Nate G's Profile

Great article! I think this is great illustration of the consumer implications of protectionist policies. I believe the misconceptions of the risks associated with protectionist policies is due to an uninformed public as many citizens fail to realize the interconnection of the global economy. Local citizens in industrial nations rely heavily on global imports for the food, clothing and consumer products which they purchase on a day-to-day basis to maintain their lifestyles. Ex-Sainsbury’s CEO Justin King said Brexit will lead to “higher prices, less choice, and poorer quality” at supermarkets. [1] As a result of these factors, British citizens will have less disposable income and fewer options available. I believe that British citizens would have made a different decision to leave the EU if they were fully aware of the risks associated with their decision and the disruptive implications it would have on their lifestyles.

[1] http://www.businessinsider.com/tesco-ceo-dave-lewis-brexit-supermarkets-food-prices-2017-10

Thanks for the article Ben! The increase in protectionist policies and tariffs are not simply an American issue but a global issue at large. Over the last few years there has been a shift in global sentiment to embrace more nationalist agendas. I find it interesting that although these agendas aim to protect local workers they usually come at the expense of local consumers. The key question which remains is “Do the societal benefits of protectionist policies which save local jobs and industries outweigh the negative impact of higher import cost which leads to higher consumer goods?”

Great article! I believe Disney’s strategy to remove its content from Netflix was the right decision for the long term. In a technological age, in which consumers can watch video content on a variety of devices/web-platforms, content remains the key value driver. Given its vast IP library, Disney plans to launch a branded Disney direct to consumer streaming service in 2019 which will compete directly with Netflix. Disney’s direct to consumer streaming service will allow the company to control its content, customize its user experience and reduce any future reliance on stream service providers.

“With great power comes great responsibility.” As A12345 indicated above, Amazon is an example of the new age of corporate responsibility in which corporations utilize their influence and scale to impact social policy and social impact. Amazon recognizes the “power” it maintains to be a positive agent for change and has decided to take action in the fight against climate change. Amazon’s environmental efforts are taking place across the company. In addition, to the amazing initiatives mention in the article, Amazon is retrofitting existing buildings to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs.

Futuristic concept! I am curious to hear your opinion on the cost of vertical farms relative to tradition agricultural businesses as your article did not address this critical consideration. Vertical farms are capital intensive while tradition farming is labor intensive. Do you think vertical farms can generate the scale to produce theses plants at a low cost for the end-consumer? Do you think vertical farms can reduce the need for human planters and harvesters over time? How will production cost vary for different plants? I believe that the responses to these key questions will determine the viability and scalability of vertical farms over time.

Thanks for the thoughtful article Mel. Given the retail (grocery and apparel) industry is facing so many disruptive threats, I believe that innovation which fosters a strategic and cost advantage is critical to a company’s survival. I think Amazon Go is an amazing concept because it improves the customer buying experience and reduces costs. I was surprise to learn that retail company’s lose out on the potential revenue of 33% of shoppers who leave a store without buying if the lines are too long. Amazon Go’s new operating model has the ability to recapture this loss in potential sales by creating an easier and faster check out system. Lastly, Amazon Go has the ability to streamline it cost structure as it can eliminate the need for checkout staff given that its technology makes their role redundant.