CindyInternational Market Research
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When a recurring topic comes up in the news I enjoy hearing what other countries are saying about the same topic. This has always fascinated me. And sometimes, going beyond cultural differences, you even get glimpses of the political propaganda within different countries.
One of the places I go for a quick glance at pan-European news is at Euro Topics. They review the European press and a team of translators gives you the news in a few languages, including English.
I like it because they are often summaries and quick to read. I also get to read from leading newspapers in countries where I don’t speak the language.
German Social Prediction On Rising Gas Prices
Rising gas prices is a very common topic just about everywhere today. One article recently caught my attention. It is from the Süddeutsche Zeitung in Germany. Here it is:
“Europe is equipped for the end of the oil age, writes Jörg Häntzschel, but America’s mobile society will soon become too expensive: “This wild, vast country was transformed by a hyper-efficient metastructure of traffic systems. … Now, however, traffic flows in this infrastructural organism are slowing to a trickle. The worst hit is air traffic. … Even in the best of times, Europe never departed from its culture of moderation. By contrast, America must now turn its back on the rampant splurges of the last two decades. The country is in for a bumpy ride. … Not only does Europe have a functioning public transport system, it can also fall back on its old city structures when necessary. America has practically surrendered itself to oil. … One day the drive to work will no longer be worthwhile. A paltry rural existence awaits those bereft of their livelihood and freedom of movement. America’s map was drawn by cheap oil. Now it is being redesigned.” (13/06/2008)”
You can see the Euro Topics article and follow the links to the original article in German here www.eurotopics.net. There are also a few other articles there on the current energy crisis from different European counties.
This particular article above grabbed my attention. Of course it is written by a German. That’s obvious.
I have no idea if the author is right. And I can’t say I can agree with him or not. His analysis sure rings of truth in some ways. But it is a bit drastic. I live in Europe and can’t imagine life without a car. We are all feeling the effects of high gas prices on the cost of food. I doubt I feel safer from the consequences of high gas prices here than if I was living in North America.
European Economic Forecasting And Social Predictions
What is interesting is the opinion in this German articles reminded me very much of one of my favorite books.
This is a great book to stretch your mind, re-align your conceptions of the near future and it provide lots of thought provoking hypothesis on the future of Europe. It’s economic forecasting with social predictions for Europe.
I have been planning on doing a Sunday Book Review on this book for a while. I like it that much. In case you haven’t guessed I only write book reviews on books I really, really like. Each time I think of doing the review on Megatrends Europe I can’t imagine being able to keep my review to only one blog post.
Back to Megatrends Europe. I did not know of “trendwatcher” Adjiedj Bakas before stumbling across his book in a Parisian bookstore. But when I brought it home, I learned that my daughter had to study his work for her baccalaureate. She actually knew how to pronounce his name.
If you are interested in stretching your cultural perceptions and open to listening to possible changes in European cultures, Adjiedj Bakas’ book will do all of that and also surprise you.
I would love to know the social predictions Adjiedj Bakas can foresee for the rising gas prices. He takes current cultural trends and projects outcomes for the future.
International Business Time Travel
Why do I find this so interesting?
International business opportunities exist for those able to accurately foresee economic movements and accurately evaluate how different cultures will react to them.
Can we learn from international social predictions on rising gas prices? Well you do get glimpses of cultural differences in times like these. But I think you need a little bit of talent and inside cultural market knowledge to get closer to real international business predictions.
Is it worth it? It could be if you get it right. But it does feel like time travel for international business. Stimulating.
Here are a few more International Market Research articles:
- Here’s A Blog To Help Your International Market Research
- Why Is International Market Research So Important?
- How Do You Learn About Your International Markets?
- How To Know Where Your International Markets Really Are With Business Blogging
- How Do Your Foreign Prospects Use Their Search Engines
- 5 Factors To Consider When Marketing To Different Cultures
- Target Your Global Market With A Good Understanding Of Their Demographics
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