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Intro to Cryptocurrencies: What Are They and Can They Make You Money

You probably know that a cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency. What this means is that they don’t exist in a physical form. The first cryptocurrency was created in 2009 and ever since they have been gaining more and more popularity. Today there are over 10.000 different cryptocurrencies, even though some of them aren’t really significant as they aren’t as valuable as others. 

Cryptocurrencies can be transferred to any person via the internet, without a bank or another financial organization in the middle. Many people invest in them, hoping for an increase in their value, trade with them, buy and sell them using other cryptocurrencies or fiat money, but they can be used for payments, as well. And with the opportunities, they offer for making a profit, like many you may be wondering how they work and how you can start investing.

How Can You Buy Cryptocurrencies?

The best way to buy cryptocurrency is through a crypto exchange. Exchanges are platforms where you can buy, sell and trade with cryptocurrencies, for a fee. The most important thing to consider when choosing which one to sign up on, is how they will protect your personal information, and your finds. 

Check their reputation, look for comments and reviews by other users. Exchanges make a profit through fees for any transaction. Before choosing one, learn what they will charge you for, and how much, so that you are sure that their fees won’t seriously affect your profit.

Cryptocurrencies can be bought with other cryptocurrencies (or in other words – trading with crypto), using your bank account, debit or credit card, a PayPal account, a Payoneer card, or other digital financial services. You can also generate new crypto coins, as some cryptocurrencies can be mined. This requires a certain type of software and hardware, depending on the cryptocurrency you want to mine.

Why Do Cryptocurrencies Have Value?

Many people thought that investing in cryptocurrency is crazy, as they aren’t money, they don’t exist. But the same can be argued for many things we consider valuable, including money. It’s simple, things have value because people decide that they do. The same is true for cryptocurrencies. 

Moreover, some of them have limited supplies. So, they gain value as the number of people who want to invest in them, or, in other words, as the demand gets higher. As the value grows, fewer people sell it, so the demand is even greater. And when something is rare, naturally, it’s more valuable.

However, it’s important to understand that the value of cryptocurrencies changes all the time, regardless of how they work. You can buy really expensive coins, that will lose in value in some period, you can buy them cheap and make a profit, or their value can decrease or increase insignificantly.  

So, if you are hoping for a guarantee that you would get rich overnight, there isn’t one. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t invest. Even when you are buying shoes you can’t be completely sure that they will perform as you have expected, or as they were promoted. So, like with any other investment, to minimize the risk and increase the chances for profit, you must learn how to do your research and hope for the best. 

And if you are just starting, you should take it slow. Make sure that if you lose the investment, it won’t have a huge impact on your finances and your life. In other words, only invest as much as you think you can afford to lose.

What to Consider When Buying Cryptocurrencies?

Since there are so many different cryptocurrencies and new ones appear all the time, and since all of them function differently, before anything you must choose which one you want to invest in. This takes time and a lot of research. Everyone has heard of Bitcoin, but aside from it, some of the most popular and most valuable cryptocurrencies, include Etherium, XPR, Tether, Dogecoin, BNB, etc. 

To choose, you should learn the characteristics that make the currency different, what type of technology they use, how they are produced, the creators’ philosophy and vision, the current and total supply, and so on. Do your research to make sure that you invest in a currency that maintains its value. To minimize the risk instead of speculative and short-term investments, think long-term, and research thoroughly.

Cryptocurrencies-

Conclusion

Hearing so many stories about people who became rich thanks to cryptocurrencies, it’s not surprising how many are thinking about starting to invest. However, buying cryptocurrencies always comes with the risk of losing your investment. This is why becoming a crypto trader isn’t a simple task. It takes a lot of learning, research, and decisions at each step of the process.

