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POPSVirtual social economy emerging - Offerpal partners with Amazon to Launch Offerpal Tasks [10Feb10] The combination of gaming strategies and social currency is very potent. A growing number of major players, such as Amazon and Facebook are experimenting with social currencies. If a virtual economy is born, it will move beyond the gaming world into the worlds of information and journalism. Imagine thousands of citizen journalists competing for news scoop points (judged by their readers). The virtual social economy becomes really interesting when it begins to impact on the 'real' economy. Indeed, it is already happening. For a "clip-briefing" on social currencies which we prepared for the "Fellows" of the RSA (Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce), see http://groups.diigo.com/group/rsa-social-currency-project.
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POPSChinese economy records fastest growth since financial crisis erupted All those bank loans for building unnecessary real estate and factories. The game is liable to switch from bank stimulous to bank bailouts, once the bubble bursts. The Chinese government saw what happened in Japan before the crash, and then the US, and they go and make exactly the same mistake. Why are economic policy makers, whatever their nationality, so stupid?
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POPSUK output signals weak start to fourth quarter Double dip leads to double debt. Yesterday, I bought a 145 'Maine' branded, made in China, winter coat for 45. That's the state of the Chistmas retail market, even before the stimulous has been switched off.
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POPSThe Nouveau Poor Have Reached Numbers Too Large to Ignore "Talking about a revolution ... hey, hey ... you know." Remember when *you* were a poor hippie with a mattress on a floor somewhere? Welcome to the Future Past. The thing is, it was a lot of fun, then. No burdens, no mortgage, no car and lots of time to do just what you want ... or do nothing at all. Why shouldn't it be again? The Nouveau Poor will have to live a much more planet-friendly lifestyle, too, outside the Matrix economy.