Danish Companies Seek to Hire, but Everyone's Already Working

Denmark’s economy is growing too fast for the workforce to keep up with. When employers are trying to look for people to do specialized jobs, everyone is already working. Now that Europe is recovering from its economic fall, Denmark is growing extremely fast. Industries with advanced technology cannot recruit enough people to fill jobs that require highly specialized skills. The labor shortage could impact and possibly stunt their growth if they don’t find workers soon. Their growth will quickly stop if they don’t satisfy their labor supply. Germany has similar problems because they do not have enough engineers or nurses. Both Denmark and Germany are looking to start programs to train refugees for these positions, but not enough of them are qualified to do these jobs. This problem is severely hurting the potential of many of these fast growing companies. If this is not fixed soon, it could be detrimental to Denmark’s newly regrown economy.

1. How do you think employers in Denmark could solve this problem?
2. How does this contrast the the US’s problem with the work force?
3. How do you think this will play out on its effect on the economy?

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/28/business/economy/denmark-jobs-full-employment.html?ref=business

Trump speech could detail economic plan, tax cuts

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President Trump is scheduled to address a joint session of Congress Tuesday evening and analysts are awaiting any details of his economic plan, particularly his ideas on tax cuts. However, economists are concerned. Lowering the corporate tax rate from 35% to 15% as Trump has proposed is likely to be viewed lowly by Republicans worried about swelling the budget deficit. Other lawmakers are also skeptical of Trump's belief that the government's revenue losses from a tax cut would be made up by the economy's growth. If Trump goes through with his plans for tax cuts, many expect the significant tax reform by August. 

A few things to think about:
1. Do you think it is a smart idea for Trump to reduce the tax rate by such a significant amount?
2. Do you think it's possible for the tax rate to change drastically by August?
3. Are there any other economic issues you think Trump should be more focused on?

AT&T is cutting the price of its unlimited data plans

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AT&T has a new data plan! They released on Sunday that they would be offering a new data plan this week, a basic one and a more advanced one. The basic line is a 40$ price drop from their current plan but it caps out at 3mb per second, which means no high definition streaming. The more fancy plan will cost 90$ for a single line and allows high definition streaming, and the teathering data is 10 gb. The more expensive plan also offers a discount to television services that were previously required on high end data plans. The article also notes that AT&T may slow your speeds each month after you use more than 22gb.

1. With this new information, would you think about switching plans to AT&T?

2.How can you apply aspects of TRIBE or GETWIN to this situation?

3. How do you think other companies will respond to this?

US, North Korea talks called off

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The Trump Administration was planning informal talks with the North Korean delegation the week of February 27th. These under the radar talks were to be held in New York, American Experts and the 6 man team from North Korea were supposed to attend. Up until Friday the 24th this was the plan, but news was sent to North Korean officials that their visas had not been granted and that the talks were to be called off. The withdrawal of the visas came shortly after the Malaysian Government announced that they had successfully assassinated Kim-Jong Nam, Kim-Jong Un's half brother. They used a nerve agent to kill him, one that the United Nations classifies as 'a weapon of mass destruction.'

While it seemed that America was looking to calm the relations between North Korea, this event could potentially cause even more tension between the two countries.

1. How do you think the last minute withdrawals of the visa's make us look as a country?
2. With the visas being denied right after the death of Kim-Jong Un's brother, do you think fingers of blame will be pointed in America's direction?
3. Being that Malaysia used a classified weapon of mass destruction, should that raise eyebrows not only here, but around the globe as well?

Trump says H&R Block will be unhappy with his tax plan

  Trumps has set to simply the tax plan which will be bad for H&R. Trump declared saying We're going to simplify very greatly the tax code. Its too complicated. H&R block probably wont be too happy that one business that might not be happy with what were doing"  Trump said. " Other than H&R block, I think people are going to love it." Trumps administration is reforming a tax plan for both individuals and businesses. Trumps says the massive tax plan is going very well and hopefully will do better in the future. Shares of H&R Block fell nearly 4% after Trump was elected and an additional 2% since then. Trumps has dissed H&R Block before, during his campaign Trump wanted " to put the company out of business by greatly simplifying taxes " Hell to make it simpler both for us as tax prepares and for you as an individual. The tax code is is complex and difficult to navigate for many Americans its time for a change. Before the tax rules can be changed the govt needs to figure out how they are going to administer  social programs. Regardless of the outcome , people will still need help to sort through the changes and the impact on their taxes.

1. If you pay or if you would pay taxes how would you feel about Trumps actions?

2. Do you think H&R shares will gradually fall even more?

3. What do you think is the best solution for this situation ?

http://money.cnn.com/2017/02/15/pf/taxes/donald-trump-hr-block/index.html

Economists Have Been Demoted in Washington. That's a bad idea.

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The new head of the Council of Economic Advisers will not be a part of the new Trump administration cabinet. There are many business executives already on the Trump cabinet, but there is a difference between economic policy experts and business leaders. At the national level one of the largest economic problems of the 21st century has been managing the budget and this is projected to get even worse under the new administration.

Discussion Questions:

1. Given all the business expertise on the Trump cabinet, is it reasonable to leave the head of the Council of Economic Advisers off of the cabinet?

2. Would economic policy expertise go well alongside the business leaders to help the administration manage the budget or can the business leaders handle this responsibly?

3. Can the Trump administration be trusted to make responsible business decisions with the tax dollars they receive from Americans?

Trump's New Deportation Plan Will Cost Billions

                   Trump has requested a dramatic increase in deportations all across America and that means more money will be funded. The Department of Homeland Security has estimated that the extent of his ideas that he has for his deportation force will cost around 400 to 600 billion dollars in order to deport approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States.  The article also describes the facilities that undocumented immigrants are kept at after they are caught and are held for about 30 days. The article says in order to maintain one facility it costs 1 billion over the time of four years. An estimated 126.46 dollars a day to maintain the facilities. Labor costs is another factor in the budget saying that the ICE agency has almost 21,000 agents which is almost double what they had before which adds another 3.8 billion dollars to the already huge budget.

Article: http://www.newsweek.com/trump-immigrant-deportation-costs-559933 

Discussion Questions:  - Do you believe it is necessary for Trump to invest this much money  into                                               deporting immigrants from the U.S?
                                      - What other things could Trump invest in that could be more helpful for the                                           United States?
                                      - Where do you think Trump is going to get all this money from if he is                                                    planning to repeal 40% of federal state tax?