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The Seeds of Ideology: Historical Immigration and Political Preferences in the United States

By Dr Paola Giuliano and Dr Marco Tabellini

Recent immigration flows to Europe and the US are usually associated with heated political backlash. Yet, little is known on the long run impact of immigration on political ideology and natives’ preferences. In our paper, we seek to fill this gap, and analyze how European immigrants moving to the US between 1900 and 1930 shaped American political ideology and views on the role of government among natives today. We show that the historical presence of European immigrants is associated with a more liberal political ideology and with stronger preferences for redistribution among US born individuals today. This is driven by the transmission of immigrants’ preferences and political ideology to natives – a process reinforced by inter-group contact.

Immigration is one of the most important political and social issues around the world. The political discourse is often reflected in the rise of anti-immigrant, right-wing parties that emphasize the lack of immigrants’ assimilation, painting it as a vital threat to host societies. While a large and growing body of work has examined the short run political impact of immigration (Dustmann et al. 2019; Halla et al., 2017; Tabellini, 2020), much less is known about the effects of immigration on natives’ political ideology in the long run. And yet, the long run effects of immigration on natives’ political preferences can vastly differ from their short run counterpart. First, consistent with the “contact hypothesis” (Allport, 1954), natives can change their attitudes towards minorities after prolonged interactions, which may gradually eliminate initially negative stereotypes. Second, although the immigration literature typically views the process of immigrants’ assimilation as one sided – with immigrants converging towards the new, local culture (Abramitzky et al., 2020; Fouka, 2020; Lazear, 1999) – it is possible for immigrants’ culture to spill-over into that of natives, eventually creating a diverse and “melting pot” society.

Our recent work (Giuliano and Tabellini, 2021) explores these ideas, by studying the long run effects of the 1900-1930 migration of millions of Europeans on political ideology of US born individuals today, which we measure using nationally representative survey data from the Cooperative Congressional Election Study (CCES). This historical period, also known as the Age of Mass Migration, offers several advantages.1 First, as today, also at the time natives’ concerns about the lack of immigrants’ assimilation loomed large (Abramitzky and Boustan, 2017; Higham, 1955). Second, the composition of immigrants changed dramatically during these 30 years, thereby allowing us to leverage variation in the cultural background and in the political preferences of different European groups. Third, we can estimate the effects of immigration on American ideology over more than a century.

immigration

The 1900-1930 decades also represent an almost ideal “quasi-natural” experiment to causally identify the effects of immigration (Abramitzky and Boustan, 2017; Abramitzky et al., 2019a; Tabellini, 2020). Between 1910 and 1930, immigration from different European countries was differentially impacted by nation-wide shocks – World War I and the Immigration Acts – that were arguably unrelated to cultural, political, or economic conditions prevailing in individual US counties at the time.2 Because immigrants tend to concentrate in areas with larger ethnic enclaves, the differential effect of these shocks across European countries generated significant variation in the number as well as in the “cultural mix” of immigrants received by US counties between 1910 and 1930.

Born respondents who today live in counties with higher historical immigration are significantly more likely to vote for the Democratic Party and to support more generous welfare spending. These effects are quantitatively large, and comparable to those of key determinants of political preferences in the United States. For instance, a 5 percentage point increase in the average immigrant share has an impact that is roughly equivalent to that estimated in other work for the effects of race or that of moving from an income of 100,000 to an income of 20,000 US dollars per year (Alesina and Giuliano, 2011). We obtain similar findings for several other proxies of left-leaning political preferences and preferences for redistribution, such as party identification or support for an increase in the minimum wage.

Our results have important policy implications:

The long run effects of immigration and diversity can differ from their short run counterparts. To the best of our knowledge, our paper is the first to document that immigration is associated with a higher desire for redistribution and a more left leaning political ideology, contrary to studies showing the opposite for the short run. (Alesina et al., 1999; Dahlberg et al., 2012; Tabellini, 2020)

Assimilation is not a one-way process. While immigrants likely converge towards natives’ culture, they might also transmit their values and ideology to locals. In our context, European immigrants imported their political preferences and desire for the welfare state, transmitting them to US born individuals.

