The Choice

Peoples choice Awards...

All this ideas are taken from the book

of Libby Rittenberg and Timothy Tregarthen
Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/books/

Economics is a social science that examines how people choose
among the alternatives available to them.

Scarcity implies that we must give up one alternative in selecting
another. A good that is not scarce is a free good.

The three fundamental economic questions are:

What should be produced?

How should goods and services be produced?

For whom should goods and services be produced?
"Every choice has an opportunity cost"
and "opportunity costs affect the choices people make".

The opportunity cost of any choice is the value of the best alternative that had to be forgone in making that choice.

Identify the elements of scarcity, choice, and opportunity cost in each of the following:

1. The Environmental Protection Agency is considering an order that a 500-acre area on the outskirts of a large city be preserved in its natural state, because the area is home to a rodent that is considered an endangered species. Developers had planned to build a housing development on the land.

- 500-acre area in its natural state..
- A rodent considered an endangered species..

Vs

- The Developers..
- A housing development..

Who will win...

The case of the people in Santa Monica C.a.

Housing development has not kept pace with the growth of the population, which is now 62,000 in the city and 270,000 total in Santa Cruz County. The county has added roughly one housing unit for every 10 new residents in recent years, according to county housing manager Julie Conway.

At the same time, the top five occupations in the area are low-wage jobs in retail, food service and cleaning, paying between $9.06 and $11.30 an hour, according to 2015 research. As a result, 63% of renters live in unaffordable housing, meaning their rent is more than 30% of their income.

By some measures, Santa Cruz is considered the “least affordable” small metro area in the US. Santa Cruz – which is about 58% white and 33% Latino – also recently counted nearly 2,000 homeless people, which translates to one of the highest concentrations in the country, according to the federal government.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/24/california-homelessness-santa-cruz-housing-affordability

Earlier this month, Kate Downing, a planning commissioner in Palo Alto – a city by the headquarters of Apple, Google and Facebook – penned a viral resignation letter outlining why she, a lawyer, and her husband, a software engineer, could no longer afford Silicon Valley.

The lack of housing in the region has made it impossible for the couple to comfortably raise a family and stay in Palo Alto, she said. Instead, Downing wrote, the couple has decided to migrate south and settle in Santa Cruz.

Commuting from Santa Cruz to Silicon Valley across the windy, two-lane Highway 17 can be a nightmare during rush hour, but more tech workers may make the move as housing prices continue to climb.

“Unless you work over the hill at Google or Apple and are making a ton of money, you’re basically not going to be able to afford anything here,” said Dale Davis, 65, who was recently priced out of Santa Cruz with her husband. “This is because of Silicon Valley.”

“Santa Cruz is at least trying.”

Government officials and housing advocates say they are focused on increasing the pace of development and reforming local laws so that developers are incentivized to construct denser projects.

The county, however, has a target of producing roughly 1,400 new housing units by 2023, and some worry it’s not enough.

....the county housing official, noted that the crisis has been building for decades and won’t be quickly solved. “We’re losing our middle class, and we’re losing our young families … Does that mean the fundamental character of our community is changing? Of course.”

For Kahn, who is still living out of her car and relocating to New Mexico this month, it seems clear Santa Cruz won’t ever be an option for her again.

She said she feels grateful that she and her children have found ways to get by. “Many people aren’t so lucky … In Santa Cruz, people end up on the streets for the rest of their lives.”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/24/california-homelessness-santa-cruz-housing-affordability

500-acre area in its natural state../ A rodent considered an endangered species../ The Developers../ A housing development..
Scarcity	Choice	Best Alternative that had to be forgone	Opportunity cost
- Natural lands	- New Houses.	- Wild lifes preservation
- The rodent	- Keep the rodent and Air clean.	- Conservation of this rodent and the enviroment.
- Investment Opportunity	- Millions and millions of dollars in profits.	- Millions of dollars in profits for investors
- The lack of housing	- Affordable house means longtime low-income workers and middle-class families requiring food, services, work, medical care.	- Houses for Workers and poor people.
	- Luxury houses means High Prices.	- No Houses for Poor Peoples.
	- Affordable Houses Means poberty into a House.	- Houses for Rent according to the market
- Time	- Houses outside the Downtown means Trafic and spending time ans effort	- Houses for Rich peoples
- Work	- Housing developments means work for people

The comunity wants poor people arround their neigboardhoods?

