Logan Russell's Identifying Opportunities in Economic and Regulatory Trends

Economic Trend #1: Baby Boomers Aren't Retiring
- This economic trend was found on the website "the balance" in an article discussing recent prominent economic trends. The lack of baby boomers retiring means that they are still working at a similar pace compared to most younger Americans. In order to keep up the pace, these baby boomers will rely on medication, vitamins, fitness, and other remedies to counter the inevitable sluggishness age provides. If there was a product that was capable of providing the same energy of caffeine or B12, but safe for the hearts of those who would consider themselves baby boomers, a huge breakthrough is bound to occur. The prototypical customer, easily enough, would be baby boomers, or those born between 1946 and 1964. This opportunity is indeed relatively easy to exploit, because baby boomers would rely on this product to stay as mentally and physically keen as younger generations; their livelihoods are on the line if they lose that competition and the product doesn't do its job. I saw this opportunity because my father is a baby boomer and still very active in his field of work. He often discusses with me how he's being phased out by younger competitors who come to the same conclusions he does, only faster. If such a miracle product existed, he would stand a chance against the tide of youth.

Economic Trend #2: The Rise of Interest Rate Prices
- This economic trend was found on the same website as the one above, "the balance," also in the same article discussing recent prominent economic trends. I found that this is a problem that effects a great many people; as interest rates increase, more people won't be able to afford to take out loans. My opportunity is inspired by the GI Bill, but with a modern twist. The GI Bill was passed in the 1940s and provided money for homes and education for soldiers returning from war. Without this money, these soldiers would have never been able to afford their houses, similarly to how people won't be able to own their homes if interest rates continue to rise. If there was a handout program for people who met certain predetermined qualifications that would give them the resources to disarm these interest rates, there would be a huge surge in the housing market. The prototypical customer would most likely be young families looking to own their first home. This system could be considered easy to exploit, it it is barely a fraction of a functional idea so I couldn't even begin to tell how; an idea of this scale could be vulnerable to many things.

Regulatory Change #1: The Tariff Situation
- The news has been abuzz with word that the Trump presidency will be imposing heavy tariffs on certain countries, the ones we do the most trading with in particular, These tariffs were designed to get jobs back into the country that we were previously outsourced to the aforementioned countries. The tariffs are only upsetting other countries which will eventually retaliate and create counter tariffs which will only serve to damage our economy. My opportunity comes into play for local farmers and agriculturalists, who should benefit from this. Because international trade will be inevitably damaged by this, local produce producers will see a massive rise in profit. Those who would benefit from the tariff debacle, as they would become the prime source for the in demand resources. This situation could see the agriculturalist taken advantage of, as those who control the market could make demands of the farmers and problems could ensue. I came across this problem because, as a California native, I actually have a few friends whose parents work in the farming business, and they spoke at great lengths of the effects of NAFTA on their businesses.

Regulatory Change #2: Repeal of Anti-Discriminatory Regulation
- I was looking into regulation that involved racism and this was a very interesting example that came up. There was in place an Obama-era piece of legislation that prevented any type of discrimination on the showroom floor. Statistics prove that loan rates for cars of all kind were significantly higher to those of minorities, so the rule was put in place to counter that. A few months back this piece of regulation was repealed. This presents an opportunity for auto chains to meet with minority leaders to plot out exactly what has to be done to eliminate this hostile environment. Those who would most directly benefit from these opportunities would be minorities who were previously mistreated by the automotive industry. I decided to discuss this particular topic because I actually know of people who have experienced this type of discrimination in car dealerships in the past.