1.
Economic trend: Global aggregate demand is
gaining momentum
b.
I believe this means that an opportunity exists
because consumers are finally showing signs of increasing spending after years
of recovering from the financial crisis in 2008. Greater spending means greater
opportunity for new goods and services.
c.
The protypical customer is someone living in a
developed country (e.g. US, EU, Japan) with disposable income. The article also
mentions the emergence of China’s middle class which is creating a consumer society
in China. In this case, members of the Chinese middle class would also be
protypical customers.
d.
I think this opportunity is relatively easy to
exploit. Basically any entrepreneurial idea for a new good or service would
work in this case.
e.
My attention was immediately drawn to the
information about China’s emerging middle class and what that could mean for
American exports to China. I am majoring in economics and political science, so
watching this shift in Chinese society is particularly interesting because of
its repercussions on Chinese demand for foreign goods and services.
2.
Economic trend: Baby Boomers are not retiring
b.
This suggests an opportunity to me because there
is a two-fold effect: (1) Baby Boomers are saving more for retirement thus
staying in the workforce longer and (2) Millennials entering the workforce are being
forced to abandon the traditional “career track.” The second part is what presents
an opportunity to me because Millennials are looking for alternatives to the office
jobs being occupied by Baby Boomers.
c.
The protypical customer is a Millennial looking
for a more freelance contractor style of work.
d.
This opportunity is a bit more complicated to
exploit. You would have to come up with a business plan that appeals to the
Millennial generation being kept out of the traditional workforce by Baby
Boomers.
e.
I think I saw this opportunity because my
parents are currently in the position of the Baby Boomers described: forced to
work a few extra years because of the hit their savings took during the 2008
financial crisis. I had never considered what that meant for young people
entering the workforce.
3.
Regulatory change: The Clean Water Act was
amended in 2018 to allow municipalities to develop a plan that integrates
wastewater and storm water management.
b.
This could present an opportunity for improved
water management technologies, including environmentally friendly approaches.
c.
The protypical customer would be the local government
that controls water management in an area.
d.
This opportunity would be difficult to exploit without
prior knowledge of water management or connections to local government
officials. However, an innovative idea for how to handle wastewater and/or
storm water could succeed.
e.
I love nature and the outdoors, so I am
concerned at the impact humans are making on our planet. Since this regulation
encourages the use of green technologies, I see it as a great opportunity to
improve water management systems and help the environment at the same time.
4.
Regulatory change: Sales tax will be enforced on
e-commerce purchases as of 2018
b.
This presents an opportunity for CPAs and other
tax professionals because small online businesses will need support in this
transition. Large corporations will also need more tax professionals helping
them navigate the new rules. Online sales tax could become a new specialty within
the tax profession.
c.
The protypical customer would be an individual
looking to expand his/her career in helping corporations manage tax laws.
d.
This opportunity would be difficult to exploit
for someone not familiar with tax processes. For someone who is already in this
field, it could be useful.
e.
I am an avid online shopper, so this regulation
affects me personally which is why I was interested in the impacts it could have.