Who will pay for this housing development?

How many money lose the landlord?

There is sufficient work offers in this area?

What is your choice.

Write Below...

2. The manager of an automobile assembly plant is considering whether
to produce cars or sport utility vehicles (SUVs) next month. Assume
that the quantities of labor and other materials required would be the
same for either type of production.

Sale SUVs or Sale Cars
Scarcity	Choice	Best Alternative that had to be forgone	Opportunity cost
	Its decision depend of the price of the oil.
	Its decision depend of the quantity demanded

U.S. new-car dealers are telling auto makers to limit production of passenger cars in the face of overwhelming demand for trucks and sport-utility vehicles that is forcing them to offer deep discounts on small cars, coupes and luxury sedans.

A continuing shift among American buyers to more capable vehicles has driven up dealer inventories even as there are shortages of certain pickups, SUVs and small crossovers.

The mismatch in supply and demand is forcing some dealers to offer as much as $5,000 off slow-selling compact cars, cutting into profits.

With gasoline nationwide averaging less than $2 a gallon and heading lower, demand for pickups and SUVs ranging from the tiny Honda HR-V to the hulking Cadillac Escalade SUV has upended the normal split between cars and trucks.

At the same time, ballooning passenger-car inventories, especially for luxury brands like Audi AG and BMW AG are triggering discounts that are cutting into dealer margins.

Earl Hesterberg, chief executive of Group 1 Automotive Inc., the nation's third-largest new-car chain by vehicle sales, on Thursday warned auto makers need to adjust their production mix or both risk profit deterioration.

"We're at the point now where we're in discussions with most [auto makers] that we just can't take any more inventories at the moment," he said after reporting fourth quarter profit fell 12% despite a 5% increase in revenue. "I think virtually all retailers such as ourselves have been communicating that 'you know, we don't have enough trucks and SUVs,' he said.

AutoNation Inc., the largest U.S. new-car retailer, said its December sales would have been flat were it not for "significant" discounts and extra sales days compared a year-earlier. It also said it would reduce its orders for passenger cars this year.

Historically, trucks have typically cost more than cars and required higher sales incentives to move off dealer lots. But the pattern has changed with cheap gasoline: incentive spending of $3,062 per passenger car sold in January was 4% higher than the discount needed to sell a truck or SUV, according to market researcher Autodata Corp. Overall incentive spending increased 15.6% last month compared with the year before.

The backlog of unsold cars pushed the industry's inventory to 78 days of supply in January from 61 days in December, according to data provider WardsAuto.com.

Luxury car makers have been among the hardest hit: BMW said its stocks rose to 76 days of supply and Audi's climbed to 88 days. Generally, dealers like to have about 60 days of sales on their lots.

"We estimate that the industry ended January 14% overstocked on cars," Credit Suisse auto analyst Dan Galves wrote in a note to investors this week.

WardsAuto.com estimates total U.S. new-car inventory increased 4% to 3.7 million automobiles at the end of January. It says the glut should help the nation's total sales go higher this year. It projected February's seasonally adjusted selling rate sales pace will top 17.6 million vehicles.

Chewing through that inventory could force production cuts at the Detroit Three, which book revenue when vehicles ship to dealers. Credit Suisse's Mr. Galves expects a 6% cut in 2016 car production, which could drag overall light-vehicle output down slightly.

The No. 3 U.S. car maker, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, recently idled a Sterling Heights, Mich., assembly plant where it builds midsize sedans. It won't restart production until March 11. Fiat Chrysler's days' supply was nearly 3 1/2 months in January.

Vince Sheehy, president of Sheehy Auto Stores, said, "there is very intense pricing on passenger cars." His company, which has dealerships in Maryland and Virginia, is running a Presidents Day sale that includes a $4,800 discount on a $13,185 Nissan Versa compact car, $6,000 off a $20,975 Hyundai Elantra hatchback, and $7,000 off a $22,985 Ford Fusion sedan.

