In an article on Fortune, I learned that Detroit and the tech center of America, Silicon Valley, are becoming more and more like each other. The two cities are transition into the type of work the other city specializes in today.
For example, Detroit has been one of the biggest manufacturing cities for over 100 years. From the amount of automotive plants and companies that produce in this city, Detroit knows a thing or two about hardware. Silicon Valley is starting to get more into manufacturing than they have been since the internet first boomed. It states in the article that 39% of Google's patents from 2007-2012 have all been for hardware things like energy and their autonomous car.
On the other hand, more tech jobs are being made throughout Detroit. Having seen it myself, the tech world is certainly being discovered by companies in the city like Quicken Loans and the growing amount of electronic start up companies. Also, a point to make is how much money the auto companies in Detroit invest into electronics.
The integration of manufacturing and technology in the two cities could lead to many great things like jobs returning from overseas and new areas for business in Detroit. Both cities could learn many things from the other. It surely is something to keep in mind as some of us going through college are interested in those fields.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Open Prompt #5: A Figure to Look At
Recently, I stumbled across this picture on the internet and it got me thinking about where Detroit is headed for the future. For myself, it's hard to really determine if this is, overall, is a positive trend. There are certainly some ups and some downs here. There are also a lot of questions to ask as well, like why the fluctuations of diversity and why increase in occupancy downtown yet a decrease in the workers.
There are many interesting numbers to look at here. How do you see it? Does it look like Detroit is getting better or worse?
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Monday, April 13, 2015
Synthesis Essay
Since the beginning of the semester, the blog project has been a constant reminder to me that there was always work that needed to be done. Each week required two posts and a comment, something I was always very good at putting off. However, more so than just a thorn in my side, the blog project had a purpose. The purpose was to get me to expand my preconceived notions into research and new ideas about the field of study that I have chosen for myself—economics. Through economics my goal is to one day become a lawyer or a sports/entertainment agent. The blog project helped me, more than anything else, realize that while reading long, black and white documents is prevalent in my field, learning from experts face to face is the best method for my style.
Throughout my past research assignments, I had always seemed to continue the same method of learning over and over again. Web sites and books were always the most common kinds, mostly because they were easy to obtain and generally were the fastest to access. As far as I believed, there hadn’t really been a problem with gathering enough important information from these kinds of material, but after taking different approaches because of the blog project, I have a new favorite kind of source.
In one of the week’s assignments, I had to interview a professional in my field of study. I had reached out to an older fraternity brother of mine who is a lawyer in metro Detroit right to about what kinds of qualities a person needs to possess to become successful in this field. I assumed, at first, I was going to get some decent information, but we ended up talking for almost two hours about what I need to work on and what he thought helped him out the most as he was going through undergraduate school at Michigan State. I had then realized that no web article or chapter in a book was a better source of information for me.
Maybe it was having to keep my mind thinking and creating new questions as time passed. Maybe it was just how we both knew how to talk and communicate with people well. Either way it was more helpful than any long or boring text I've read all year. We had a lot in common and it aided me greatly in being able to bring up new topics and ask different questions in the conversation. I could read a scholarly article on how to be a great lawyer or a Buzzfeed list on the “top 16 character traits a good lawyer possesses,” but it will never be as helpful is talking face to face with someone who knows and is willing to give me custom advice to help myself as who I am today.
Overall, the blog project has taught me new things about economics and the field of law. It built on what I knew and believed before this semester and allowed me to expand on ideas and explore them in a real practical and up-to-date manner. Searching for interesting topics to write about in my free posts allowed me to discover new sources for interesting and relevant information that I will continue to use as I grow up and gain more knowledge in the field. Even some of the other prompts that I didn’t enjoy so much helped me as well. Picking between a scholarly article or a short informal piece on website to use as a source wasn’t very fun, but it helped me realize who and where has the most helpful information in a user friendly source. While it was a constant hassle each week, the blog project expanded my mind on my field, allowed me to meet new people who can help me in the future, and helped me as a student, a researcher, and as a future professional in the field of law.
Overall, the blog project has taught me new things about economics and the field of law. It built on what I knew and believed before this semester and allowed me to expand on ideas and explore them in a real practical and up-to-date manner. Searching for interesting topics to write about in my free posts allowed me to discover new sources for interesting and relevant information that I will continue to use as I grow up and gain more knowledge in the field. Even some of the other prompts that I didn’t enjoy so much helped me as well. Picking between a scholarly article or a short informal piece on website to use as a source wasn’t very fun, but it helped me realize who and where has the most helpful information in a user friendly source. While it was a constant hassle each week, the blog project expanded my mind on my field, allowed me to meet new people who can help me in the future, and helped me as a student, a researcher, and as a future professional in the field of law.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Prompt #10: Recognizing Truth
A huge misconception about economists is that we are the kind of people who feel absolutely no remorse and that we are emotionally unaffected by situations. People claim that we can't feel pity, especially for people less fortunate than us. As long as it's for the good of the majority then we're completely content.
I found a New York Times article about how our stereotypes might be true. There have even been studies to test our personalities. For college students, they made a big point that there is a "loss of innocence." They say that people who take economics classes and become economics majors lose their innocence because of what they are taught. Also, if people majoring in economics haven't lost their innocence in college, it's because they lost it high school.
