Torsten

suppliers directory

2010-01-07T06:46:00Z

Suppliers Directories and equal opportunities of sellers of goods. How buyers do find suppliers.
Customers do look for the best supplier. They make a choice based on value judgements that vary from rational considerations to just plane feelings. Supplier information must be available to the customers. One way of advertizing are supplier directories. In a suppliers directory the sellers of various goods can be found. Buyers can find suppliers and compare the different sellers of a specific group of products. Based on this a choice can be made. This information elevates the market a bit, since there are still possible other suppliers that haven't been listed in the specific directory or any directoryat all . The price of directory listings can of course function as a barrier to entry, because those who do not want to spent money for the service do not get entered into a paid supplier directory.

Directories need to be found by the groups of specific clients for the types of suppliers listed in them. This means that a directory needs to compete on the information market as well. The internet can work as a bridging function here, since many providers of directories can use the internet to offer there services. Here suppliers directories can cater for certain niches and hence market segments on the internet.

tantalite

2008-11-28T15:26:00Z

Minerals have many applications for human use. The mineral tantalite is the main source for the chemical tantalum. The element tantalum plays an important rule in the manufacturing of electronic components like capacitors and high powered resistors. The advantage of using tantalum is that strong components that are very small can be produced.Tantalite is used to manufacture steel alloys as well.

It's many uses made tantalite a mineral that is in high demand. The mineral tantalite is mined in countries like Congo DRC, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Brazil and many more. A colloquial term for tantalite is coltan. And tantalite is often mined together with tin.

ferrochrome

2008-11-24T19:29:00Z

Sometimes I think what commodity to specialize on. There are the opportunities with precious metals and stones. There is certainly money to be made. But then there are use metals and there will be always a sustainable demand for those. So I am considering dealing in ferrochrome, which is used in manufacturing of stainless steel. Ferroalloys also do get prices on international markets.

diamonds and Kimberley process certificates

2008-09-20T03:51:00Z

Diamonds are traded internationally. They are extracted and processed by multinationals, who release them at substantial prices to global markets. There however also small miners who supply uncut diamonds on a small business basis. They are often active in conflict regions.

In the orginators on terms the Kimberley process is a measure against trade in 'blood diamonds'

What is the Kimberley Process?

The Kimberley Process (KP) is a joint governments, industry and civil society initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds – rough diamonds used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments. The trade in these illicit stones has fuelled decades of devastating conflicts in countries such as Angola, Cote d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone.

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) imposes extensive requirements on its members to enable them to certify shipments of rough diamonds as ‘conflict-free’. As of September 2007, the KP has 48 members, representing 74 countries, with the European Community and its Member States counting as an individual participant.

http://www.kimberleyprocess.com/

But does this process really protect people from conflicts or does it keep out the small producers from international markets, since they can not cope with the bureaucratic red tape?

gold dust

2008-09-19T16:28:00Z

It is sometimes argued that gold is a crisis proof investment. One is then usually offer gold bullion, but what about gold dust? Gold that has been mined, but wasn't processed further yet. Is it wise to purchase commodity gold or should one rather go for processed gold like gold bullion or gold coins. I am asking, because I am also looking into gold from Zimbabwe. Something that might become a profitable business in the future, when this country stabilizes again.

commodities

2008-09-17T15:57:00Z

I would be interested in more articles on commodities. If anyone can provide I would appreciate this. A distinction should be made between commodity futures and commodities traded as physical products of mines and factories.

Rough diamonds - a means of storing value?

2008-09-16T23:43:00Z

Some say rough diamonds are storing the highest value on the smallest space, but could they function as currency?

There is a debate about what currency to use. Most Austrians would favour a gold based money and oppose fiat money(money created on the books only). They argue that this will finally lead to a devaluation of currency. But what is the best means of storing value meaning purchasing power?

Are there any other opinions on this?

Sources for e-Texts in social sciences and philosophy

2007-09-28T16:35:00Z

We all know that Mises.org offers many e-texts for free and even some audio is offered for those that prefer listening over reading. I would like to list any other sources for downloading literature on the internet as well.

So I start with some sources that I'm aware of:

Please add to this collection of links!

James Shikwati: Africa doesn't need Aid

2007-09-24T16:30:00Z

Economist James Shikwati makes a case against aid (from government to government) in Africa.

Abstract: "...I examine whether Africa needs development aid and the effect of this type of aid on development in Africa. My criticism against aid should be approached with a clear mind; I am not discussing humanitarian aid, dispensed during natural catastrophes that are beyond the human control. Humanitarian aid in this sense ought to be measurably provided. I also discuss two schools of thought that seek to tackle the African problems; the externalists and the internalists. Many arguments raised in my discussion are sourced from various sources indicated in the references. My conviction is that the African problem can best be solved by the African people....

Read the full essay: http://www.irenkenya.com/downloads/articles/The_future_of_Africa.pdf

Welcome to my Blog at Mises.com

2007-09-24T16:25:00Z

Good Day,

My Name is Torsten and I'm writing from South Africa. I'm studying philosophy and have a strong interest into economics, since I am also active as an industrial community organizer. Except for Austrian economics, I'm also interested in the institutional approaches to economics. I hope to place some good articles / books / news here that will find the interest of other readers as well.