Doug Moreland, owner of Dealin Doug Dealerships, the largest closely held dealer group in Colorado, said business at his Kia Motors Corp. stores has slowed because the auto maker's lineup is heavy on sedans and economy cars. "We might have a couple of weeks supply" more than needed, he said.

John D. Stoll contributed to this article.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-demand-for-trucks-suvs-far-outpaces-cars-2016-02-11

3. A young man who went to work as a nurses’ aide after graduating
from high school leaves his job to go to college, where he will obtain
training as a registered nurse.

...

Sale SUVs or Sale Cars
Scarcity	Choice	Best Alternative that had to be forgone	Opportunity cost
Time	Get the actual salary
money	take in the future better benefits
	learn more
	Encompass Safety and Security needs: Personal security Financial security Health and well-being https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs
hope	higher credentialing as important for advancement
	“hope additional education will help them achieve their career goals, like making more money, advancing in their current occupation, or starting in a different one.”
energy	"professions such as nursing and accounting require members to keep current in their knowledge by “attaining specific levels of continuing education units (CEUs) to remain professionally licensed.”
study is a good thing, but the time and resources invested in it carry an opportunity cost.	"For example, in 2012 the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that only 3.5% of graduate degree holders were unemployed, versus 6.2% of associate degree holders, and 8.3% of those with just a high school diploma. With a professional or doctoral degree, the unemployment rate dropped to around 2.1%."

It’s back-to-school season–but your kids might not be the only ones returning to the classroom this fall. As employers demand an increasing range of skills in their employees, many professionals are going back to school to get the specific expertise they need for a new job, for a promotion, or, in some cases, to retain their current position, says Howard E. Horton, president of the New England College of Business and Finance.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 33% of the 18 million undergraduate students in the US are over the age of 25, and 22% are over the age of 30. From 2010 to 2020, the NCES projects a rise of 20% in enrollments of students 25 and over. “Professionals are continually viewing higher credentialing as important for advancement,” Horton says. “While the decision to go back to school is, of course, a personal one – the trend line is clearly demonstrating that this is the choice more and more professionals are making.”

Laura Vanderkam, author of What the Most Successful People Do at Work (Portfolio, 2013) and All The Money In The World (Portfolio, 2012), agrees that people generally decide to go back to school because they “hope additional education will help them achieve their career goals, like making more money, advancing in their current occupation, or starting in a different one.” But sometimes professionals have to go back to school to satisfy a state or federal mandate, adds Nancy Collamer, a career coach and author of Second-Act Careers: 50+ Ways to Profit From Your Passions During Semi-Retirement.

Horton says professions such as nursing and accounting require members to keep current in their knowledge by “attaining specific levels of continuing education units (CEUs) to remain professionally licensed.”

Others go back to school simply because they enjoy learning, Collamer says. “But most do it to bolster their range of marketable skills and credentials, which, in turn, makes them more competitive–both at their current employer and in the overall job market.”

In addition to better positioning them for success, education also helps professionals earn more and avoid unemployment, Horton says. For example, in 2012 the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that only 3.5% of graduate degree holders were unemployed, versus 6.2% of associate degree holders, and 8.3% of those with just a high school diploma. With a professional or doctoral degree, the unemployment rate dropped to around 2.1%.

Horton says employers like to have a well-educated workforce and some will even support professional development through tuition reimbursement programs or by offering flexible work schedules to allow for attendance at school.

But even if you have that kind of support of your employer, there are a few things you should consider before you make the decision to further your education:

Am I motivated and committed? “As with any undertaking, it is best to go back to school when there is strong motivation, but also when there is the time, energy and resources necessary to commit to the venture,” Horton says. “For those who have been out of school for a while, it is best to get prepared to go back to school by ‘creating space’ and reducing other commitments for the period of time that one is enrolled in the program. Fortunately, the higher education marketplace is replete with choices that can make continuing education a possibility for professionals in a wide variety of circumstances.”

