AuraExchange

DEMOGRAPHICS

Q: What can you conclude from the below chart? ---> http://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/advisory/pcp/annualReports/pcp09-10rpt/pcp09-10rpt.pdf

GLOBAL POPULATION TREND

GLOBAL POPULATION

a. 1915 ------------------------------------

b. 1940 ------------------------------------

c. 1975 ------------------------------------

d. 2015 ------------------------------------


FINANCE

Q: How many global financial crises have we seen since 1975? When and where were those global crises?

CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE

Q: What is the real value of your country's currency compared to 1975 (if your currency were in use then)?

LABOR ECONOMICS

Q: Brief summary of the above graph - The above graph shows the salary in 2013 US dollars for various tiers split into 4 limits.

Based on the above graph, which decade was the best decade in terms of increase (if any) in salary for

a. Lowest Upper limit:

b. Second Upper limit:

c. Third Upper limit:

d. Fourth Upper limit:

e. Lower Limit of Top 5%:

INCOME & ETHNICITY

Q. This graph compares the real median income ratio (with respect to all races) for different races, and its relation to percentage degree holders.What can you conclude from this graph?

PRESCRIPTION DRUG ECONOMICS

Q: What was the prescription drug expenditure for US in 2002 & 2014 respectively?

A: $202 billion & $375 billion respectively; more than 85% increase in 12 years.

ECONOMY

QA: Who is the father of modern capitalism? Was he an economist, and if not, why?

A: added on Feb 1st, 2016 -> A: Adam Smith, Philosophy, Economics was not an official field of study then

QB: What is the theory Adam Smith is famous for?

HEALTHCARE

Q: What is the origin of the word, Health, and what is the meaning of this word?

1% WEALTH & ECONOFINANCE

Q. What is the net worth of individuals, who come under the 1% wealthy section of population in US? What is classified as 1% income (salary + compensation) in US? What is the net worth of Profs. Paul Krugman, Prof. Joseph Stiglitz, Dr. Elizabeth Warren, Dr. Thomas Piketty, Mr. Richard Trumka, who have been focusing their work on income disparity for a long time?

Philosophical question: Is it wrong to be wealthy? Is it wrong to be wealthy acquired through unscrupulous and convoluted means?

Personal take: As mentioned earlier, there is nothing wrong in being wealthy, if those individuals have created companies, and offered meaningful products and services. At the same time, there needs to be control on wealth accumulation at least revolving around compensation, and valuation of companies, whether it were to be industrial organizations, academic institutions or any other sector. For example, the budget for University of Michigan is $5.7B, and the top 15 executives account for around $17 MM when there are around 50000 employees. Universities discuss about wealth gap, but here is what is happening with Universities as well.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/05/21/rich-universities-get-richer-are-poor-students-being-left-behind

This is one area where prudence should take over blame games; otherwise institutions and organizations that promote sustainability will be taking an unsustainable path.