Consistent with our conjecture, we find that higher exposure to social welfare reforms in immigrants’ countries of origin is predictive of stronger preferences for redistribution and a more liberal ideology today among US born respondents.

We provide supportive evidence for our argument that immigration left its footprint on American ideology via cultural transmission from immigrants to natives by constructing an index of exposure to historical social welfare reforms in immigrants’ countries of origin. This index counts the number of years elapsed between the introduction of the different reforms and the year in which an individual emigrated. It includes reforms on education, pension, health, unemployment, insurance, and occupational injuries. Consistent with our conjecture, we find that higher exposure to social welfare reforms in immigrants’ countries of origin is predictive of stronger preferences for redistribution and a more liberal ideology today among US born respondents.

We dig deeper into the possibility that immigrants could have transmitted their ideology to natives, by exploiting differences in intergroup contact, proxied for by using inter-marriage and residential integration – We show that the effects of immigration on natives’ ideology are stronger in counties where, historically, intergroup contact –was higher, and where immigrants’ preferences could thus be more easily transmitted to natives.

We conclude by showing that European immigrants’ support for social welfare started to influence the attitudes of US-born individuals soon after the end of the Age of Mass Migration in the election of 1928, the year when Alfred Smith, a Roman Catholic with immigrant background, ran as candidate for the Democratic Party, against the Republican opponent, Herbert Hoover, who emphasized the idea of “rugged individualism” (Bazzi et al., 2020). The 1928 increase in support for the Democratic Party in places with a higher immigrant share persisted until today, suggesting that the initial political mobilization of immigrants (Andersen, 1979) was an important factor behind the positive association between historical immigration and left-leaning ideology today. In addition, and consistent with political realignment, we find that the presence of European immigrants, with their strong support for government spending and redistribution, influenced the allocation of New Deal spending across US counties.

Findings in this paper highlight the importance of distinguishing between the short and the long run effects of diversity and immigration on political preferences and ideology in receiving countries. Although immigrants might be opposed, generate backlash, and reduce natives’ preferences for redistribution upon arrival, they might eventually lead to higher social cohesion and stronger desire for generous government spending over a longer horizon of time. Moreover, our results indicate that immigrants’ assimilation is not a one-sided process and that, instead, immigrants’ preferences might spill over and be transmitted to natives, thereby contributing to a diverse and complex culture, and to the development of a “melting-pot” society.

We conclude reflecting briefly on the extent to which our findings apply to other contexts, and the recent inflow of refugees to Europe in particular. First, at the time of our study, the US was a relatively young country, and its culture may have been more “malleable” than that of many European countries that, today, are experiencing large influx of immigrants and refugees. For this reason, one might expect immigration to Europe to have a smaller effect on long-run ideology and culture today relative to what we found for the Age of Mass Migration in the US context. Second, we focused on a specific set of beliefs: political ideology and preferences for redistribution. More evidence is needed to tell whether our results apply to other cultural and socio-economic domains, since different cultural traits may be more amenable to horizontal transmission than others. Finally, the setting considered in our work entailed two groups – Anglo- Saxon descendants and European immigrants – that were relatively “similar” along many dimensions. It is thus possible that at higher levels of diversity (ethnic, religious, and racial), as those prevailing today between Europeans and incoming refugees, the transmission mechanism identified in our work might be less likely to operate.

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About the Authors

Dr Paola Giuliano

Dr Paola Giuliano is a Professor of Economics at the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Her main areas of research are culture and economics and political economy. She holds a B.A. from Bocconi University (Milan) and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of California, Berkeley.

Dr Marco Tabellini

Dr Marco Tabellini is an Assistant Professor at Harvard Business School. Marco focuses on topics in political economy and economic history to study the economic, political, and social effects of migration and diversity. Marco holds a PhD in economics from the M.I.T.

