As my very possible last post on this platform, I've decided to make a list about Movies and Tv Shows that teach it's viewers about Business, Economy and Politics.

Movies

Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Director: Martin Scorsese

Writers: Terence Winter and Jordan Belfort

Starring: Leonardo Dicaprio, Jonah Hill , Margot Robbie

Summary: The movie follows the life of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government

Beautiful Mind (2001)

Director: Ron Howard

Writers: Akiva Golfsman

Starring:Russell Crowe

Summary: The movie follows the life of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government

Moneyball

Director: Bennett Miller

Writers: Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin

Starring: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill

Summary:  an account of the Oakland Athletics baseball team's 2002 season and their general manager Billy Beane's attempts to assemble a competitive team.

The Informant!

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Writers: Scott Z Burns

Starring: Matt Damon

Summary: It depicts Whitacre's involvement as a whistle blower in the lysine price-fixing conspiracy of the mid-1990s as described in the 2000 nonfiction book The Informant, by journalist Kurt Eichenwald.

Margin Call (2011)

Director: J.C. Chandor

Writers: J.C. Chandor

Starring:  Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto, Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Demi Moore, and Stanley Tucci

Summary: The principal story takes place over a 24-hour period at a large Wall Street investment bank during the initial stages of the financial crisis of 2007–08. In focus are the actions taken by a group of employees during the subsequent financial collapse.

VICE(2018)

Director:Adam McKay

Writers: Adam McKay

Starring: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell

Summary: he film follows Cheney on his path to become the most powerful Vice President in American history

The Big Short (2015)

Director:Adam McKay

Writers: Adam McKay

Starring: Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, Melissa Leo, Hamish Linklater, John Magaro, Rafe Spall, Jeremy Strong, Finn Wittrock, and Marisa Tomei.

Summary: how the financial crisis of 2007–2008 was triggered by the United States housing bubble

Shows

House of Cards
Creator: Beau Willimon
Stars: Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, Kate Mara, Corey Stoll, Michael KellyNetwork: Netflix 












The crown
Creator: Peter Morgan
Stars: Claire Foy, Matt Smith, Vanessa Kirby, Jeremy Northam, Victoria Hamilton, Anton Lesser, Matthew Goode
Network: Netflix 








The Tudors
Creator: Michael Hirst
Stars: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Sam Neill, Callum Blue, Henry Cavill, Henry Czerny, Natalie Dormer, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Peter O’Toole, Max von Sydow, Joss Stone 
Network: Showtime

scandal
Creator:   Shonda Rhimes   
Stars:   Kerry Washington, Guillermo Díaz, Joe Morton
Network: ABC

Game of Thrones

Creator: David Benioff and D.B. Weiss   
Stars:  Kit Harrington, Emilia Clarke, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, Peter Dinklage
Network: HBO

Veep

Creator:  Armando Iannucci
Simon Blackwell
Stars:   Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Network: HBO

Madam Secretary

Creator: Barbara Hall

Stars: Téa Leoni, Tim Daly, Patina Miller, Geoffrey Arend, Erich Bergen, Željko Ivanek, Bebe Neuwirth, Wallis Currie-Wood
Network: CBS












Medici: Masters of florence
Creators: Frank Spotniz, Nicholas Meyer 
Stars: Richard Madden, Annabel Scholey, Stuart Martin, Alessandro Sperduti, Dustin Hoffman 
Network: Netflix 

Cannabis legalization brings many perks to the economy. Year after year countries and states (on USA's case) have legalized the drug. But why do governments are more and more open to this drug? What's the economic benefit behind it ?

Employment Benefits

Thanks to the opening of cultivation and manufacturing facilities, retail and stores to support the industry jobs are created.

Real Estate Benefits

States/Countries were it's legal are seeing a significant increase in property values ad lease rates where the drug's cultivators, manufactures, retails ( etc) can operate.

Due to strict zoning laws in many areas, marijuana businesses have a limited supply of properties to choose from to build their facilities. Property owners understand this and face their own risks when they rent to marijuana-related businesses. Therefore, lease rates and property values skyrocket.

