Amazon is the shining representative of a new golden age of monopoly that also includes Google and Walmart (Franklin Foer). This can be proved by the truth that shopping on Amazon has been an inerasable habit of modern American life. Why Amazon is so successful? Today’s monopolies, like Amazon, take advantage of their high profits and dominance to drive down their prices. Lower prices, obviously have become a financial incentive that attracts more customers, and also a barrier of other competitors. Besides, Amazon, focusing on its operation management, provides customers with faster deliveries, better warranty policy and especially, cheaper goods. Not only more profits for capitalists, but more benefits for customers are the main difference between Amazon and old-style monopolies, like JP Morgan’s US Steel. In Thiel’s phrasing: “Creative monopolies are not just good for the rest of society, they are powerful engines for making it better.” In this sense, to be better, to provide better products and to make the society better, Amazon, as well as other modern monopolies is the shining representative of a new definition of monopoly and a new golden age of monopoly.

In the article “Will New Campaign Help Kraft’s Comeback of Jell-O” , Yiling Liu, the author, analyzed the main reason why sales for Jell-O in recent years has been declining, and gave his own recommendation in terms of brand proposition. According Yiling’s analysis in terms of industry trend and customer psychology, he believes emphasizing Jell-O’s “fun” rather than “sweetness” can let Kraft re-position this product. Personally, target customers of Jell-O are mainly family with little kids, because this product attracts many children by its colorful, amusing appearance. In this sense, it is FUN that is Jell-O’s unique selling proposition, and what differs it from other similar snacks. Accordingly, advertising should emphasize more on how this product can bring happiness and amusement to families, rather than how sweet Jell-O is. Nowadays, people automatically associate sweet snacks with high calories and unhealthy diet preference. So focusing on how “chocolatey” and “sweet” it is in advertising cannot be beneficial to sales of Jell-O. So FUN-based advertising and more colorful, creative, interesting snacks are highly recommended. Only with continuously launching new products can Jell-O attracts and satisfy its customer.

Work cited:

Liu, Yiling. “Will New Campaign Help Kraft’s Comeback of Jell-O.” Yiling Lius Blog. N.p., 5 Oct. 2014. Web. 13 Oct. 2014. .

E.J. Schultz. “Kraft Launches New Campaign to Revive Jell-O | News – Advertising Age.” Advertising Age News RSS. N.p., 12 Aug. 2013. Web. 13 Oct. 2014. .

As the sixth largest stock market in the world, Hong Kong recently have been socially and economically unstable due to the pro-democracy protests from September. Linda Yueh, a chief business correspondent in BBC News, wrote a blog named “ Is Hong Kong’s future as a financial centre threatened?”. In this blog, she discussed the corresponding influence of HK protests and questioned whether this political uncertainty would sacrifice Hong Kong’s economy. To my view of thinking, HK protests seem to be a paradox. More specifically, on the one hand, Hong Kong’s economy will be negatively influenced by this political issue, and this can be directly illustrated by the fact that stocks have been down in Hong Kong from last week. Also, Beijing would be willing to sacrifice Hong Kong’s economy to ensure the power control and the stability of society, especially when Hong Kong is no longer the only open broader in China. In this sense, Hong Kong’s status as one of the top global market financial centers would possibly be threatened to a certain extent. However, if pro-democracy protesters can win this war and create a more free and democratic political atmosphere in Hong Kong, this will increase the degree of economic freedom as well. So it is still a question whether Hong Kong can retain its current finical status, or its economy would be threatened by the protests.

Work Cited:

Yueh, Linda. “Hong Kong’s Future?” BBC News. N.p., 29 Sept. 2014. Web. 04 Oct. 2014. < http://www.bbc.com/news/business-29406712 >.

Pittis, Don. “Why China Might Be Willing to Sacrifice Hong Kong’s Economy: Don Pittis.” CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, 02 Oct. 2014. Web. 02 Oct. 2014. < http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/why-china-might-be-willing-to-sacrifice-hong-kong-s-economy-don-pittis-1.2784555 >.

According to the definition given by government of Canada, “First Nation People” refers to status and non-status “Indian” people in Canada. Yet, between First Nation and Canadian government, there are several conflicts in terms of citizen rights, lands, resources, environment, etc. In this sense, First Nations partner issues, as a political and social factor, have influence over many business and organizations in Canada.

This can be best illustrated by the example of BC Hydro’s 8-billion-dollar Site C hydroelectric mega-project. In order to enlarge the production of hydroelectricity, BC Hydro planed to construct a dam on the Peace River. This construction, on behalf of First Nation people, however, will destroy farmland and effect on fishing, hunting and organizing traditional ceremonies. So for the sake of aboriginal people, B.C. First Nation Chiefs have fought for their own right (i.e. to urge the government to reject the dam construction). Obviously, BC Hydro currently cannot continue their construction as what it planed because the protest of first nation has delayed or even cancelled the schedule of the dam construction. This just proved that the external factors (in this case, external factors are political and economic factors) enact great impact on the business. More specifically, BC Hydro now needs to find another river to construct a dam, which will probably cost much more. For the corporation, the key resources are harder to reach and fixed cost are accordingly increasing.

However, respecting the right of First Nation is ethical correct. Otherwise, if BC Hydro ignored the rights of First Nation and constructed the dam, their business reputation, brand image and even customer loyalty would be negatively influenced. So considering the external factors and social environment is a necessary process of decision making to every business and corporation.

Work Cited:

O’Neil, Peter.  First Nations chiefs to stage Site C showdown.  Vancouver Sun.  September 18, 2014.  Newspaper Article.

Pynn, Larry.  BC Premier urges cooperation.  Vancouver Sun.  September 12, 2014.  Newspaper Article.