Have I weighed my options? “We have a tendency to view education as a universally good thing,” Vanderkam says. “It often is a good thing, but the time and resources invested in it carry an opportunity cost. So ask yourself what else you could do with that time and money that might also give you a better life. If you devoted ten hours a week to starting a business — and invested what could be your tuition cash in start-up costs — you might also move your career to a different place. Think about all your options.”

Will a degree/additional training help me achieve my career goals? “First get really clear on the career path you want and then research whether additional schooling is a necessary to follow that path,” says Phyllis Mufson, career coach and catalyst for personal and career transformation. “You can easily wind up several years later massively in debt and still not have a job, or not get promoted, or get promoted into a job that makes you miserable. I’ve worked with many people over the years who did not do this due diligence and then came to me in a very painful situation. Don’t make these mistakes.”

What degree would I need for the career I want to pursue? For someone who is a management professional without a bachelor’s degree, the choice to attain the bachelor’s is very clear-cut, Horton says. “For someone who has a bachelor’s degree, one would want to consider whether a certificate or a degree program is the next step and which degree is going to offer the best possibilities for advancement. This will mean specialization in some cases where there is a clear career path and more generalization for the professional who wants to keep a wider set of career options open. For example, a committed marketing professional might consider attaining a Master of Science in Social Media as compared with the more general MBA.”

Is an online program the best option for me? “As more traditional universities enter the online space, the options for going to school online are growing all the time,” Collamer says. “Attending class from the comfort of your home is tremendously appealing, especially for people who work full-time.” But you need to weigh the convenience factor against the lost face-to-face time you would normally experience in a traditional classroom. “It’s hard to replace the bonds – and the networking opportunities – that form when students sit next to each other in class, mingle over coffee in the cafeteria and meet-up with professors while walking across campus,” she says. “While tools for online training are getting better all the time, and some programs offer a hybrid of online and in-person training, that in-person energy and exchange of ideas can be difficult to duplicate with an experience that is strictly online.”

Is it worth the financial investment? If you’re going to accumulate debt going back to school, evaluate whether your potential salary will allow you to pay it off in a reasonable amount of time, Mufson says. “What is reasonable depends on your age and situation. A fifty- or sixty-year-old, for example, will have less time to work, and probably many more financial responsibilities, like a mortgage, saving for children’s college tuition and retirement. Ask yourself if you can realistically postpone those responsibilities.”

Collamer suggests you thoroughly research your options before committing to a program. “The cost of attending classes at a private university will likely be considerably more than those offered by a state school or community college. Of course, the value of getting a degree from a top-flight university might make the additional cost a worthwhile investment. It often depends on the major.” Also keep in mind that it might not be necessary to go back for a “full-blown degree,” she says. “You might be able to satisfy your objectives with a less expensive and time-consuming alternative, such as a certificate program or workshop series.”

Will I be able to balance school, work, and family? Perhaps you already have a family, and a full time job, and a social life, Mufson says. “How will you find time for classes and assignments? Is your family willing to have less of you? These are important questions. Your school commitments may mean additional stress of those closest to you and you need their support.” Time management is critical to your success. In your planning, remember, for each hour you spend in class you are likely to spend an additional two hours studying and completing assignments. “If you’re not good at managing your time you run the risk of performing poorly and dropping out, now with student loans to repay.”

Have I explored all financial aid and scholarship opportunities? Be sure to thoroughly explore your financing options, Collamer says. “You might be eligible for special scholarships or grants (for example, scholarships for veterans or moms returning to work) or favorable financing arrangements. Take a look at sites like finaid.org and be sure to speak with your school’s financial aid department for more information. And don’t forget to check with your employer to see if they offer any tuition reimbursement programs.”

Once you’ve thought about all these things–you may decide that going back to school is the right choice. Here are 12 tips for professionals going back to school:

Talk to your manager. Before making a decision about what to study or where to attend, get some advice from your manager about how your continuing professional education can contribute to the success of the company or the practice, Horton says. “You may be surprised to find that your manager will offer encouragement and ways to support your venture.”

Talk to your colleagues who have gone back to school. Discussing your plans with colleagues who have experience with returning to school will give you a better idea about what to expect and what to avoid. They are also a good source to find out which programs have been most effective, Horton says.