Tax Benefits 

One of the easiest ways to track the economic benefit of the marijuana industry to states and local municipalities is through tax revenue, particularly in states that have legalized both recreational and medical marijuana since adult-use marijuana taxes are typically much higher than medical marijuana taxes.

source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeadams/2018/11/25/is-marijuana-legalization-economic-salvation-or-hype/#71fa9ad210aa

http://www.papermag.com/the-unprecedented-industry-2623871615.html

The US started an investigation in Chinese Trade Policies in 2017, this imposed tariffs on billion of dollars worth of Chinese products making Beijing retaliate in kind.
After mouths in "war", in December, both countries agreed to halt new trade tariffs for 90 days allowing new talks. In March 1st the deadline for raising tariffs has been delayed.

Even though this War focus on the US and Chine, this trade war hurts the global economy deeply. Why?

Trade growth, a key artery in the global economy, has also slowed markedly, to around 4% in 2018 from 5 1⁄4 per cent in 2017, with trade restrictions having adverse effects on confidence and investment plans around the world

said the Interim Economic Outlook published last week by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, a research group from rich countries.

With this said, even if the countries came to a conclusion on the trade agreement, risk still remains that other restrictive measures could be implemented later in 2019, in specific trade-sensitive sectors -cars, cars parts .
This would affect Europe, since the motor vehicle represents 1/10 of the total EU merchandise exports to the US and there are significant supply linkages that spread the impact widely across countries and sectors

We’re either going to have a good result or we’re going to have a bad result before too long, but I’m not setting a specific time frame, And it’s not up to me. The president will tell me when the time is up, or the Chinese will

Source:
https://ig.ft.com/us-china-tariffs/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/charleswallace1/2019/03/20/us-china-trade-war-hurting-the-global-economy/

There is no place or country immune to corruption. This abuse of power for private gain has several and serious consequences for the country, eroding the people's trust in the government, making policies less effective ad fair. Corruption compromises the government's ability to grow the economy, but how?

Corruption helps evade taxes

The more corrupt the country is the less taxes it collects , this because:

• People pay bribes to avoid them 
• when taxpayers believe their government is corrupt, the less likely they are to pay the taxes

Corruption wasted taxpayers' money 

Studies affirm, that most corrupt emerging market economies waste twice as much as the least corrupted ones. 

The government waste money when they spend it on cost overruns due to kickbacks or bid rigging in public procurement.

Corruption also distorts government priorities (heath and education, for example).

However if there is Political will there is a way to fight this problem

•  Invest in high levels of transparency and Independent external scrutiny
• reform institutions 
• Build a professional civil service

Source: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/04/tackling-corruption-in-government/?fbclid=IwAR1YqjbNY_2ocKWF1ekum_dPztfiuDrcOxKGi_Uz8yKvnCgY_G-BwhWDnQQ

The Médici were a powerful and importing banking family from Florence, Italy from the 1400. The family had great influence on the economy, politics and art of the city, some of that influence can still be seen today.

Their founder was Giovanni di Bicci, however his son- Cosimo il Vecchio, begin the family’s participation in politics. For many years, the family ruled over the city without any official title. How? Through a “Client System”, this is the wealth and power of the family allowed them to “exchange” favors to put in power however they wanted.

How did the Medici’s change the world?

They invented the middle class

Before the Medicis there were only Royals and commoners.Now thanks their power and money, a new social class was created- The middle class.

They invented modern Banking

The family popularized the use of double-entry bookkeeping and bills of exchange, these at the time were an innovation. Besides that, they found new and interesting ways to charge interest such as making a loan in one currency and have it repaid in another, letting the exchange rate add a few percentage points of profits.

The Double-entry bookkeeping, the letter of credit and holding Companies are some of the Medici’s practices banks still use on today’s world.

Modern Politics 

The family operated as “benign dictators”. A benevolent dictatorship refers to a government in which an authoritarian leader exercises absolute political power over the state but is perceived to do so with regard for benefit of the population as a whole, standing in contrast to the decidedly malevolent stereotype of a dictator.

If you want to learn more about the family, I highly advise you to watch " Medici : Masters of Florence" starring golden globe winner, Richard Madden and Daniel Sharman.

Source:https://www.edology.com/blog/accounting-finance/3-medici-banking-innovations/

https://www.sbs.com.au/guide/article/2017/04/19/how-medici-familys-influences

What is socialism?

