Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Capitalism

Who are some pretend business competitors?

teg — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:05:38 -0800

What are some examples of "pretend" business competitors? I'm thinking of brands that appear to be separate businesses and appear to be in direct competition, but are in fact owned by the same company. Two examples I can think of:

Bell and Giro bike helmets, the two leading brands, both owned by Bell Sports.

Best Buy Canada and Future Shop, two Canadian big box electronic stores, usually set up on the same parking lot, both owned by Best Buy.

I'm not really looking for the Campbell's-Soup-type flooding of the product display, as in that case they are at least up front about who is dominating the shelf. I would probably also rule out mergers that are just taking a little while to process.

Red Fuji southern wind clear morning... on my wall

killdevil — Thu, 28 May 2009 22:55:14 -0800

I need suggestions as to how I can most easily and inexpensively get the full-size version of this arresting image reproduced at large size and on high-quality art paper. So, which Web-based printing vendors have you dealt with who'd be worth looking into? I'm guessing there are Internet merchants whose business focuses on print production for digital art applications, and who could take a huge emailed JPEG file, run whatever pre-press conversions and cleanups may be necessary, dump out a finished art-print via a shockingly expensive print production system, then send back the end result rolled up in a big tube?

And, secondarily, if you have advice as to the specific paper or printing process we should seek out, or as to easy/cheap/attractive framing options you think would work well with the subject matter of the print in question, well, that'd be greatly appreciated too.

retail or wholesale?

abirae — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:36:11 -0800

How does American Apparel make money? A friend and I have a disagreement over this that basically breaks down to: retail or wholesale? As I understand it, they started out as t-shirt wholesalers and expanded into a retail empire. But where do they make the bulk of their revenue?

They charge much higher prices for their retail clothes than for their wholesale t-shirts, but maintaining storefronts must also be a costly undertaking. The higher overhead might cancel out the higher prices. They clearly have the money for major ad campaigns and numerous store fronts so they must be making money somehow, but I don't know how to find this information.

Of course, it's also possible that they aren't making money, or that one part of their business subsidizes other parts of the business. I know very little about garment manufacturing and retail, so I'm hoping that someone with a knowledge of the biz can clue me in.

Communist dogs vs Capitalist pigs

man down under — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:32:33 -0800

What game can I play with a History class to demonstrate the differences between Capitalism and Communism? I would like to introduce Capitalism and Communism to the kids I teach prior to starting a unit on the Cold War.

Does anyone know of a game that can either have a two teams (Commies vs. Capitalists) or can have a rule change at half time to show the difference in economic and idealogical outlooks?

Bonus points for not pushing either agenda as the answer to all life's woes!

So WHAT is wrong with socialism again?

arniec — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:08:06 -0800

PoliSci filter: I was hoping that someone can rationally, without rhetoric, explain to me why the word "Socialism" creates fear and extreme responses in far right-wing people. Soem very detailed specifics within. With all the recent economic turmoil and the elections, I'm seeing the term "socialism" a lot. With the US just today somewhat "nationalizing" some banks the term has been used. Also with Obama's proposed universal health care the term is used again. Also, I recently read that at a McCain speech an attendee said his "biggest fear" was to raise his son in a country raised by "socialists". This really made me want to say "Wha???"

First, as I understand it (and it's been a looong time since my Policital Science classes in college) the US is a Capitilistic Republic. That being two different things. Capitalistic is one thing, the Republic being another (even though we're commonly referred to as a "democracy", as I understand it we are truly a republic).

Continuing that, if we WERE to become socialist then we would STILL be a republic, people would still have freedoms and people would still vote, correct? It's not that Socialism = Communism, is it? Because can't one have a Socialist Republic country and a Capitalist Communist country?

Next, given that Socialism in theory would equalize all people financially in some or all respects depending on how far it went, why are some of the most radical opponants of it lower income blue collar people? Wouldn't those be the ones benefitting most from such a change?

Finally, I look at Canada, which I know has socialized health care. The people in Canada seem happy. I know several Canadians on a very personal level and they do not seem oppressed nor limited. They are not smuggling themselves over the border to escape socialized health care, in fact the benefit of their cheaper nature of pharmacuticals is constantly cropping up in my e-mail. So again, why the fear?

Even if we DID socialize health care (which I don't believe is actually Obama's plan but merely a right-wing framing and demonizing of Obama's plan), that would not make us "socialists" would it? To have a single natioanlized health care institution as Canada does? IS Canada socialist?

Can someone help me clear this up??

Thank you!

