From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report. Economic concerns have been at the heart of the recent protests in Brazil. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff answered growing public unrest over government spending and economic concerns. On June 24, she proposed a popular vote, or plebiscite, on a constitutional process to make reforms needed by the country. President Rousseff […]
From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report. From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report. The United Nations is warning that the world is not prepared to deal with the fast growth of cities. The World Economic and Social Survey 2013 calls for new ways to meet the needs of city populations. More […]
From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report. American wine producers are hoping to increase their sales in China, where the country’s growing middle class is drinking wine. The United States exported just 74 million dollars in wine to China last year. But exports are growing at a rate of nearly 20 percent a year. Two […]
From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report. Detroit Mayor Dave Bing had to report some bad news recently. He said Detroit was seeking bankruptcy protection. The move would give the city court protection from creditors. The decision to declare bankruptcy is an effort to restructure and reduce debt. It comes at a difficult time for Detroit. In March, […]
From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report. The Chinese meat processing company Shuanghui International is proposing to buy the American ham and pork producer Smithfield Foods. It would be the biggest purchase of an American company by a Chinese buyer. Ham and pork are the meat of pigs. Virginia ham is famous around the world. The town […]
From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report. Recent discoveries of mineral wealth in Kenya could help add to East Africa’s biggest economy. The government also is taking steps to improve the openness of the mining industry. But some citizens are concerned that at least one newly announced mining project will damage local communities. The government has […]
From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report. Recent Chinese trade information shows that China’s exports to North Korea decreased by more than 13 percent during the first six months of 2013. This is the first time in 4 years that exports have fallen. Exports decreased by about $1.6 billion from January to June compared […]
From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report. The American housing market is growing stronger. Yet many areas are still sufferingfrom the collapse of the market in 2008. Richmond is a small city California. More than half of the homeowners there owe more for their home loans than the properties are currently worth. Such loans are risky for […]
From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report. What do these four things have in common: a proposed wind farm in the American state of Washington; a gold mine in Idaho; a new casino in Las Vegas; and ski resortexpansions in Vermont? They are all investments for wealthy foreigners seeking green cards to live in the […]
From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report. The South African Department of Labor reported last month that the nation has too few jobs for unskilled laborers. The department also said there are not enough workers for highly skilled positions. The sharp differences between jobs and skills were apparent recently when officials advertised a job opening in the government. […]