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The Age of Mass Migration is typically defined as the period between 1850 and 1920. However, the largest migration flows occurred between 1900 and 1914, and the immigrant share of the US population peaked at 14% in 1920 (Abramitzky and Boustan, 2017).

Most notably, the Immigration Act of 1921 introduced country-specific quotas that were based on the population of each country living in the United States in 1910. With the National Origins Act of 1924, the “baseline year” was moved to 1890, when very few immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe were living in the US, with the goal of restricting immigration from these regions even further (Goldin, 1994).

References

  • Abramitzky, Ran, Leah Platt Boustan, and Katherine Eriksson. “Do Immigrants Assimilate More Slowly Today Than in the Past?” American Economic Review: Insights, 2020, 2 (1), 125-141.
  • Abramitzky, Ran, et al. “The Effects of Immigration on the Economy: Lessons from the 1920s Border Closure”. NBER Working Paper 26536, 2019.
  • Abramitzky, Ran, and Leah Platt Boustan. “Immigration in American Economic History.” Journal of Economic Literature, 2017, 55 (4): 1311-1345.
  • Abramitzky, Ran, Leah Boustan, and Katherine Eriksson. “To the New World and Back Again: Return Migrants in the Age of Mass Migration.” ILR Review, 2019, 72.2, 300-322.
  • Alesina, Alberto, Reza Baqir, and William Easterly. “Public Goods and Ethnic Divisions.” Quarterly Journal of Economics, 1999, 114 (4): 1243-1284.
  • Alesina, Alberto and Paola Giuliano, “Preferences for Redistribution”, in “Handbook of Social Economics,” Vol. 1, Elsevier, 2011, pp. 93–131.
  • Allport, Gordon W., The Nature of Prejudice, Oxford, England: Addison-Wesley, 1954.
  • Andersen, Kristi, The Creation of a Democratic Majority 1928-1936, University of Chicago Press, 1979.
  • Bazzi, Samuel, Martin Fiszbein, and Mesay Gebresilasse, “Frontier Culture: The Roots and Persistence of ”Rugged Individualism” in the United States,” Econometrica, 2020, 88 (6), 2329 – 2368.
  • Dahlberg, Matz, Karin Edmark, and Heléne Lundqvist, “Ethnic Diversity and Preferences for Redistribution,” Journal of Political Economy, 2012, 120 (1), 41–76.
  • Dustmann, Christian, Kristine Vasiljeva, and Anna Piil Damm, “Refugee Migration and Electoral Outcomes,” Review of Economic Studies, 2019, 86 (5), 2035–2091.
  • Fouka, Vasiliki. “Backlash: The Unintended Effects of Language Prohibition in US Schools after World War I,” The Review of Economic Studies, 2020, 87 (1), 204-239.
  • Giuliano, Paola, and Marco Tabellini. “The Seeds of Ideology: Historical Immigration and Political Preferences in the United States,” NBER Working Paper 27238, 2020.
  • Goldin, Claudia, “The Political Economy of Immigration Restriction in the United States, 1890 to 1921,” in “The Regulated Economy: A Historical Approach to Political Economy,” University of Chicago Press, 1994, pp. 223–258.
  • Halla, Martin, Alexander F. Wagner, and Josef Zweimüller, “Immigration and Voting for the Far Right,” Journal of the European Economic Association, 2017, 15 (6), 1341–1385.
  • Higham, John. Strangers in the Land: Patterns of American Nativism, 1860-1925. Rutgers University Press, 1955.
  • Knudsen, Anne Sofie Beck, “Those Who Stayed: Selection and Cultural Change during the Age of Mass Migration,” Working Paper, 2019.
  • Lazear, Edward P. “Culture and Language.” Journal of Political Economy, 1999, 107, S6: S95-S126.
  • Meltzer, Allan H. and Scott F Richard, “A Rational Theory of the Size of Government,” Journal of Political Economy, 1981, 89 (5), 914–927.
  • Sequeira, Sandra, Nathan Nunn, and Nancy Qian, “Immigrants and the Making of America,” Review of Economic Studies, 2020, 87(1), 382–419.
  • Tabellini, Marco, “Gifts of the Immigrants, Woes of the Natives: Lessons from the Age of Mass Migration,” Review of Economic Studies, 2020, 87 (1), 454–486.

