Here is this week's installment of Carnival of the Capitalists. It is my pleasure to present this wide variety of most interesting posts and commentaries on business, economics, and free enterprise. Next week Carnival of the Capitalists moves on to Admiral Quixote's Roundtable.
Read and enjoy!
A Good Read
Todd at A Penny For... asked me to highlight the second Business Blog Book Tour. The book being featured on this tour is Creating Customer Evangelists by Ben McConnell and Jackie Huba. The tour is going on now and ends on Thursday. Go check it out!
Public Policy Issues
Steve Verdon examines the impact of excessive environmental regulation (he?s against it) on employment. He takes on some of Sen. Kerry?s positions in this lively posting.
Robert Prather talks about the true state of the American Economy (much better than the Democrats are leading us to believe, that you very much) at his site Insults Unpublished.
Bill Hobbs has reported on more evidence of record levels of LLC formation (read about it here and here), an indicator of entrepreneurial activity. But, his report has raised some significant debate. The debate centers around two points. First, is the household survey an important piece of the puzzle in understanding true employment and the entrepreneurial economic recovery (it is and it is). Second, do LLC formations serve as a leading indicator of economic prosperity (it does).
In case you missed it last week, I posted information on the agenda for entrepreneurial economic growth presented by the National Governors Association here at Entrepreneurial Mind.
Goobage reveals a different interpretation of a recent survey on the opinion poll question dealing with state income tax in Tennessee.
The SEC's proposed shareholder access rule is one of the most controversial rule changes in years. The US Chamber of Commerce has announced that if the SEC adopts the proposed rule, as it is widely expected to do, the Chamber will challenge the SEC's authority so to do. In this post, ProfessorBainbridge explains why the Chamber will lose.
Catallarchy argues that eespite the outrage in much of the blogosphere, there are sound economic reasons for charging a wrongly imprisoned individual "room and board" for the time he spent in prison.
The Pro's Edge puts its focus on the Ontario energy crunch in this post.
Finance and Economics
Synergy Fest examines the hotly contested issue of expensing options. Although a challenge, it is clearly something they believe needs to be addressed even if it is difficult, subjective and too easy to fudge.
Arnold Kling investigates an interesting rule of thumb for real estate valuation and its ability to examine real estate pricing in a given market. It may help many to avoid wrongly assuming that real estate is always a good long term investment. It may not always be so?.
Legal Issues in Business
The Interested-Participant web log offers his take on the legal morass that is Microsoft these days.
Interested-Participant muses about a recent lawsuit against Chevron, which gave the lawyers involved a cool $20 million.
Entrepreneurship and Small Business
Bad Money offers his ?two cents? on a turn $1 into $2,000 get rich quick scheme.
Small Business Trends explains how the use of network mapping can be a cost effective way to sell small businesses.
Society and the Economy
My friend and colleague Joe Smolira tackles one of those ?what is the meaning of life? kind of issues with his post on the purpose of business. Joe argues, like any good finance guy, that the purpose of business is to maximize shareholders wealth.
Raising Sand offers a very thoughtful essay on the perils of automation without thought of its social consequences.
Charles Simmins at You Big Mouth, You! examines the social and economic realities of Rochester, New York in light of the radical transformations occurring among its largest employers.
The Big Picture explores the problems that economists are having with job forecasting.
Frank Scavo presents an interesting analysis of why he believes that offshore software development may lead to increases in development and new jobs in the US.
Marketing
At Dispatches from the Frozen North (I love his blog?s name) the importance of shifting the emphasis of customer service from simply a cost to a critical part of effective marketing.
Martin Lindeskog looks at various takes on the role of Google and advertising and marketing on the Internet.
Les Jones gives his latest installment on e-commerce at his blog. He has some interesting information on international e-commerce in this post.
Wordlab recaps a bad week for The Coca-Cola Company's bottled water brand, Dasani, which had to admit publicly that the water they use is simply tap water. This is the ultimate p.r. OUCH!
Fouroboros provides a link to parts one and two of his three part series exploring the relationship of deeply personal motives to corporate brand identity and the challenges faced by "flat" brands.
Competitive Strategies
Rob at BusinessPundit offers a post that deals with the ways a devil's advocate can benefit strategy. Although beneficial, they may give less than their all when it comes time for execution.
HobbsOnline offers a commentary on the changing economics of the news business, and why Bid Media that thwarts reader/viewer involvement is doomed.
David Foster discusses personality assessments and placement in this post.
