Category: Local Economy

A better Climate outcome REQUIRES a GREAT economy

During my lifetime we have over indulged with planet Earth’s resources using more than can be replenished.

I think most of us accept that the Climate & Environment is changing as a direct result of our activities, and the Earth’s current Climate & Environmental issues are the result as it attempts to address the imbalances – and it desperately needs our support.

Whilst I accept the criticism that we have overused the planet to date, I am equally concerned that an unstructured approach to future Policy will kill some of the needy & disadvantaged in our community.

As an example, a reasonable supply of electricity from renewable sources will cost more than we currently pay and the Industry is already receiving significant support from Government. If we adopt a Policy for more from a renewable source in the near future what is our expectation when the price rises:

  1. That the needy and disadvantaged have no power and are left to fend for themselves, or
  2. That the Government increases it support to the private sector supplying our power or increases its support of the needy and disadvantaged

The problem with all these alternatives is we MUST have a strong economy to increase the financial independence of a larger section of our community. Then, as a result of this increased income earned, the Government should have an increase in revenue to allow for additional support to the community. Australia is at a disadvantage to many other parts of the world as it has a relatively low population (and therefore lower revenue) for the land we occupy and maintain.

We can all play a part on building a strong and great economy.

Be aware of your spending decisions and purchase with purpose.

The next $100 you spend on your consumable goods could be a $30 boost to your Local, State or National economy (with $80 plus leaving the country) or it could be a $300 boost to build a stronger Local, State or National economy. – See Hidden Pot of Gold

The choice is yours

Localised Spending HIDDEN Pot of Gold

Make a difference – Every $100 spent with local business will add $175 to your Local economy supporting your family, friends and your local community.

There are many reasons to spend with and support local businesses - keeping them operational for continued use, competition, employment & purchasing in your local community...how about

Every $100 you spend in a local business boosts your local economy by $175

Today I want discussion on an often overlooked or underestimated feature of local economies.

How can spending $100 with your Local Business impact your local community (Family, Friends, Neighbours) by $175?

Consider the 4 different types of expenditure where we spend our income.

  • Local economy - local business who create their own products or manufacture them from predominately locally sourced purchases employing locally where required.
  • National retailers who source their products nationally. Includes national on-line purchases
  • International retailers who substantially source their products globaly. Includes International on-line purchases
  • Your Future Fund where you are paying off a mortgage (equity you can use at a later date), adding to investments in retirement planning or Superannuation for later use. Savings for a rainy day.
With some retailers it is not easy to establish if their corporate base is National or International however the origins of their products should be easily assessed. In addition some purchasers may utilise a retailer who offers both Nationally & Internationally sourced products but only purchase nationally sourced.

The more you know about your Retailers, Suppliers and their products the more accurate you can construct your spending model and the contribution to the economy. For my purposes I have constructed the following contribution averages that applies to me.

 

My Purchase estimates is 5% Local Business, 50% Corporate (National Products), 18% Corporate (International Products) & 27% Future Fund of Mortgage payment & Retirement funds.
My Contribution to the Local Economy from local business purchases is $5687.50 ($2437.50 Pot of Gold above the original spend of $3250). This is calculated on the basis that Local Business appreciates the benefit of local purchases and will spend 50% of their income on local purchases

With a review of my purchasing options to supporting local businesses I can realistically increase local purchases to 28% of my income reducing Corporate National products to 30% & Corporate International products to 15%

 

 

 

 

The power of my spending has increased from $69,753 to $80,405 thanks to the ripple effect of spending in my Local Economy

The Pot of Gold to the Local Economy is now $13,650 on top of my original spend of $18,200. There is an additional estimate $4095 added to the Local Economy from the Local content of purchases in the other expenditure types. (see below for further information on my estimates)

The contribution to the Local Economy lifts from $11,090 to $35,945 assisting my family, my friends, my neighbours within this community.

The Federal Government knows only too well that by injecting money by way of Tax cuts, a Cash bonus and/or spending into Australia (its local economy) the ripple affect boosts the economy; similarly, the State Governments will boost the its Local Economy with infrastructure spending. It is up to the local community to boost its local economy through purchasing; and the rewards are well worth it.

There are a number of other reasons to shop local with many small business also committed to care for the product and the environment (leading by example) and we will address these in a later Blog

 Apart from the allocation of spending which is clearly indicated in the tables – I have included the following estimates regarding contribution to the Economies

Local Economy

The Local Economy after the initial allocation (eg. Table2) $18,200 gets 50%* of that spending back in the local community (Business & Personal spend) $9,100 repeating to a third level $4550 (total contribution $31850). The Local Economy also gets 5% from the spend in the other 3 categories to account for local employee / business involvement eg Retail outlet
*50% spend is based on the knowledge small local business understand the importance of spending in the local community

National Economy

Receives 65% of the Corporation (National Product) spend to take into consideration the acquisition of National Products and other National Business Spend, 20% of the Corporate (International Product) spend to take into consideration their National Business spend and 5% from the spend into Your Future Fund to take into consideration their National Business spend.