Moço, me da uma cervejinha bem geladinha, por favor!!

Zé Pequeno — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 03:54:36 -0800

I have just started reading 'The Mystery of Capital' by the celebrated Peruvian economist, Hernando de Soto. Having lived in Brazil for many years and seen, on a daily basis, the irrepressible entrepreneurial spirit of which he writes, I can relate to the book and whole-heartedly support the fundamental idea running through it that clearly-defined property rights and simplified procedures for starting new businesses represent the best solution to eradicating poverty in the Third World. I have an 18,000-word Masters in International Business thesis to submit by June 2009. I'd appreciate your suggestions, Metafilter. Originally, I was going to write about the future of Mercosur and the prospect of the emergence of a single-currency zone. The 'informal economy' really interests me though; more than anything, in fact. I majored in International Politics and I spent a lot of time in university reading about free markets and globalisation, supporting the idea in principle but never fully understanding why it didn't always seem to work in practice, especially given the natural capitalism and industry of the greatest part of the world's poor.

I am travelling to India to work with my company for the month of January and anticipate returning to Brazil in February (I'm currently in Spain). I was wondering whether Metafilter, as erudite as you all are, could give me some suggestions for a really fascinating, promising topic into which I could delve deep and write something original involving Brazil, the informal economy and, perhaps, India. Comparisons are often drawn between the two countries, so I think it could be a very happy match indeed. I am willing to read extensively and carry out extensive field work.

I'm looking for a good balance between something sufficiently academic and theoretical on the one hand, and on the other something that will sustain the reader's interest and not end up turgid and too 'ivory towerish'.

I would love to read your thoughts on the book itself, and any suggestions for my thesis.

On a separate but related note, I would like to know the best way to get in contact with De Soto himself.

Thanks!

Nix the degree, get the education

puckish — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 06:30:27 -0800

Free school options in New York? After a series of interesting but often frustrating conversations with friends and recent grads saddled with student loans, I'm curious to know more about what options, if any, exist in New York City for those who want to keep on with higher education but can't afford it. I know most universities (including mine) often do active community outreach (free lectures, public forums and so forth), but I'm curious as to whether similar programs exist, if any, among community and advocacy organizations in the city. Analogous to something like Free Geek in Portland, but with a literary or humanistic bent, or the Columbia free school movement (which, as far as I can tell, doesn't exist anymore?). Stuff like that.

The kinds of groups I'm thinking of would probably do things like: free research workspace, seminar series, DIY workshops and reading groups, paired with some type of community-based literacy activism. Basically the model for the free school movement, but targeted toward adults.

Do these programs exist? I'm thinking mostly of literature / humanities groups, but it need not be field-specific.

Do I have to give dibs to a higher priced Cubs parking space seller?

AgentRocket — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:25:48 -0800

Wrigleyville residents/capitalist theorists: am I obliged to honor the "dibs" system while selling my parking spot during Cubs night games? We own a place about 2 blocks from Wrigley Field, and for night games we often park on the street and then sell our empty private parking spot. We generally don't plan ahead for this; we just do it if we are at home anyway. I like the concept of it, and the money pays for take out that night.

The going rate for parking so close to the ballpark is typically $30, but because I'm more interested in quick money than maximum profit I charge $20. This usually guarantees me a fast sell. If I had to charge $30 and compete for a buyer, I'd probably sell half as often because it would not be worth it for me from a time standpoint.

So last night, I went out to the entrance to the alley and there were already two other parking sellers there waving at cars. Each of them had at least two spots to sell, and each was charging $30. One of the sellers told me in pretty pointed terms that (1) I should be charging $30 like the rest of them, and (2) there is a well-established "dibs" system that calls for later arriving sellers to stand down until the earlier ones have sold their spots. She then tried to put me in my place by saying that I must be new to the area. The other seller there agreed that the dibs system is known and honored around the neighborhood.

I explained that I've lived there five years, that I price my parking to sell quickly, and that she is free to charge whatever she wants but I shouldn't have to wait for her to get a higher price while other cars may be passing her by looking for a deal like mine. Nonetheless, to be nice I let her and the other woman have a car each, then started selling mine. After I got my buyer, I am told by a neighbor that these two other sellers were bad-mouthing me for not allowing them to sell out their spots first and for undercutting their price. Some thanks.

To me, market economics rules here. If I want to sell for a cheaper price, I can do that and I get the benefit of the first car that comes. If they want the first car they can match my price or go lower. To them, we should all be in it together, and price competition will just minimize profit for everyone. So which rules here? Am I being a bad neighbor for not following the unwritten rule, or should I be free to undercut my neighbor's price and jump the queue?