Come up with a time management plan. “You’re probably better about managing your time now than you were the first time you were in school, but recognize that transitions are often stressful,” Vanderkam says. Draw up a time budget that will help you figure out when you can study given your work and family commitments. “Weekend mornings are good for this,” she says. “Plan on not sleeping in for a while.”

Speak with program faculty, not just admissions advisors. Once you have identified a program of interest, reach out to additional members of the program, Horton says. “You can get much more detailed information, better sense of how a program is structured and its strengths from the program chair or a faculty member.”

Ask to see a sample course syllabus. “This will not only give you a sense of the quality of the course and the institution, but it will give you a feel for the kind of research, homework and participation requirements you will encounter once enrolled,” he says.

Ensure that your commitment to school doesn’t overshadow your commitment to your job. While your employer might be supportive of your decision to go back to school they still expect you to be fully productive on the job, Collamer says. “Comments like, ‘I was up all night working on a term paper’ are better left unsaid.”

Use the US Department of Education’s Net Cost Calculator. “This is a new piece of information that all higher education institutions must publish and gives you the ability to more easily compare the costs of one institution to another for the same program,” Horton says.

Get your family onboard. School is a big commitment for an adult who already has other commitments, like a family, a job, a social life, Mufson explains. “Can your family help more with chores? Can you cut down on your other commitments? Get your family onboard; share your excitement about the future that school will open to you, and also be frank about the sacrifices necessary in the short term. Invite them to help you problem solve how to find time and space to study and keep them updated on your schedule.”

Horton agrees. He says you need to make sure you spouse, partner, children and other significant people in your life understand the commitment you are making. “Discussing this in advance and getting everyone on board will be a huge source of support.”

Commit to your educational venture. Once you have made the decision to go back to school, be prepared to give it your all, Horton says. “This means time management, engagement with the other students and faculty, pride in your work and the same approach you would take to other professional undertakings. Take time to enjoy your studies and participate in social activities with your classmates.”

Form a study group. As with any other life transition, you are more likely to succeed when you surround yourself with support, Collamer says. “Joining a study group will help you do better at school, it’s fun, and once school is done, you can transition into a job-search support group.”

Align your school work with your career work. Most academic programs should have enough flexibility and discretion in assignments that will give you opportunities to tackle work-related projects or problems, Horton says. “While you probably already have a good amount of professional work product, you will be challenged in your new program to produce papers, studies, presentation and even original research. Retain this work, especially anything you produce which is related to your field. You never know when it might come in handy as a means of qualifying you for new opportunities.”

Develop a professional network with your classmates. “One of the foundations found in executive education is cross pollination of ideas and practices across industry verticals,” he says. “You can develop your ‘own’ mini executive practicum by learning from your classmates from other industries.”

Vanderkam agrees. “Don’t skimp on the social side of school,” she says. “Getting to know your classmates and professors will expand your network, and may be a big chunk of the upside of going back to school.”

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/08/14/tips-for-professionals-who-want-to-go-back-to-school/

The Choice

miércoles, 18 de enero de 2017

No tengo el hijo adicional y tengo mas tiempo y dinero para mi...

martes, 29 de noviembre de 2016

Peoples choice Awards...

All this ideas are taken from the book

of Libby Rittenberg and Timothy Tregarthen
Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/books/

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/24/california-homelessness-santa-cruz-housing-affordability

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/24/california-homelessness-santa-cruz-housing-affordability

John D. Stoll contributed to this article.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-demand-for-trucks-suvs-far-outpaces-cars-2016-02-11

miércoles, 18 de enero de 2017

No tengo el hijo adicional y tengo mas tiempo y dinero para mi...

martes, 29 de noviembre de 2016

Peoples choice Awards...

All this ideas are taken from the book

of Libby Rittenberg and Timothy TregarthenSaylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/books/

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/24/california-homelessness-santa-cruz-housing-affordability

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/24/california-homelessness-santa-cruz-housing-affordability

John D. Stoll contributed to this article.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-demand-for-trucks-suvs-far-outpaces-cars-2016-02-11

of Libby Rittenberg and Timothy Tregarthen
Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/books/