The US Supreme Court recently began deliberations in a case that will determine whether human genes may be patented. But we already know that permitting gene patents results in inefficiencies – including monopoly profits and a failure to maximize the use of knowledge – that impede the pace of innovation.
European Union Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht is expected to recommend punitive duties of between 40 to 60 percent for Chinese solar panel manufacturers after investigations reveal that they benefitted from illegal government subsidies and then sold their products below cost in the EU, according to sources close to the matter.
How far does your money go in the economy when you purchase a cup of coffee? In fact, if you buy 2 cups of coffee a day for a year, you’ll be spending more than the annual income of a coffee farmer in a developing country.
Using data from a BP statistical review, this infographic analyses how natural gas compares other with fossil fuels, and how the global natural gas market and its application has grown over the years.
Natural gas is a non-renewable, combustible fossil fuel which is formed over thousands of years when layers of buried plants and animals become exposed to intense levels of heat and pressure.
Despite its merits, the cost of renewable energy, in its current state, means that it is unlikely to become a viable primary energy source anytime in the near future. At best, renewable energy will serve only as a “fossil fuel extender”; though even then, renewables could eventually reach a limit.
Junior oil companies may not have the reach, nor the resources, of major oil firms, yet some still manage to turn up massive profits – thanks to the economic principle that the management of small oil & gas properties are run more efficiently and profitably by small companies. In Canada, the junior oil & gas sector is thriving, particularly as more companies turn away from risky overseas venture and plant their feet firmly in homeland soil.
Cheap and open access to the internet is one of the main equalising tools of our generation. Unfortunately, considerably fewer women have access to the internet than men, especially in the developing world.
Women and girls lag behind men in internet access in many parts of the world, causing them to miss out on the economic and social benefits of being online, according to a study by Intel published in January.
Growing environmental concerns has meant that oil and gas pipelines are no longer being built as rapidly as they used to be. A new remote-sensing technology, with research beginning in space, however aims to detect dangerous leaks in pipelines quickly and efficiently. The clincher: This technology is not only affordable; it saves money and could eventually save the industry.
How do companies measure the effectiveness of a digital marketing campaign? Here’s a tip: if the answers to that contain the words “halo effect” or “influences”, the results are probably BS.
The digital landscape has evolved. Virtually every business today understands how important social media is to a brand, as well as how difficult it is to measure the effectiveness and success of an online campaign.
North America’s shale gas boom is now so big that that it is now visible from space. According to a report by the Financial Times, the volume of unwanted excess gas being burnt off is increasing so quickly that shale fields can now be easily identified in night-time satellite photography, leading to concerns about wastage and environmental pollution.
According to data from the World Bank, global gas flaring rose by around 2 billion cubic meters to 140 billion cubic meters in 2011, mostly due to the rise in shale oil exploration in the United States.
