January 31, 2020

Last week, the world learned that a deadly, fast-moving disease called the coronavirus had appeared in several Chinese cities. The mysterious illness has already killed more than a hundred people and infected thousands more, leading the World Health Organization to declare the coronavirus a global health emergency. Despite its potentially worldwide implications, though, right now the disease is primarily localized in China. Along with placing entire cities on quarantine, Chinese authorities have also extended the annual Lunar New Year holiday Continue reading

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November 12, 2019

Major conglomerates like Procter & Gamble, Kimberly Clark and Georgia-Pacific earn more than $31 billion annually from toilet paper sales. But while this industry is certainly lucrative, it’s not exactly innovative. After all, one of the few significant developments these companies have made in recent decades is to sell larger rolls. Brands such as Charmin and Quilted Northern treat their products like commodities, meaning that they compete primarily based on price. By concentrating on value, the biggest names in toilet Continue reading

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October 11, 2019

This week, Houston Rockets owner Daryl Morey sparked an international controversy when he tweeted his support for the protests in Hong Kong. His words angered both Chinese officials and businesses, leading a number of companies and government organizations to suspend ties with the Rockets. The NBA tried to ease the situation by calling Morey’s comments “regrettable,” which then caused outrage among Americans. This short video explains how the NBA must walk a fine line between appealing to its core Continue reading

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September 13, 2019

As the trade war with China heats up, Apple is starting to move some of its production to other nations throughout its global supplier network. But don’t expect the tech giant to return home to the U.S. anytime soon. This video shows how difficult it would be for Apple to manufacture its most popular products domestically and explores how the company could approach this problem in the future.

Questions:

  1. Why did Apple move production of the 2013 Mac Pro to Continue reading
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March 29, 2019

China’s population is aging on a massive scale. Within 30 years, experts estimate that the country will be home to more than 500 million citizens over 60. As a result, China’s economy and society could face majors changes as it strives to meet the needs of seniors. This video takes a look at the massive purchasing power that the nation’s seniors will soon wield and how businesses are responding to shifting demographics.

Questions:

  1. How does Granny Sunshine’s success in fashion Continue reading
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February 14, 2019

Although certain candies will be hard to come by today, plenty of people around the world will show their love by giving jewelry to their valentines. That might not be the case in China, however, where more women are opting to buy bling for themselves rather than wait for their partners to do so. For example, a Shanghai-based business manager named Crystal Zhu said that her boyfriend’s “nice but a bit dull” selections aren’t as expressive as she’d like. “The Continue reading

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January 8, 2019

Apple started the new year on the wrong foot following a surprise announcement that last quarter’s iPhone sales will likely fall short of projections. While the company had originally planned to bring in between $89 billion and $93 billion, CEO Tim Cook said last week that overall revenue would likely tally at just $85 billion. “Lower than anticipated iPhone revenue, primarily in Greater China, accounts for all of our revenue shortfall,” Cook wrote in a letter to investors. As a Continue reading

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August 28, 2018

A few years ago, many tech industry analysts predicted that the Amazon Echo would soon dominate the growing smart speaker market. After all, the voice-activated device accounted for more than 75 percent of market share as the company moved “tens of millions” of Echo products in 2017 alone. Consumers were also becoming more familiar with Alexa, the virtual assistant designed to answer questions and perform simple tasks like turning the lights on and off. Given these factors plus Amazon’s ever Continue reading

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August 16, 2018

If you live in a large or mid-sized city, you’ve probably noticed a lot of brightly colored bicycles popping up on sidewalks throughout town. Whether they’re green bikes from Lime or Ofo’s yellow models, these two-wheeled vehicles are available to rent for as little as $1 per ride. Bike-share companies claim that this business model provides cities with a wealth of transportation options that both tourists and locals alike can easily access. For communities that have been absolutely flooded with Continue reading

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Lately the news has been full of headlines about the U.S. potentially imposing tariffs on goods from countries like China. These articles are typically followed by stories saying that other nations could place their own tariffs on American goods, thus potentially setting the stage for a “trade war.” This video explains exactly what happens during a trade war and how they can affect economies around the world.  

  1. What are some reasons why a country would want to impose a Continue reading
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