CROWD ELEVATOR

My microeconomics teacher used to tell me that if one want to make money she/he should target people with low income. Most starting businesses I see in Bishkek are focused on luxury, upper class goods and services. Those are either bars & restaurants or stores with expensive brand clothing and accessories. They promote themselves as unique and only for wealthy people type of business. As a result, not all of those businesses succeed and they either close or do "re-branding". Where do businessman look? Do they see the sad reality??? Yes, there are people with high incomes, but it is only a small fraction of the total country population. I think that if business start to focus on a wider part of the population, they will not only get greater profits, but will also bring 'good' with affordable in price products for many and will contribute to more developed markets in the region, not only in the city. However, there is always the other side of the coin. Ethan Kay a...

A sparkling precious stone with couple carats is considered to be a thoughtful gift to a beloved one. But the story behind one such a stone might start with a little child working eight to ten hours a day to help his family get food and clothing. The four major diamond mining districts of Sierra Leone in the study of 2006 showed that 36 % of children involved in mining-related activities were between ages 16 and 17, 60 % were between 10 and 15 years old, and 4 % were under 10 years old. According to International Labor Organization, the term “child labor” is defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development. Children are considered as a cheap labor and thus are regularly employed in the mining industry. Children working in the diamond mines of Sierra Leone face such problems as working under hazardous and unhealthy conditions, performing difficult work for a low pay, and missing ...

Согласно отчету, который опубликовал The Economist Intelligent Unit (EIU) , количество стран с полной демократией на 2012 год составило 25, с недостаточной демократией 54, с гибридным режимом 37 и  с авторитарным режимом 51 страна. Развитые страны ОЭСР (организация экономического сотрудничества и развития, OECD) доминируют среди стран с полной демократией. Хотя в списке также числятся 2 латино-американские, 1 восточно-европейская и 1 африканская страны. Согласно отчету около 11% всего земного населения живет в странах с полной демократией. Чуть больше 1/3 (2.6 млрд) людей живут в странах с авторитарным режимом (большую долю занимает конечно Китай). Что касается Кыргызстана, то по рэнкингу он стоит на 106 месте. Оценка избирательного процесса и плюрализма равна 6.58, а функционирование правителство равно 2.21. Общая оценка согласно данному отчету равна 4.69 в 2012 году и в 2011 она была равна 4.34 Интересно, что у наших соседей в Казахстане общая оценка за 2012 год ...

In media we always hear that Kyrgyzstan needs to attract investments and everyone is eager or seems like it, to contribute to country's economic growth. The bad news is that many talented people are leaving their motherland in a search of a better quality education or higher paid jobs leading to country's "brain drain". Only few of them return. However, the good news is that those left, in most cases are interested in the economical, political and social life of the Kyrgyz Republic. Why should not they be, especially when they have many friends and relatives left there? But with political instability, low human capital and weak legal system, the attraction of investments seems as a very challenging task. What do you think Kyrgyz people abroad do with the earned money? Probably send it to their relatives and save in foreign banks. Well, here is the solution for investments. Why doesn't our government issue bonds and market them for emigrants in ric...