Farmers markets: a potential engine for local economic growth?
Now that the debt ceiling debate/debacle has ended (for the time being), Washington pols are talking jobs. Republicans think keeping taxes low is the answer; President Obama and the Democrats want to invest in infrastructure and green technology. According to a late July report from the Union for Concerned Scientists, both parties might want to think about another angle: supporting farmers markets.
Read More »Is Africa creating the model for a green economy?
When you think of international leadership towards a green economy, countries in Europe and Asia probably first come to mind: Germany’s leading the pack in terms of implementing clean technology, and China’s right there in terms of manufacturing it (even though it has a ways to go with its own environmental challenges). You might have a tough time thinking of an African nation contributing to the concept of economic growth through environmentally benign practices… and yet, according to a new report from the United Nations Environment Programme, nations such as South Africa and Kenya are creating green economic models that could serve as templates for other countries, both developing and developed.
Read More »Do bike lanes create more jobs than roads?
When the subject of infrastructure improvements as job creators come up, the examples are almost always the same: roads and bridges. No doubt we need improvements there… but a new study from the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst suggests that bike lanes may provide a bigger bang for the buck in terms of job creation.
Read More »Post-Labor day special: 5 organizations promoting a green collar economy
You likely associate Labor Day with long weekends, family cook-outs, the last trip of the season, or even putting away certain articles of clothing (yes, I grew up in the South). Of course, the holiday was created to celebrate the contributions of blue collar workers to our country’s economic growth and development. This year, some might find that a bit ironic, as our current economic woes have put many of these people out of work.
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