religion-driven institution. I learned however to significantly attain problem-solving alone through my life working part-time as I attended several schools at the same time. My education sometimes confronts me in my social life. And enduring family responsibilities is not an easy task, and it can convey priorities, such as caring for the elderly.
For many economists, the idea that couples should share expenses proportionally to their salaries is an ideal scenario for household expenses, but it seldom happens. Sometimes, half and half, or one pays for it all are the most common practices. Yet with the current economic crisis, many separated individuals end up living with relatives and under public assistance.

As far as taxes are concerned many couples feel the burden of taxes more than singles, in spite, of the many benefits and exceptions of having a household.

In constrast, at a time when the New Jersey Legislation passed the so called “gay marriage”, I believe that it contradicts with the semantics of the word, which is significantly spiritual. I believe that the word is being used in appropriately and feel offended in my personal belief, as it is an implicit blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, since the gay union cannot procreate naturally. When I attended the law school most laws were based on natural laws, rather than on contra natura laws, and the sense of ethics was based in that principle. While everyone has the right to love as desired, and all civil rights should support the constitutional right to free association and free will, the principles where one's right ends where other begins could be applicable here as true Christians, Catholics and non-Catholics, and several other religions could hardly approve the expansion of social liberties and freedom beyond the natural law to trangress the principles of belief by those of the non-believers in a rather offensive fashion. I believe that civil unions between gays should not offend the sacred nature of marriage whose main goal is natural procreation and life. I hope that the contra natura laws will be vetoed in New Jersey for good. The US states were this law was approved will learn of their effect only until a new generations will have lived it.  Not surprinsingly all countries where these unions have been legalized are in an economic burden and curse.

The countries where social sciences have studied the negative impact of these unions to society, including the future socio-economic development, have strongly opposed and rejected them, by straight law, refererendum, and various constitutional methods thereof. It appears that some of the most important achievements of civilization, such as the nature of family, will be significantly affected, and that social anarchy over the issue could affect even larger institutions such as both state and church. The non-approval of “gay marriage” should affect their civil rights, so the problem is simply about and beyond the semantics of the word and its sacred nature with the social implications involved.

Current Economics Issues: The Return on Education and the Cost of your Commute

The Value of Today's MBA

In January, 2003, when Mark J. Robertson started his MBA at MSU he had a substantial amount of savings, rental income, investments and retirement plans, all of which had a successful return. However, three years later at the end of his MBA in 2006, Mark J. was had already depleted all his savings, lost his rental income, and had in fact the path to gradual investment liquidation, all of which was finished by the 2008 global economy crisis.

While some MBA programs are extensive or more comprehensive than others, the outcome is about the same. Either they took long to accomplish and become a burden to career development, or they are just average covering essential topics in depth.

The cost of attaining an MBA degree today ranges from $55,000 to $180,000 depending on the school. The greatest concern is also that an MBA could drive a different perception on professional skills, such as, removing the technical skills from an expert, and driving them into some sort of entry-level management in spite of their technical managerial experience, or possibly an underrated or less qualified financial analyst and so on.

The Cost of Commuting into the Cities

Today, commuting from New Jersey into Manhattan and other boroughs in New York City is roughly about $35 for the average per diem suburb commute, and about $30 when the commuter has a pass. However, if you drive into the city, you should be spending roughtly $50, not including city parking, from the average New Jersey point.

The fact is that many students and workers of all nature are already affected by the inflated costs of commuting into New York, which is also somewhat reflected in other states. The current toll rate into New York City from New Jersey is contronting a great legal battle.

The Quality of Personal Care Products Today

The quality of personal care products, including electric razors, tooth brushes, waterjet floss, nose trimmers, and many of others alike, is significantly poor. In the past few, years I personally spent several hundreds of dollars on innovation products instead of traditional devices, and they have not responded to my expectation in terms of durability or reliability, regardless of their functionality and usability. Besides, returning, exchanging the product, or getting a refund seems to be a time-consuming task, for which you must have the money to afford a backup device or go buy the traditional goods already inflated in price. I believe that these products are apparently all made in the USA, so there is no need to blame a foreign country for their lack of quality.  Thus, one needs to keep the traditional dental floss yarn at hand just in case one's waterjet breaks.

Besides, my final point is that trying to make a company more profitable should not convey the process of abasing the quality of their products, since this will have not only an impact on the consumer's willingness to buy but also on the consumer confidence on the basis of a return on investment as utility or personal satisfaction. If you extended this perception on other productlines, certainly the sense of social responsibility is being neglected for pure profitability.