GROWTH
The fast-growing economies of China and India will soon be worth more than the combined domestic product of the Group of Seven countries.
However, it is now predicted that China's GDP growth will slow significantly after 2020 because of a rapidly aging population that will present major policy challenges to the country's leadership.
By 2030, more than 35 per cent of China's population will be older than 65 and by 2060, more than 60 per cent of people living in China will be seniors. After 2020, China's economic growth will be overtaken by India and Indonesia."
POWER
U.S. researchers are claiming that a device which can harness energy from the heart can produce enough electricity to keep a pacemaker running. Presently, pacemaker batteries need replacing. Tests suggest that the device could produce 10 times the amount of energy needed. If researchers can refine the technology and it proves robust in clinical trials, it will further reduce the need for battery changes.
GROCERIES
The U.S. grocery market grew to US$645-billion in 2011 from $568-billion in 2007 a growth of 14 per cent. over four years.
WINE
A poor wine harvest in 2012 is predicted to lead to a shortage of wine across the world. The International Organization for Wine and Vine (OIV) says wine production has fallen to its lowest level since records began in 1975. Hardest hit are wine-makers in Argentina, where output has fallen 24 per cent and in the world's two largest wine producers, Italy and France. Overall production is expected to have been around five billion gallons. Global thirst for wine is growing, especially in the developing world, and demand is expected to outstrip production. The exception is the U.S. where output grew by 7 per cent.
UNEMPLOYMENT
A Swedish town has hit on a novel way to cut its unemployment figures: it is paying young people to move to Norway, and more than 100 have already found work there.
Issues of the A&A Economic News Digest can be found at http://www.aacb.com/publications/ed/index.asp
The fast-growing economies of China and India will soon be worth more than the combined domestic product of the Group of Seven countries.
However, it is now predicted that China's GDP growth will slow significantly after 2020 because of a rapidly aging population that will present major policy challenges to the country's leadership.
By 2030, more than 35 per cent of China's population will be older than 65 and by 2060, more than 60 per cent of people living in China will be seniors. After 2020, China's economic growth will be overtaken by India and Indonesia."
POWER
U.S. researchers are claiming that a device which can harness energy from the heart can produce enough electricity to keep a pacemaker running. Presently, pacemaker batteries need replacing. Tests suggest that the device could produce 10 times the amount of energy needed. If researchers can refine the technology and it proves robust in clinical trials, it will further reduce the need for battery changes.
GROCERIES
The U.S. grocery market grew to US$645-billion in 2011 from $568-billion in 2007 a growth of 14 per cent. over four years.
WINE
A poor wine harvest in 2012 is predicted to lead to a shortage of wine across the world. The International Organization for Wine and Vine (OIV) says wine production has fallen to its lowest level since records began in 1975. Hardest hit are wine-makers in Argentina, where output has fallen 24 per cent and in the world's two largest wine producers, Italy and France. Overall production is expected to have been around five billion gallons. Global thirst for wine is growing, especially in the developing world, and demand is expected to outstrip production. The exception is the U.S. where output grew by 7 per cent.
UNEMPLOYMENT
A Swedish town has hit on a novel way to cut its unemployment figures: it is paying young people to move to Norway, and more than 100 have already found work there.
Issues of the A&A Economic News Digest can be found at http://www.aacb.com/publications/ed/index.asp
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