Comments for Your Economy http://ianpmcleod.com Australian Economy and Financial Planning Mon, 03 Oct 2011 05:19:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Australians working longer harder by Ian http://ianpmcleod.com/2011/09/20/australians-working-longer-harder/comment-page-1/#comment-50 Ian Mon, 03 Oct 2011 05:19:02 +0000 http://ianpmcleod.com/?p=584#comment-50 I appreciate your concerns Puck1980. What is more astounding is the number of Australian's maintaining or even increasing their risk exposure toward the end of their careers (say through equities) rather than taking defensive positions in cash and bonds, only to see their hard earned nest egg wiped out only a few years out from retirement. This would be utterly devastating and for this reason I take life stage in to consideration for my clients. As for energy, quite the opposite is happening at present as energy, like insulin, is quite price-inelastic - i.e. demand does not vary greatly with price unlike non-essential items, so deliberately increasing the cost through a carbon tax, and then imposing a further cost to collect this revenue, administer it, and then 'return' it as 'compensation' is a further dead weight on the national economy, all for almost no measurable impact on actual energy consumption. There are only so many extra layers of clothes people can wear in winter, and so much people can shorten their morning hot shower. I appreciate your concerns Puck1980. What is more astounding is the number of Australian’s maintaining or even increasing their risk exposure toward the end of their careers (say through equities) rather than taking defensive positions in cash and bonds, only to see their hard earned nest egg wiped out only a few years out from retirement. This would be utterly devastating and for this reason I take life stage in to consideration for my clients. As for energy, quite the opposite is happening at present as energy, like insulin, is quite price-inelastic – i.e. demand does not vary greatly with price unlike non-essential items, so deliberately increasing the cost through a carbon tax, and then imposing a further cost to collect this revenue, administer it, and then ‘return’ it as ‘compensation’ is a further dead weight on the national economy, all for almost no measurable impact on actual energy consumption.

There are only so many extra layers of clothes people can wear in winter, and so much people can shorten their morning hot shower.

]]> Comment on Australians working longer harder by Puck1980 http://ianpmcleod.com/2011/09/20/australians-working-longer-harder/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Puck1980 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:50:33 +0000 http://ianpmcleod.com/?p=584#comment-47 Hi Ian, This is a topic which I am both interested in and concerned about all at the same time.... I have seen more and more articles and news reports about Hard-Working Australian's being screwed over in their retirement years. Bad Government decisions for example buying all retired people a Digital Set top box for $150 a unit.... I mean seriously WTF??? Would that money have not been better spent? In addition to (very) stupid Government decisions, we had a GFC which wiped out many people life savings and assets, then Floods and now the sniff of another GFC? I am not sure what to do to assure my retirement is how it is supposed to be... Relaxing and comfortable. And when id the government going to step in and help protect Australians (Regardless of age) from energy companies.... I see reports of retired people going without medicine to pay for electricity... What is this world coming too????? Hi Ian,

This is a topic which I am both interested in and concerned about all at the same time….

I have seen more and more articles and news reports about Hard-Working Australian’s being screwed over in their retirement years.

Bad Government decisions for example buying all retired people a Digital Set top box for $150 a unit…. I mean seriously WTF??? Would that money have not been better spent?

In addition to (very) stupid Government decisions, we had a GFC which wiped out many people life savings and assets, then Floods and now the sniff of another GFC? I am not sure what to do to assure my retirement is how it is supposed to be… Relaxing and comfortable.

And when id the government going to step in and help protect Australians (Regardless of age) from energy companies…. I see reports of retired people going without medicine to pay for electricity… What is this world coming too?????

]]> Comment on WTO Warns Australia that We are Becoming Fat and Lazy by MarkoJosipovic http://ianpmcleod.com/2011/04/13/wto-warns-australia-that-we-are-becoming-fat-and-lazy/comment-page-1/#comment-46 MarkoJosipovic Mon, 04 Jul 2011 23:58:01 +0000 http://ianpmcleod.com/?p=545#comment-46 The question is which portion of China's demand for commodities is real production demand and which is inflation hedging or financing collateral. I think more is attributable to the latter categories than most analysts in Australia are willing to admit. Interesting reading: http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2011/03/10/510676/chinas-copper-as-collateral-addiction/ Marko www.linkedin.com/in/MarkoJosipovic The question is which portion of China’s demand for commodities is real production demand and which is inflation hedging or financing collateral. I think more is attributable to the latter categories than most analysts in Australia are willing to admit.

Interesting reading: http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2011/03/10/510676/chinas-copper-as-collateral-addiction/

Marko
http://www.linkedin.com/in/MarkoJosipovic

]]> Comment on Part Three – How to Build Success out of Commoditisation by Ian http://ianpmcleod.com/2011/03/22/part-three-how-to-build-success-out-of-commoditisation/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Ian Sat, 16 Apr 2011 12:40:06 +0000 http://ianpmcleod.com/?p=522#comment-44 I read the article, thank you. What are your thoughts on gambling as a source of profits? Is it possible to quantity profit margins in this contentious industry? I read the article, thank you. What are your thoughts on gambling as a source of profits? Is it possible to quantity profit margins in this contentious industry?

