GOOD

Transparency: What Is a Trade Deficit?

As governments around the world continue to react to the economic downturn, some people are warning against trade protectionism (i.e., imposing taxes and tariffs to make importing goods into a country more difficult). Indeed, the first draft of theĀ  stimulus bill had a "Buy American" provision that would..\r\n

 Fogelson-Lubliner
04.02.09
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As governments around the world continue to react to the economic downturn, some people are warning against trade protectionism (i.e., imposing taxes and tariffs to make importing goods into a country more difficult). Indeed, the first draft of the stimulus bill had a "Buy American" provision that would have forced some companies receiving stimulus money to only buy U.S.-made goods. The reason for wanting increased protectionism is fear of a trade deficit, which is when a country imports more than it exports. Some economists argue that a trade deficit is detrimental to our economy, since we are paying to support jobs overseas, rather than at home. Other economists believe that the money sent overseas ends up coming back. Regardless of who is right, the trade deficit of the United States now stands at over $800 billion, so in our latest Transparency we took a look at the 10 countries with which the United States has the largest deficits.

A collaboration between GOOD and Fogelson-Lubliner

SOURCES: TradeStats Express; U.S. Census Bureau

CORRECTION: We've posted a corrected version of this piece. What was formerly labeled as nuclear reactor parts should have been labeled merely machinery-of which nuclear reactor parts are just one example. We regret the error. You can view the uncorrected piece here.

Infographics

Tori, the Target manager who was Tweet-shamed by an irate cheapskate, just got a $30,000 vacation

A satisfying conclusion to an infuriating story.

via David Leavitt / Twitter and RealTargetTori / Twitter

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A Target manager who's come to be known as "Target Tori," was harassed by Twitter troll David Leavitt for not selling him an $89 Oral-B Pro 5000 toothbrush for a penny.

He describes himself as a "multimedia journalist who has worked for CBS, AXS, Yahoo, and others."

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The world is rallying around Tori, the Target employee Tweet-shamed by an irate cheapskate

via David Leavitt / Twitter

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Twitter is rallying around a gal named Tori who works at a Target in Massachusetts after she was tweet-shamed by irate chapekate, journalist, and Twitter troll, David Leavitt.

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A boss in England gives nonsmokers four extra days off a year

via Haldean Brown / Flickr

In a typical work day, people who smoke take more breaks than those who do not. Every few hours they pop outside to have a smoke and usually take a coworker with them.

Don Bryden, Managing director at KCJ Training and Employment Solutions in Swindon, England, thinks that nonsmokers and smokers should be treated equally, so he's giving those who refrain from smoking four extra days to compensate.

Funny enough, Bryden is a smoker himself.

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