The Other Pandemic: Misinformation And How Higher Education Can Offer a Remedy

By Micah Sadigh

As we traverse, oftentimes unsuspectingly, into the darkness of an untethered technology of sharing information – seductive, magical, and in one brief moment, utterly destructive – who would protect us against the “invisible” enemy? At one point of another, we can all become its victims and the damage can seamlessly move from personal to societal to global.

“You saved my life,” wrote a student on a holiday card, “because you constantly told us to consider other explanations and question the source of any information.” Can lives be saved through critical thinking – examined thinking? Can we be saved by resisting the tendency to give ourselves to alluring, tantalizing, fragments of information of spurious origin? Can these falsehoods shape our thoughts about other people and their communities, which may in time “justify” heinous acts?

We have all seen it: someone reveals some misinformation online, a half-truth, of course anonymously. Soon it gains a life of its own – a virus of sorts. In minds devoid of any semblance of critical thinking the virus replicates, and spreads with pernicious social consequences. What further complicates things is that we often do not know who is promulgating such misinformation presented as “facts.” What is their motivation?  And if such a source is unknown to us, one wonders if there are any ethical considerations with regards to that which may end up being a falsity with potential nefarious intentions in mind.

In his exploration of the nature of justice, Socrates tells the story of a simple shepherd, Gyges, who comes to the possession of a ring that renders him invisible. Soon he cannot stop from breaking one law after another, culminating in killing the king and possessing whatever he wishes. Socrates then raises the question of whether a just person who comes to the possession of such a ring is not likely to do the same.1 Now think of such a person who has the ability or technology to remain hidden from any potential consequences of his or her actions. What prevents such a person from acting unjustly? The Internet has gained a cloak of invisibility – in a sense it is a ring of Gyges that can be worn by anyone – and there are few, if any, consequences for the injustices that can be perpetrated by an invisible person. 

“An invisible man is a man of power,” H.G. Wells suggests, while at the same time such a man, or woman, can become plagued with paranoia and madness – invisible, yet no longer human.3 It is true that invisibility can potentially shield us against the scrutiny of others, but is it possible that our deeds are well known to ourselves, no matter how well we dismantle, rationalize, justify, and compartmentalize them in some hidden corner of the mind? “The conscience,” Kant proposes, “follows a person like his shadow when he plans to escape. He can indeed stun himself or put himself to sleep by pleasures or distractions.” But can its voice be completely subdued?2 “That quote frightened me and made me think,” a student wrote to me. “I think there is something true about it.” We decided to take the quote apart to see what made it frightening and possibly true. A compelling idea! Sometimes that is all it takes to begin the process of critical thinking, the start of a dialogue.

The search for truth must be a struggle and not by simply gravitating toward compelling opinion, no matter how attractively or alluringly it is presented.

Bandura’s concept of “moral disengagement,” offers insight into how some may justify destructive behaviors.  It begins by denigrating and dehumanizing others and inflict pain upon them with impunity.  These harmful act may be rationalized as “moral” or “for a worthy cause,” ultimately making it permissible and, no doubt, even repeatable. Once again, the cloak of invisibility can potentially make this more likely since the offender is shielded through electronic means, although the truth that such reprehensible acts have been committed remains true to him or herself. To become better social beings is to protect each other and humanity as a whole in the classroom of life, where the examination of values guides us toward a “higher education”. The search for truth must be a struggle and not by simply gravitating toward compelling opinion, no matter how attractively or alluringly it is presented. “…the truth depends on a balance to be struck between two sets of conflicting reasons.”4

