recession
Ethical Leadership: An operating manual
The demand for ethical leadership is growing, yet the supply remains low, as evidenced by the recent credit crisis that sparked the worst global recession since the 1930s. Ethical leaders distinguish themselves by doing that which is inconvenient, unpopular, and even temporarily unprofitable in the service of long-term health and value. They also consider other solutions that may require an investment, but generate more value over the long term. Full article.
Central Louisiana is not recession-proof
Recent layoffs are a sobering reminder that while the Central Louisiana economy may be stable compared to some areas; no area is recession-proof. "No one in this nation is completely insulated from the national economy," said Jim Clinton, chief executive officer of Cenla Advantage Partnership, the economic arm of the Rapides Foundation in Alexandria. "We have had and continue to have some insulating factors that offset some of that, but you are never completely insulated." Full article.
Food production a bright spot in gloomy economy
While the recession took a toll on manufacturing and other industries, one part of the economy remained a bright spot over the past few years: food production. Across the nation, food producers are seeing enough growth that many are expanding and investing in new equipment. Food makers have also benefited from having products that consumers still buy in hard times and from ongoing efforts to open up new markets overseas. Full article.
Food Banks getting set for holidays
Although nationally recognized economists have declared that our most recent recession has ended, many residents of Central Louisiana are still caught in what can be best described as an economic malaise. A recent announcement by the Leesville Ministerial Alliance indicated that they spent a record amount of money last fall to assist families in financial crisis. Food banks across Central Louisiana are currently facing increased demand and decreased supply. Full article.
For many over 55, debt defers dreams
A growing number of Americans age 55 and older have put their retirement dreams on hold as they face a dismal financial reality: The recession has forced many into unemployment, stripped away years of their savings or dramatically reduced incomes during what they had hoped would be their final high-earning years. Full article.
What's wrong with 'Free'
For businesses struggling through tough economic times, using "free" to lure leery customers can be tempting. However, when companies make a gratis offer, what they're really doing is muddying the cost-benefit equation and making it more difficult for their prospects to make a clear value determination. Full article.
Gender pay gap smallest on record
The earnings gap between men and women shrunk to a record low, partly because many women are prospering in the new economy and partly because men have been hit hard by the recession. Women earned 82.8 percent of the median weekly wage of men in the second quarter of 2010, up from 76.1 percent for the same period a decade ago and the highest ever recorded, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. Full Article.
U.S. economy: Recession concerns ease
Companies in the U.S. added more jobs than forecast in August, easing concern the world’s largest economy is sliding back into a recession. President Obama said there is “no quick fix” for the economy and urged Congress to pass a package of measures to help small businesses, including tax breaks and aid to ease credit. Full Article.
Work claims by the disabled hit high
More people with disabilities filed charges of discrimination against their employers last year than at any time in the 20-year history of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The main reasons for the increase: the recession and an amendment to the ADA that broadened the definition of what it means to be disabled. “With the number of people being let go . . . people with disabilities are more in that direct line,” says Nicholas LaRocca, a vice president of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Full Article.
Tough times spur shifts in corporate R&D spending
The recession left many companies keeping a close eye on their spending. When this happens, funding for research and development budgets suffer. Recent data from the National Science Foundation indicated that domestic R&D spending by all U.S. companies fell 13.1 percent. Full Article.