Australian Produce (1)

Global Economy

Receives 30% of the Corporation (National Product) spend to take into consideration the International Business Spend, 75% of the Corporate (International Product) spend to take into consideration that the majority of their spend is International.

Future Fund

Your Future Fund contribution is 90% of your Future Fund spend as it has minimal impact on either of the domestic economies after the allocation of the 5% to both to allow for Local & National Business needs including employment

 

Everyone’s purchasing scenario will be a little different. If you have reasonable confidence in your knowledge of spending and/or contributions you could tailor your own table to better represent you.

 

 

Message me if you would like a working copy of my table

Would love to hear from any small business that would like their Journey to sustainability to be highlighted in future posts
Peter O'Connor
Journey to Sustainability
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Purchase with Purpose to reduce carbon footprint

3 considerations when looking at my Salmon purchase

To purchase with purpose can have a beneficial effect not only on the environment but local business and its community. Take today’s simple task of purchasing some salmon steaks for lunch on a beautiful summer day.

Option 1 – I could pop into Woolworths, Coles or Aldi and look to buy some relatively cheaper priced Atlantic Salmon from Norway or prepackaged Tassal / Huon Atlantic Salmon from Tasmania. From Norway is obviously quite costly from a transport situation into Australia plus apart from local transport and retail costs the product costs are leaving our shores for Norway. The Tasmanian bred Atlantic Salmon would I assume be forwarded to a centralised holding facility and then road transported to the local store. The total purchase costings would be shared between local transport & retail and cost of goods remaining in Australia ie Tasmania

Option 2 – Our local fish market at Stocklands Shellharbour which also operates as a co-op purchasing local produce as well as bringing additional stock from Australia and Imported. They also stock the Tassal / Huon Atlantic Salmon. The transports costs would be similar to the first option although the transport may have slight variation depending on travel route. The total purchase costings would be shared between local transport & retail and cost of goods remaining in Australia ie Tasmania

Option 3 – Purchasing local Australian Salmon from the local Fish markets. Purchasing local is always better as there is a minimal amount of transport costs and the entire product cost stays in the local area from fisherman to fish markets (Paddock/Ocean to plate). Australian salmon is not similar to Atlantic Salmon as the species is more closely aligned to the Perch family

It is very easy to underestimate the economic benefits of purchasing locally produced. The cost of the product going back to local communities can see the money be circulated 4 – 5 times when consider that the monies spent by Fisherman in local business which is then passed by them through profit and wages to other locals who then purchase again etc

Unfortunately in this exercise the local Fish markets did not have any locally caught salmon so my decision to purchase the Tasmainian based Atlantic salmon from the Fish market at Stocklands Shellharbour is my best decision as I know that by supporting their business now they have a commitment to buying local and supporting the local communities and the sustainability of the Industry

Our salads and dressing is made from locally sauced product so all in all I am extremely happy with this outcome. 

With todays technologies it is an interesting observation that the research required to make these decisions took less than 25% of the time it took to write this post

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Preserving Australian Product Quality & Employment conditions in a global economy.

How do we preserve Australian Product Quality & Employment conditions in a global economy

There is no question that Australia has a premium product thanks in no small way to the regulations of Government and/or Industry & our Employees have one of the safest working environment thanks again in no small way to regulations of Government and/or Industry.
 
The question I raise is how do we preserve these under free trade?
 
Under free trade our businesses must compete with importers who produce under varying regulations and compliance and we have seen the short comings of this eg live exports and poorer quality steel
 
I have always believed that Tariffs are a way of protecting our lifestyle imposing additional costs on importers who do not meet the same stringent conditions as Australian producers.
 
In a competitive free trade market with no Tariffs should:
 
1. Government and Industry promote the advantages of local made products including the regulations in place to ensure product safety and working conditions, or
2. we the consumer become more aware of the differences and support the additional responsibility taken on board by local suppliers by supporting them in purchasing, or
3 ask the government and industry to review the regulations in place and make them more in line with world standards to remain competitive. I I would not like to see this as I like the commitment of ensuring our workers all get to go home.
 
If we do not come to grips with this; other Industries, like our Primary Producers,  may have to shut down or move overseas to get a competitive production cost as we have seen with motor vehicle production or the Big Australian BHP with their overseas operations
 

What are your thoughts?

 

Are Tariffs FINISHED

Tariffs have been explained as a way of supporting Australian businesses competing in a global market and as such drawn plenty of comments about justification of individual business with motor vehicle production the prime example. 

Was it support for the motor vehicle trade or support for our affluent way of life that adds higher cost to the production of goods – particularly those with high labour costs? 

Overview

If tariffs protect our way of life why, if Australia is such an affluent country, does it have some of the lowest tariffs in the world.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) is reducing the Tariffs our exports face to TPP countries. 

On balance do we win or do we loose?

 

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