globalEDGE Blog Podcast

As Britain continues with the process of exiting the EU, it appears that globalism has slowed into a more stagnant condition; however, there is one area where globalism continues to expand rapidly: the flow of digital data and information. With blockchain acquiring most of its fame from being the back-end technology that powered cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, it is now blossoming across multiple industries. The potential of this up-and-coming technology is full of surprising possibilities for the future of international business. In the coming times, we will not only see how blockchain technologies will lead to greater efficiency, but how they will drive the global economy into a new age.

Just a few years ago, video games were no more than mindless games children and teens played to pass time. Parents would gripe about how their children spent too much time on their phones or gaming systems and, instead, they should focus more on schoolwork that would better prepare them for their future. But what if playing video games could make someone more money than going to college, earning a degree, and working a typical job could? Well, the world of eSports is doing just that.

Throughout the world, sustainability is a growing trend.  Consumers are beginning to recognize their contribution to climate change and habitat destruction, and a sense of social responsibility is growing.  The tourism industry is no exception. Tourism is responsible for about eight percent of global carbon emissions. A single person flying from New York City to Paris generates 1,812.5 pounds of carbon dioxide according to Sustainable Travel International.  So, let’s look at how people are changing their travel habits and how it’s affecting businesses around the world.

After a brief hiatus for our winter break, the globalEDGE team is back on campus and will return to our regular blog schedule.  This semester, you can again expect to read insightful and informative posts Monday through Thursday of each week.  We look forward to reconnecting with our audience and are excited for the next 16 weeks.

As the academic semester comes to an end for the globalEDGE team, we would like to thank our users for your continued support.  From technology to international relations, we hope that our blogs were able to provide readers with exciting perspectives on current international business topics.  The globalEDGE team will be taking a break from posting on our blog section over the coming winter break but will be back in action at the start of the next semester on January 6th.  We hope everyone has a happy holiday season and we cannot wait to return in the new year.

Commercial Space Travel has been a dream for years. Most science fiction media would tell you that it’s all aliens and fantasy—but it has become the dream of many humans to walk on the moon. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), while usually in the spotlight when talking about space travel, is not the top organization researching private flight.

Since the subway protests began in Chile on October 18th, 2019, the country has stayed in a state of unrest, with some cities in a state of danger. The protests that initially started from a proposed increase in subways fairs are now a range of grievances over education, health services, economic equality, and improved social services overall. These protests are said to be interfering with president Sebastian Piñera’s vision of the country being a prosperous and peaceful nation to foreign investors. Despite the president’s efforts to restore order and security since the unrest began, the protests seem to be taking a toll on Chile’s economy, as well as international trade and the global initiatives towards climate change.

With the happiest time of the year just around the corner, people around the globe are beginning to prepare for their holiday traditions. Some plan trips to see family, while others are out shopping for gifts. Decorations are springing up, and joyous Christmas songs echo across the radio. Throughout many countries, people are beginning to prepare for Christmas and other holidays with dinners and meals. This might be through reservations at restaurants or orchestrating intricate meal plans.

Technology has always been a common interest for many people across the globe. It crosses physical and cultural barriers to create common interests or goals among individuals and groups. Technology is always changing and will only continue to evolve in the future. The constant evolution of technology has created some impressive economic effects in recent years. S&P 500 technology sector has seen a 41% gain for the year, and this number is only expected to grow in the future. Despite the tariff war between China and the United States, technology stocks are still expected to rise in the near future. Some of the areas in which technology will grow are car innovations (smart cars, virtual and augmented reality, and healthcare).

According to a report released by the Institute of International Finance on November 14th, global debt reached a staggering high of $250 trillion, rising $7.5 trillion in the first half of 2019.  The expectation is that global debt will reach $255 trillion by the end of 2019. The primary contributors to this statistic are the U.S. and China, who account for 60% of the increase.