]]> Comment on Part Three – How to Build Success out of Commoditisation by Dan http://ianpmcleod.com/2011/03/22/part-three-how-to-build-success-out-of-commoditisation/comment-page-1/#comment-43 Dan Fri, 15 Apr 2011 21:14:04 +0000 http://ianpmcleod.com/?p=522#comment-43 As an aside, this just printed in a related news article... Woolworths revealed to own more pokies than the Adelaide Casino http://www.news.com.au/national/the-pokie-barons-who-press-our-buttons/story-e6frfkvr-1226040008910 As an aside, this just printed in a related news article…

Woolworths revealed to own more pokies than the Adelaide Casino

http://www.news.com.au/national/the-pokie-barons-who-press-our-buttons/story-e6frfkvr-1226040008910

]]> Comment on WTO Warns Australia that We are Becoming Fat and Lazy by Ian http://ianpmcleod.com/2011/04/13/wto-warns-australia-that-we-are-becoming-fat-and-lazy/comment-page-1/#comment-42 Ian Fri, 15 Apr 2011 08:09:39 +0000 http://ianpmcleod.com/?p=545#comment-42 The fact that this market manipulation is funded (largely unrecognised) by taxpayers, including those still renting, seems very unfair. This is no longer about protecting jobs in the construction industry, as any correction will hurt this industry especially, it is about an addiction built up over decades that we need to shake, quickly. If we look back to the core purpose of raising taxes - to discourage harmful behaviours such as smoking, and to fund essential government services. Taxpayers deserve an explanation of why wealth is taken from them against their will, to benefit house sellers. It is criminal that renters are expected to bear the burden of not only saving for a home deposit, but to also pay the taxes that lift property prices and benefit house sellers. The fact that this market manipulation is funded (largely unrecognised) by taxpayers, including those still renting, seems very unfair. This is no longer about protecting jobs in the construction industry, as any correction will hurt this industry especially, it is about an addiction built up over decades that we need to shake, quickly.

If we look back to the core purpose of raising taxes – to discourage harmful behaviours such as smoking, and to fund essential government services. Taxpayers deserve an explanation of why wealth is taken from them against their will, to benefit house sellers.

It is criminal that renters are expected to bear the burden of not only saving for a home deposit, but to also pay the taxes that lift property prices and benefit house sellers.

]]> Comment on Part Three – How to Build Success out of Commoditisation by Ian http://ianpmcleod.com/2011/03/22/part-three-how-to-build-success-out-of-commoditisation/comment-page-1/#comment-41 Ian Fri, 15 Apr 2011 07:58:05 +0000 http://ianpmcleod.com/?p=522#comment-41 It does have an impact as it suggests that I have not used the best example, although the basic principles still apply. I will need to re-write this with a better example, perhaps Wesfarmers which seems to be in practically every market. Thanks for the comment! It does have an impact as it suggests that I have not used the best example, although the basic principles still apply. I will need to re-write this with a better example, perhaps Wesfarmers which seems to be in practically every market.

Thanks for the comment!

]]> Comment on Part Three – How to Build Success out of Commoditisation by Dan http://ianpmcleod.com/2011/03/22/part-three-how-to-build-success-out-of-commoditisation/comment-page-1/#comment-40 Dan Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:07:08 +0000 http://ianpmcleod.com/?p=522#comment-40 Hi Ian, In this post you refer to the 'Hotels' based profit margin of Woolworths and you go on to discuss the 'service oriented' aspects of these Hotel operations... What you don't mention is that a significant portion of revenue from Woolworths 'Hotel' operations is derived from liquor sales and gaming revenue (i.e. poker machines). Would this aspect have an impact on your analysis? Hi Ian,

In this post you refer to the ‘Hotels’ based profit margin of Woolworths and you go on to discuss the ‘service oriented’ aspects of these Hotel operations…

What you don’t mention is that a significant portion of revenue from Woolworths ‘Hotel’ operations is derived from liquor sales and gaming revenue (i.e. poker machines). Would this aspect have an impact on your analysis?

]]> Comment on WTO Warns Australia that We are Becoming Fat and Lazy by Kenneth V http://ianpmcleod.com/2011/04/13/wto-warns-australia-that-we-are-becoming-fat-and-lazy/comment-page-1/#comment-39 Kenneth V Wed, 13 Apr 2011 22:00:58 +0000 http://ianpmcleod.com/?p=545#comment-39 "WTO WARNS AUSTRALIA": So they should; Australia's "growth" for far too long has been based on speculation on housing, (partly funded by the poor bleeding taxpayer via negative gearing) and investment in shopping malls, where money can be wasted on the latest Bolero sunglasses and Blahnik shoes. As you have rightly pointed out, the longer this goes on, the more Australia looks like a fool's paradise propped up by China's vast, (and fickle) appetite for raw materials. “WTO WARNS AUSTRALIA”: So they should; Australia’s “growth” for far too long has been based on speculation on housing, (partly funded by the poor bleeding taxpayer via negative gearing) and investment in shopping malls, where money can be wasted on the latest Bolero sunglasses and Blahnik shoes.

As you have rightly pointed out, the longer this goes on, the more Australia looks like a fool’s paradise propped up by China’s vast, (and fickle) appetite for raw materials.

]]> Comment on Transforming Your Business to a Services Business – Part One by Tweets that mention Market Economy Technology » Blog Archiv » Transforming Your Business to a Services Business – Part One -- Topsy.com http://ianpmcleod.com/2010/10/20/services_transformation_part_1/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Tweets that mention Market Economy Technology » Blog Archiv » Transforming Your Business to a Services Business – Part One -- Topsy.com Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:00:41 +0000 http://ianpmcleod.com/?p=423#comment-34 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Marko Josipovic, Ian McLeod. Ian McLeod said: How to Turn YOUR Business in to a SERVICES Business and PROFIT - Part One http://bit.ly/dAyOkx #in #strategy #services #marketing [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Marko Josipovic, Ian McLeod. Ian McLeod said: How to Turn YOUR Business in to a SERVICES Business and PROFIT – Part One http://bit.ly/dAyOkx #in #strategy #services #marketing [...]

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