Socialism is defined as an economic system where everybody within the society equally owns the factors of production, taking into account both individual and collective needs (education, transportation, defense, education, health care).

Socialists believe in the follow motto “ from each according to his ability, to eah according to his contribution”, which means that everyone within the society receives a share of the production based on how much each has contributed, creating motivation for people to work longer hours.

What are the Pros and Cons of socialism?

Socialism has several pros such as :

1. Workers are not exploited (Profits are spread equitably among all workers according to their individual contribution)
2. The system provides for those who can’t work, meeting their basic needs for the good of the whole society
3. Elimitates provery by providing equal acess to education and health care

However it also has some cons:

1. Relies on the cooperative nature of humans to work ignoring those within society who are competitive -tend to seek ways to overthrow and disrupt society for their own gain
2. socialism doesn't reward people for being entrepreneurial, struggling to be as innovative as a capitalistic society.
3. Government has a lot of power

Are there any types of socialism?

There are eight types of socialism:

1. Democratic Socialism:  production are managed by the working people, and there is a democratically elected government.
2. Revolutionary Socialism: Socialism will emerge only after capitalism has been destroyed.
3. Libertarian Socialism:  the basic nature of people is rational, autonomous, and self-determining and once the strictures of capitalism have been removed, people will naturally seek a socialist society that takes care of all, free of economic, political, or social hierarchies. 
4. Market Socialism: Production is owned by the workers that decide how to distribute among themselves.
5. Green Socialism: values the maintenance of natural resources.
6. Christian Socialism
7. Utopian Socialism
8. Fabian Socialism

 

source: https://www.thebalance.com/socialism-types-pros-cons-examples-3305592

What is Communism?

Communism is a ideology of economic equality through the elimination of private property that centers on the idea that inequality and suffering that results from capitalism.

According to the communist ideology, the working class must rise up against capitalist owners and create a new society without private property, or economic classes or profits.

Communism in History

Founded in the second half of the 19^th century by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. It became a dominant political philosophy in many countries across Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa and South America and in the late 19^th it began to be developed in Russia.

The first time this ideology was ever implemented was in 1917, when the Bolsheiks seize power thought the October revolution. Once in power, they nationalized all public property as well as putting factories under government control.

Famous ideologists:

1.          Marxism
2.         Dengism
3.          Trotskyism
4.          Stalinism
5.          council communism
6.          Luxemburgism
7.          anarcho-communism
8.          Christian communism
9.          Islamic socialism

Countries that live under communism:

1.          Cuba
2.         North Korea
3.          Vietnam
4.         China
5.          Laos 

source: https://www.livescience.com/42980-what-is-communism.html
https://www.thoughtco.com/communist-countries-overview-1435178

Public Transportation is vital for people of all ages around the globe, it’s a way to travel on a faster and more economical way. Recently the Portuguese government implemented a new Public transportation policy called “Passe navegante”, today we will review this policy by answering the following questions. What is this policy? What is the impact it has on families? How much does it cost to the government?

What is a “Passe Navegante”?
It’s a measure by the Lisbon Metropolitan Are (AML) which promises to revolutionize mobility in Lisbon.

They are a card that allows it’s user to use any public transportation (train, bus, metro) for a considerable small amount.

There are two types of Cards: Navegante Metropolitano that costs 40 Euros and allows it’s users to travel on all AML transportation or Navegante Municipal that costs 30 Euros and allows its user to travel within one of the 18 municipals.

How much does it cost to the government?

The investment made for the reduction of the public transportation’s card will cost around 117,5 million of euros the government.

What is the Impact it has on families?

Even thought this reduction is a big cost to the government, it helps innumerous families, making them save an incredible amount of money. Some of them go from paying 100+ Euros for each card, each month to pay 80 euros for all the cards.

What do you think of this policy? Do you think public transportation should be free? Do you believe this policy will survive for long? Comment your opinion bellow

Sources: https://www.jn.pt/economia/interior/passe-navegante-familia-so-disponivel-em-julho-10694011.html

This week Portugal suffer an enormous fuel crisis thanks to a strike from drivers of dangerous goods, which resulted on the depletion of hundreds of fuel stations across the country. 