Economics in it's own nature is amoral. Emotions do not belong in the field and in order to be a good economist you have to be able to think rationally mores than emotionally. There are times when I agree with some stereotypes, but it's not always the case. I don't think that everyone loses their innocence completely. I know for a fact that I, myself, have sympathy and empathy for people in many different cases.
It's hard to completely label an entire group of diverse people with the same personal characteristics. I think that before someone was going to judge the entire community, they would have to talk in detail to a majority of the people.
I found a New York Times article about how our stereotypes might be true. There have even been studies to test our personalities. For college students, they made a big point that there is a "loss of innocence." They say that people who take economics classes and become economics majors lose their innocence because of what they are taught. Also, if people majoring in economics haven't lost their innocence in college, it's because they lost it high school.
Economics in it's own nature is amoral. Emotions do not belong in the field and in order to be a good economist you have to be able to think rationally mores than emotionally. There are times when I agree with some stereotypes, but it's not always the case. I don't think that everyone loses their innocence completely. I know for a fact that I, myself, have sympathy and empathy for people in many different cases.
It's hard to completely label an entire group of diverse people with the same personal characteristics. I think that before someone was going to judge the entire community, they would have to talk in detail to a majority of the people.
Prompt #6: Evaluating Sources
There's an article on businessinsider.com about the argument on whether or not to increase government spending to alter the private sector. This is a typical economic problem that happens a lot in many different countries.
Obviously, there are pros and cons for each side of the argument. If government spending increases, the private sector will have less control but unemployment might drop and it could promote economic growth.
On the other hand, if the government spending doesn't increase the confidence in the market will rise and could self-promote economic growth. If that doesn't work, then the economy could continue to be in the same shape.
In this situation I would agree with famous economist Paul Krugman, who is in favor of government spending increasing. Although, both sides of the argument show strong evidence it would be a really tough decision for the Fed to decide. The arguments for both sides are quite convincing in some ways and are effectively explained.
Take a look for yourself and decide which side you would choose: http://www.businessinsider.com/paul-krugman-is-right-2013-4
Monday, February 23, 2015
Open Prompt #4: Ending Homelessness in Detroit
Recently, I came across an article on mLive about how three former addicts are doing their best to clean up the city. They are called The Road Homes and they give the less fortunate a second chance at living a prospering life.
They go around the city generously trying to find homeless people and set them up with the right paperwork to give them a home. The article is a heartwarming one, starting off with the trials and tribulations of a man who is in pain, both physically and emotionally. He is lonely, and the only time he can sleep is in drug houses. Then The Road Home comes in.
The group has already helped so many people find temporary homes in the city. It's just the first step in getting someone to turn their life around.
I highly suggest anyone interested in helping the homeless to check out this article and look more into The Road Home.
Source: mLive
They go around the city generously trying to find homeless people and set them up with the right paperwork to give them a home. The article is a heartwarming one, starting off with the trials and tribulations of a man who is in pain, both physically and emotionally. He is lonely, and the only time he can sleep is in drug houses. Then The Road Home comes in.
The group has already helped so many people find temporary homes in the city. It's just the first step in getting someone to turn their life around.
I highly suggest anyone interested in helping the homeless to check out this article and look more into The Road Home.
Source: mLive
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Prompt #3: Exploring Communication
In the field of law, it's obvious that writing and communication is vital to the success of a person's career. Reading over cases and writing contracts are just two things that lawyers do with their skills in communication.
Recently, I got the opportunity to talk about what being a lawyer entails to a professional commercial litigator, Mike Serra. Mr. Serra, a graduate of Wayne State Law has been in the field for quite some time now. From his internship with Carl Levin to his current position at Bodman PLC, he has accumulated well enough knowledge and experience to give advice to a potential like myself.
In the interview I asked him several questions involving his undergraduate education. We talked about majors and which classes helped him the most and which didn't do too much for his career. One important characteristic to have as a successful litigator is the ability to listen. While it's impossible to completely see a situation through the eyes of someone else, to do your best to put yourself in the shoes of another can help you become a better lawyer.
In fact, he and I are both a part of the same fraternity at Michigan State. Outside of academics the fraternity has helped him communicate face to face with many different people in a number of situations.
Overall, the interview was very beneficial. The doubts I had about my future career were cleared up and I feel much more confident with my ability to one day follow the same path as Mike.
Recently, I got the opportunity to talk about what being a lawyer entails to a professional commercial litigator, Mike Serra. Mr. Serra, a graduate of Wayne State Law has been in the field for quite some time now. From his internship with Carl Levin to his current position at Bodman PLC, he has accumulated well enough knowledge and experience to give advice to a potential like myself.
In the interview I asked him several questions involving his undergraduate education. We talked about majors and which classes helped him the most and which didn't do too much for his career. One important characteristic to have as a successful litigator is the ability to listen. While it's impossible to completely see a situation through the eyes of someone else, to do your best to put yourself in the shoes of another can help you become a better lawyer.
In fact, he and I are both a part of the same fraternity at Michigan State. Outside of academics the fraternity has helped him communicate face to face with many different people in a number of situations.
Overall, the interview was very beneficial. The doubts I had about my future career were cleared up and I feel much more confident with my ability to one day follow the same path as Mike.
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