(I will note that both sellers totally tried to poach my customer even after I allowed them their turn first, and that there are literally sellers at every corner so there's no way to do a dibs system except at the most local level.)

(I will also note that while I have in the past heard half-hearted complaints from other sellers that I was undercutting them, they seemed to accept that this was part of the game. After all, we are all out there to soak suburbanites in the first place.)

religious and capitalist violence in theory

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:57:07 -0800

Can you refer me to sophisticated discussions of violence that is driven by hybrid forms of capitalism and religion? You may think it's odd that I'd ask this anonymously; however professionally I'm supposed to know about this, and I'm on the job market. Best, I think, to keep my ignorance under wraps.

Many books (whether you agree with them or not) discuss the propensity of capitalism to engage in violence, as a means or even an end (violence that ranges from subtle alienation effects to global wars of empire).

There are also plenty of books that discuss religious motivations towards violence.

But what books or articles discuss these both? I'm interested primarily in academic publications rather than, say, popular accounts of the subject that you might find in books such as Ben Barber's _Jihad vs. McWorld_.

I really liked Tom Frank's popular _One Market Under God_, and I'm looking for something slightly more scholarly that extends Frank's observation that postmodern neo-liberalism tends to see elements of the divine in market forces, and that discusses how theism and capitalism sometimes (or always) work together to justify violence.

Please cite particular works, rather than just saying "Marx talks about this" or etc. Books or articles that start from or mention Weber's _Protestant Ethic_ might be especially useful. Thanks very much.

Show me the Money!

hadjiboy — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 20:03:12 -0800

Is consumerism bad? Should I feel guilty about wanting the things that I do? A bike, a laptop, a mobile phone with a camera and audio files. These aren’t things that I need (as in life and death survival kinds of things), but would love to have if I could. Should I pursue the course that will get me these things; a stressful job that might not be as spiritually fulfilling as I’d like it to be? Or should I take the Gandhian way and absolve myself of such trivial pursuits? Believe me, I’ve tried, and the only thing that it’s gotten me is a skewed perspective of society. For years I thought “People who buy stuff = Bad” and “People who forgo such things = Good”. But lately, I’ve been seeing things as not so black and white as before, and I feel there may be a huge grey area to explore. So, should I take the plunge? (I’ve been clinically depressed for a long time now, and ever since my treatment started, and I started to get my life back in order, I’ve been planning to do all those things that I always wanted to do, but never thought I could.) Plus, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m no Gandhi.

Ford! You 'ol scoundrel!

nihlton — Wed, 23 May 2007 13:14:41 -0800

I have heard that during the 20's when capitalism was hot shit, many municipalities decided to privatize their public transit systems. The legend goes that Ford bought up a bunch and promptly shut them down. True or false? Couldn't find anything on google or snopes.

Get US money out of the Third World now? Or, how best to ameliorate poverty?

ibmcginty — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 08:22:57 -0800

GlobalPovertyFilter: Is poverty in the third world and emerging countries like India and China due more to exploitation by multinational corporations, or due to disconnection from globalization? IIRC, about half the Earth's population lives on under $2 per day.

What I want to know is, where (and how) do they live? Are they generally in disconnected countrysides, living a life that's not to different from how most of the world lived in 1500? Are they in factories cranking out Gap T-shirts and the like?

I'm accustomed to hearing fact-free bromides and smug cliches from both sides of the debate, but I don't know much about what the data show, or where to look for good data. Thanks in advance for any suggestions on either of these fronts.

Question inspired by this globalization-skeptic comment in the Warren Buffet thread.

The Happy Happy Fun Bag.

mecran01 — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 08:04:05 -0800

I picked up 50 digitech guitar pedal bags at the local thrift store, cheap. My wife is laughing at me as I try to get rid of them. Basically, they are these nylon, padded bags, black, about 8 inches wide and either 22 or 27 inches long. Maybe three inches deep.

I just want help brainstorming what these could be used for, so I can unload them. I don't even need to charge more than two bucks apiece.

Some possible uses (target markets!) include:

very short rifle case
guitar pedal bag
collapsible blowguns

I'm thinking there has to be some arcane item that will fit in these. I was hoping that the garageband midi controller would fit, then I could call them "I-bags" and charge like 30 bucks but they're too small.

Lend me your creative insights, please. I suck as a capitalist/entrepreneur.

p.s. this is not a thinly veiled attempt to sell these via ask.mefi, honest.