Zheng (Kathy) Li's Blog

The automobile industries have always been very competitive. Always getting the best and newest technologies, the best models, and now, the most eco-friendly. Companies began producing microcars.

Let’s compare three of these microcars. The Tata Nano, Smart Car, and Toyota iQ.

What’s the difference?

I’d say that the Nano not only saves people a whole lot of money, but its build isn’t half bad either. Out of all the three, it has the best fuel efficiency (over 55 mpg-US) and battery range (up to 80 miles). The iQ is almost as good in fuel efficiency, but neither the iQ nor the Smart Car could compete with the battery range. For 2,500 in India? That’s amazing.

Not much to say about the Smart Car. Pricey for its size, although the tiny engine, ranging from 0.6L petrol, is really something.

Toyota iQ. Beautiful. Its engine isn’t noticeably small like the Smart Car, and it’s not cheap like the Nano, but what’s the use without safety? The Nano needed heavy upgrades to meet the European safety standards, and the Smart Car received ratings such as “acceptable.” iQ’s crash testing was a score of five stars.

Now, which would you pick?

_______________________

Nano: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tata_Nano

Smart Car: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_ED

iQ: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_iQ

Ethical issues arise in every country, but the recent intervention by the Japanese in the currency markets stirred up discussion in many countries, especially in the Group of Seven.

The Group of Seven, also known as the G7, maintains an unwritten rule of international finance that exchange rates should be “freely floating” and that currency should be determined naturally by investors. Japan, however, forcefully sold hundreds of billions of yen against the U.S. dollar to devalue its currency. The Japanese took advantage of its trading partners. For its own national well-being, Japan decided to risk the economy of the rest of the world.

Although many argue that Japan made a wise choice, and that the Bank of Canada should follow in its footsteps, I do not believe that it will be an ethical decision. It is not right to ignore the balance of the world’s economy by manipulating a country’s currency for its own benefit. Only, the Japanese seemed to love the idea.

Every man for himself. Is that ethical in the world of business? If every country only considered itself, I doubt that the human race would get very far.

_____________________

Article source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/yen-move-changes-currency-landscape/article1707860/