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Investors say agroforestry isn't just climate friendly — it's also profitable

Stephanie Hanes

July 08, 2020 |

Mongabay |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

With the growing trend in regenerative agriculture, Propagate Ventures is working with farmers to transition them from conventional agriculture to agroforestry. This technique focuses on incorporating trees into farmland which can improve soil health and crop production, and reduce carbon emissions. The company offers farmers help to build the system and connections to investor financing. While implementing an agroforestry system can take time, Propagate Ventures is seeing the interest grow: They’ve expanded to eight states and recently received $1.5 million in capital funding.

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How Other Countries Handled Their Jobs Crises

Cardiff Garcia

June 17, 2020 |

NPR |

Podcast |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States

Varying tactics have been adopted in response to the worldwide pandemic, prompting financial implications; some more successful than others. Germany and Japan, in particular, have been able to maintain low unemployment rates in comparison to the US. Germany's approach is a work-sharing program, or "Kurzarbeit," which allows employers to reduce hours for all employees instead of letting some employees go, preventing workers from experiencing the uncertainties of unemployment. South Korea's successful approach to containing the virus prevented the loss of jobs and prompted a faster return to normal.

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Why a small town in Washington is printing its own currency during the pandemic

Michael Waters

June 12, 2020 |

The Hustle |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Tenino, Washington

The town of Tenino, Washington has begun to print their own unique money during the coronavirus pandemic to both ward of the economic fallout and help those who are facing financial insecurity. Similar to efforts from the city's past as well as that of other small towns, the locally-printed wooden dollars can only be spent at local businesses and for basic needs, with the mayor explaining, "Amazon will not be accepting wooden dollars.”

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Housing rents in big cities: What happens if we regulate them?

Pablo Jiménez Arandia

March 23, 2020 |

Global Government Forum |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom

Rising rents are being addressed through a variety of interventions in cities around the world. While rent control has worked in some cities, it has been a lesson of what does not work for others. Policies to keep rent affordable have included negotiations between tenants and landlords, limiting price increases, and even freezing rents. The effects - both long and short term - of these measures have all depended on the fluctuating variables in each city.

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Denmark's Idea Could Help the World Avoid a Great Depression

Derek Thompson

March 21, 2020 |

The Atlantic |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Denmark, Copenhagen

The government of Denmark is taking drastic measures to stem the tide of economic depression already hitting parts of the world in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The government told companies affected by the economic downturn that it would pay 75 percent of their employees’ salaries to avoid mass layoffs, with the price tag of 13 percent of the national economy in three months.

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Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren want a wealth tax. Wealthy Swiss say their model could work for America.

Michael Birnbaum

March 03, 2020 |

The Washington Post |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Switzerland

Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren see Switzerland's wealth tax as an inspiration for an equitable model of taxing the rich. America's current model taxes income tax on a sliding scale but rates in the U.S. are low compared to the rest of the world. The biggest obstacle is the negative public perception, even though it would only impact those who make more than $32 million. Experts advising Warren and Sanders say the highest amount of wealth per adult in the world exists in Switzerland, proving that taxing wealth instead of income tax does not negatively impact the ability to accumulate wealth.

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Can Flexible Pricing be Fair?

Nate Berg

August 24, 2019 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

San Francisco is using technology to calculate the cost of parking throughout the city, depending on the demand in specific neighborhoods at any given time. While critics were wary of the effect flexible pricing would have on lower-income residents, the pilot program resulted in lower parking costs on average and demonstrated that flexible pricing could promote equity. In other cities around the world, flexible pricing systems implemented through the use of technology have been effective in raising revenue from higher-income people and neighborhoods to reduce prices and reinvest in equitable solutions.

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Three Big Lessons From One Small Town

James Fallows

July 18, 2019 |

The Atlantic |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Danville, Virginia

The town of Danville, Virginia survived the downfall of the mill industry by using creative financing and investing in solid economic infrastructure that will remain sustainable into the future. The town has invested in broadband and used funds from a tobacco settlement to re-install city money into local institutions.

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A southwest Florida fishing apparel business plants a mangrove for every product sold

Alex Figares

April 24, 2019 |

Changing Florida |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, West Palm Beach, Florida

A Florida Gulf Coast University graduate and his brother started a fishing apparel company where they plant a mangrove tree for every item sold. Mangroves are a key species to combatting climate change, providing a habitat for wildlife species, and filtering water. The company has planted about 30,000 mangroves in Florida, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Honduras.

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How giving entrepreneurs 30 days of free retail space revived a North Avenue storefront and built a collective

Sarah Hauer

April 12, 2019 |

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Pop-Up MKE was a pilot program that provided a risk-free way for artists to see if their products would sell in a retail space by giving 19 urban entrepreneurs 30 days of free retail space and mini-grants up to $2,000. Four participants formed The Bronzeville Collective MKE LLC and, after negotiating to stay in the retail space, they doubled their own sales and feature products from other creatives, particularly entrepreneurs of color. They split the rent four ways and collect a 20% vendor fee. Other participants in the pilot moved to permanent storefronts and/or expanded their retail presence.

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