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Where: Toronto, Canada Signs: 1. Stock Market 2. Job Unemployment 3. Small Business Closings 4. Consumer Shopping Talking about the global economy can be done from different view points depending on one's own reality and what one reads in newspapers and other media. Even from a local city perspective such as in Toronto, the biggest city in Canada, one can pay attention to the signs of the times and the trends happening annually. Chatting with my brother, a small business owner of a gift store SB on Queen Street West in Parkdale, for the whole year he complained of sales being down with his recent move and how it's just starting to pick up again. Christmas shopping is starting and he usually makes as much during Christmas month as he does throughout the year. As I asked advice on my own plans to open a space for a website business http://inoutside.biz since I did notice the big for rent/lease signs on store front street level locations along Queen Street, he warned me against it saying it is not the time to open a new business considering existing businesses are closing! He has a point based on his own reality as a small business owner worth listening to. But the internet and the digital economy is a new broadcasting medium which is affordable to small businesses which may attract customers from online, although most depend on street traffic. The costs of having a website and digital banner ads and video commercials online annually are much cheaper than having a one day print ad or television commercial. There are at least 4 indexes that I sometimes look at for the economy. The most common one is the job unemployment rate in a city since I am either employed or unemployed as most worker types. Working with temporary work agencies, I was put on contracts with different companies, corporation or government, usually working with computers and paper work. News about major bankruptcies or closings such as those in the housing market and the auto industry did not affect me personally but I did read about the news and worried along with the unemployed workers who simultaneously lost their homes. I have tried a few times to do a business on my own, such as a tenant placement website Casa P.O.W. Project http://casapow.net and had some success but it is on hold for now until I can figure out a way to ensure prompt payments from the properties for filling their vacancies with government subsidized tenants. What is the point of doing the work without pay? Now thanks to Acanac, I progressed from blogger to a forum rep on Redflagdeals, a contract position which depends on the customers complaints -- the more they complain, the more likely I will remain on contract as long as I can handle their complaints with satisfaction. Redflagdeals is an online forum for bargain hunters who post shopping deals, usually the cheapest priced products, they recommend to other members. It has over 200,000 shoppers! It looks like shopping is still going strong and shoppers will research a bargain deal and business before even going there! So it is probably true that the digital economy is linked to increased sales from having a website presence, thus businesses should develop a strong online presence with a website and network with consumer forums because their potential customers are researching before buying. Website based businesses such as Ebay, Google, Paypal, Yahoo, are also listed in the stock market and their shares are worth enough to make them billionaires, including their online advertising! They offer free services which attracts millions of members and this popularity increases their value online and in the stock market. That website businesses are making lots of money is inspiring to someone like me who can create a website which may become a business. The Liberal Party sent me an email when I joined the campaign to 'Keep Broadband Competitive in Canada': 'The future economy will be very dependent on the digital economy. It is crucial that we, as a country, invest in broadband infrastructure today. Our Caucus is very determined on this issue, and will continue to work hard in the House of Commons and in the Senate to best serve Canadians.' Since the politicians are thinking that way, being leaders of the country, then it most likely will happen along with the trend seen in business. The internet will probably improve the economy for all. Even my brother is spending and developing websites for his store with this hope in mind... Reference: http://www.consumersforinternetcompetition.com/
http://www.jobboom.com/indice/indice_jobboom_accueilONA.html
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