globalEDGE Blog Podcast

On November 26, 2021, a new variant, Omicron, of the coronavirus was discovered in South Africa. The World Health Organization declared this variant a concern due to Omicron's unusually high number of mutations and warned that the overall global risk is very high. Similar to other variants, these mutations impact how easily the virus spreads and the gravity of this virus when sick.

Welcome back to the globalEDGE blog! The globalEDGE team is returning to our regular Monday through Thursday blog schedule.

As the semester comes to a close, the students of the globalEDGE team will be taking finals next week and enjoying winter break in the following weeks. The team has had a great semester being back in the office for the first time since the spring of 2020, and we look forward to providing more website updates and blog posts when we return for the spring semester in 2022. Thank you again to our readers for browsing the site and reading the blogs we post each week! We will return to the office on Monday, January 10, 2022.

Over the course of a lifetime, career changes happen. People resigning from or changing careers is normal in moderation. However, employees quitting their jobs in bulk is not a normal occurrence in the workforce. In September, a record high of 4.4 million people, or 3% of workers, quit their jobs and with the holiday season approaching, this causes a major hassle for businesses. Employers are having to take drastic measures to make up for the lost employees. On top of this, roughly 34.4 million workers have quit their jobs this year.

Over the past few weeks, the term “metaverse” has been growing in popularity. Yet, the concept of the metaverse is still being developed and enhanced.

The globalEDGE team has recently updated the United States State Trade Statistics with the latest data. For every state in the "Global Insights" tab, you can click on "Trade Statistics" in the left-hand column. For each trade statistic, you can find a particular state's exporter rank, importer rank, trade balance rank, total numbers and percentages for exports and imports, and the impact of international trade on the countries economy. You will also find an updated list of each state's top 10 exporters and importers and the top 10 types of goods imported and exported, along with the USD$ amount for each exporter, importer, and good. Overall, this is a great tool for understanding the United States market.

Previously known as “Little England”, Barbados has officially severed its ties from Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom, and became a republic after nearly four centuries of monarchy rule. Sandra Mason was appointed by Queen Elizabeth and was sworn in as their first president, officially declaring a republic. Apart from declaring a republic, they still remain in the Commonwealth. Many aspects of the country's British ties and British culture still remain apparent on the island. For example, their education system, systems of government, architecture, and even a hospital named after Queen Elizabeth proves the presence of the monarchy’s rule in Barbados. After centuries of monarchal presence in Barbados, the question being raised is what the future of Barbados could entail.

All-inclusive resorts are known for including the essential amenities of food, drinks, activities, and entertainment, in the booking price. These all-inclusive resorts range from white sand beaches to mountain top retreats. The all-inclusive resort market has been booming during 2021. Due to the pandemic, travelers are more drawn to vacation options in which they are able to stay in one place. Staying in one place removes the stress of planning do-it-yourself activities.

Following a post-pandemic period of expansionary monetary policy, stimulus checks, and economic growth, the U.S. economy has been confronted with a new stage of high inflation. The annual rate of inflation in the U.S. hit 6.2% last month, its highest rate in more than three decades. While this has been a recent concern, it’s important to note that 85% of countries in the world are experiencing higher inflation rates than usual. Perhaps most negatively affected by high inflation is Turkey; its inflation rate has reached roughly 20%, the second-highest in the world behind Argentina (52%).

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the healthcare industry into the spotlight. Around the world, hospital personnel have spent over a year providing care for hundreds of thousands of patients with COVID-19 while scientists in pharmaceutical companies worked to create vaccinations and other treatments.  Furthermore, the pandemic has revolutionized the way routine healthcare is managed, including an increased use of technology and the rise of telehealth services. Let’s take a look at some of the trends shaping the future of the healthcare industry.