When, who and why did this happen?

The strike was called at Monday, 15th of April at mid night by the SNMMP (Sindicato Nacional de Motoristas de Matérias Perigosas, to claim recognition of the specific professional category.

Pedro Pardal, vice president of the union, affirms that drivers claim "is the recognition of the professional category, because they are considered only heavy-duty workers despite the fact that there are differences [and being required to be specially trained]" and there also "additional risks". Additionally, to cease to “illegally" pay subsistence allowances, which leads to workers being harmed.

How did the Government Reacted?

The Portuguese state decided to use measures to make sure there were minimum levels of fuel at filling stations, however that didn’t work quite well since several filling station around the country were forced to close due to lacking of fuel.

The end of the strike
The strike ended this Thursday, 18th of April thanks to the deal reached between ANTRAM and the driver’s union.

According to Pedro Pardal Henriques “What made us revoke the strike was the assurance from both the ANTRAM and the Government that we are going to start negotiating the collective bargaining agreement and the commitment that this would have an end by the end of the year. On the other hand, we are aware that if we continued with the strike we would cause more problems for the country”. 

                           

What do you think about the strike? Do you believe the Drivers are right? Do you believe that the government had no other option than negotiate?

Leave your opinions below in the comments.

sources: https://rr.sapo.pt/noticia/148516/crise-dos-combustiveis-greve-acabou
Check out my colleague work on the matter 

https://uma-janela-para-a-mobilidade.webnode.pt/l/sera-receio-ou-loucura/

As we previously said, the monetary policy it is a tool used to control the flow of money in the economy and the fiscal policy is a way of the government to influence the economy. Both fiscal and monetary policy play a big part on our economy, however the question still remains: Which one is more effective?

Reasons why monetary policy is more effective:

• Since its set by the Central Bank, it has less political influence;
• Fiscal policy can have additional supply side effects on the wider economy;
•  According to monetarists, expansionary fiscal policy is likely to create crowding out- increment on  government spending reduces private sector expenditure, and higher government borrowing pushes up interest rates;
• Expansionary fiscal policy might lead to unusual interest groups pushing for spending which isn’t helpful and proves difficult to reduce when the recession is over;
•   Monetary policy is quicker to implement.

Reasons why fiscal policy is more effective:

• Targeting inflation is too narrow;
•  Cutting interest rates may prove insufficient to increase demand because banks don’t want to lend and consumers are too nervous to spend;
• creating money may be ineffective if banks just want to keep the extra money on their balance sheets;
• Government spending directly creates demand in the economy and can provide a kick-start to get the economy out of recession.

Even thought the Monetary policy and fiscal policy together have great influence over a nation's economy, which one do you believe to be more effective?

source: economicshelp

A Monetary Policy is by definition a macroeconomic policy controlled by the Central Bank. It comprises management of money supply and interest rate, and it is the demand side economic policy used by the government of a country to achieve macroeconomic objectives- inflation, consumption, growth and liquidity, in other words it is a tool used to control the flow of money in the economy.  

Monetary Policies have several objectives, yet the main are the management of inflation, unemployment and maintenance of currency exchange, and in order to achieve these policies have several tools:

·         Adjustment of interest rates- the central bank can influence the discount rate( interest rate charged by the central bank to other banks);

·         purchase of sale of government securities- by changing into the required amount the central bank can influence the money supply of the economy;

·         Open market operations- The Central Bank can either purchase or sell securities issued by the government to affect the money supply.

Another Important matter to address when it comes to monetary policy is the differentiation between Expansionary Monetary Policy and Contractionary policy. The first one aims to increase the money supply in the economy via reducing interest rates, obtaining government securities by central banks and dropping the reserve requirements for banks it lowers unemployment and stimulates business activities and consumer spending. On the other hand, the contractionary policy has the goal to decrease the money supply of the economy to control inflation rates, by raising interest rates, selling government bonds, and increasing the reserve requirements for banks.

The monetary policy of a county as a great weight on it’s economy, as we can see. If a monetary policy incentivizes entities to borrow and spend, it aims to spur economic activity. However, by limiting spending and incentivizing savings it can also act as a brake on inflation and other issues associated with an overheated economy.

source: economictimes, corporatefinanceinstitute