Ruction

A disturbance or quarrel.

The Ruction is a weekly rundown of the top ten emerging issues from the past seven days shaping commerce + culture.

The Ruction is for communication strategists and global business executives.

#TheRuction #Caracal #Politicians #CentralBanks #Congress #Technocrats #LuizInácioLuladaSilva #Brazil #PopeFrancis #Iraq #Italy #Australia #EU #VaccineDiplomacy #AstraZeneca #COVID19 #SoftPower #USHigherEducation #Tuition #Icons #Logos #Simple #AI #Lithium #EVs #NewBalance #Ohio #London #Supermodels #Dads #SurfsUp #Helmets #NorthShore #Oahu

The Ruction | Edition 13 | March 12, 2021

1. Move over, nerds. It's the politicians' economy now. Neil Irwin writes leaders of both parties have become willing to act directly to extract the nation from an economic crisis, taking that role back from the central bank.

"People like having money. Congress has the power to give it to them. In an economic crisis, budget deficits don't have to be scary. And it is better for both the economy and the democratic legitimacy of a rescue effort when elected leaders choose to help people by spending money, versus when pointy-headed technocrats help by obscure interventions in financial markets."

2. A Brazilian supreme-court judge annulled two corruption convictions against a former president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Although Lula, of the left-wing Workers' Party, could still be charged in another court, that looks unlikely.

He is now expected to run again for president in 2022.

3. Pope Francis made the first-ever papal visit to Iraq. The pontiff prayed among ruined churches in Mosul, the former stronghold of Islamic State, and held mass at Erbil's stadium. It was his first international trip since the start of the pandemic.

4. Italy infuriated Australia by blocking a shipment of 250,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. This was the first time an EU member has made use of new blocking powers recently approved by the EU in response to a row with Britain over shortages of the jab.

Vaccine diplomacy and post-COVID-19 soft power activities are spiking.

5. There is something deeply wrong with US higher education: Tuition seemingly never stops rising, while outcomes like graduation rates and job prospects are worsening. Schools with the most significant endowments, like Princeton or Stanford, can weather the storm, while smaller colleges and universities might not be able to hang on.

"We estimate 25% of colleges could go out of business in the next few years." -- Chegg CEO Dan Rosensweig

6. Simpler icons: In the age of the smartphone screen, keep it simple.

7. AI is getting more powerful, faster, and cheaper: A new KPMG report shows that most leaders across a wide range of sectors now say AI is "moderately to fully functional" within their business or organization.

Industrial manufacturing leads the sectors, with 93% of business leaders agreeing, followed by 84% in financial services, 83% in technology, 81% in retail, 77% in life sciences, 67% in health, and 61% in government.

8. Lithium prices are surging, marking a sharp turnaround and sparking concerns about the battery metal's limited supplies that are crucial to the electric-vehicle boom.

9. How did the 115-year-old company go from bust to lust?

New Balance has become the world's most fabulous trainer: This once terminally uncool brand has turned its fortunes around. Not taking things too seriously is a crucial factor behind the brand's new-found success — and now forms a large part of its advertising. Instead of kicking against the "dad" image, New Balance has embraced it.

"Worn by supermodels in London and dads in Ohio," says one ad in a recent campaign.

10. Surf's up. Grab your helmet.

Helmets used to be a rarity in surfing. Now, young surfers on the North Shore of Oahu embrace the safety device as a necessity in the world's most dangerous waves.