Moral Re-engagement through Lessons from Philosophy and Literature

Perhaps one method of cultivating pro-social behavior is through the discussion of works of thinkers of the past who have so cogently and artfully captured the struggles and temptations of being human. They have offered timeless wisdom that can be applied to our world today. In this brief article, there have been mentions of insights offered by Socrates, Kant, Wells, and Mill (and we can easily add so many others).   Such insights reveal much about the complexities of who we are as social beings. To humanize us, we need philosophy and ethics; and I submit to you that all of our disciplines emerged from philosophy and have explicit or implicit references to ethics. As Bandura suggests, “The affirmation of common humanity can bring out the best in others.”5 Literature and philosophy speak to that commonality—not to entertain, but to challenge and inspire, so as to help us think critically for the sake of ourselves as well as others. Not the Internet of invisibility, instead a net of social responsibility and personal accountability.

Cultivating Critical Thinking: Our Best Defense

  1. In nearly every class we teach, there are opportunities to bring attention to the role of critical thinking. The etymology of the word “critical” suggests taking things apart and examining their components, which, at one point, requires putting  them back together (i.e., synthesis) to see if they add up. Therefore, critical thinking becomes the antidote against being manipulated by information at face value, regardless of its source, and offers us the necessary tools to resist the inclination to arrive at erroneous conclusions. This antidote requires frequent boosters!
  2. We should not wait for students to take a course in ethics to discuss its importance and relevance to a specific discipline. Ethical principles apply to the arts as they do to the sciences and everything in between. Oftentimes these principles are expressed implicitly in classroom lectures. How can we make them more explicit? Perhaps by starting or ending a lecture or presentation with ethical questions. This can happen in a classroom or at a business meeting.
  3. History is one of our finest teachers and all of our disciplines have a history behind them. Therefore, historically speaking, how did the various disciplines address their ethical challenges? Considering that every discipline has a pro-social “conscience” and a voice, were they ever compromised and if so, how, by whom or what?  Why does art disappear during certain epochs in history? Why do books disappear? What do they expose?
  4. My students impress me with their sharp-witted knowledge of technology. They teach me little tidbits from time to time. And, from time to time, I ask them some impromptu questions with ethical challenges.  What are the long term consequences of the misuse of technology and how can they be avoided or turned around?
  5. When it comes to the Internet, how can we balance freedom with responsibility, invisibility with accountability? With some guidance and inspiration, students can be challenged to offer meaningful and practical insights into such questions.
  6. Ultimately, the best way to cultivate critical thinking is through dialogue, particularly when the dialogue focuses on addressing values, their roles and impact on our lives. Today, the misuse of the Internet is challenging some such values. Can we safely live in a world where matters of justice and morality are so easily manipulated with misinformation? What can be our defense?

The Internet may be powerful but it cannot determine our lives, for the solution to its potential problems resides within us.

Anything that disconnects us from each other, from society, no matter how technologically ingenious or intoxicating it may appear initially, in time, it will result in suffering.  In the end, it is humanity and our social essence that needs to be protected and fortified. For that to occur, we need to climb the ladder to a “higher education,” a place of higher values, in search of greater wisdom. In the end, critical thinking can be taught not only in classrooms, but also in businesses, and organizations. And when it becomes a way of life, or a way of coping with life, we will all be living in a safer world.

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About the Author

Micah Sadigh

Micah Sadigh, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychology at Cedar Crest College in Pennsylvania, USA. Dr. Sadigh presents internationally and is the author of Existential Journey: Viktor Frankl and Leo Tolstoy on Suffering, Death, and the Search for Meaning, which was recently translated into Polish, with new translations expected in 2022 and 2023.

References

  • Plato. (1968). The Republic of Plato (360c). New York: Basic Books.
  • Kant E. (2011).  The Metaphysics of Morals (p.189). UK: Cambridge University Press.
  • Wells, H.G. (2003). The Invisible Man. New York: Barnes & Noble.
  • Mill, J. S. (2002). On Liberty. (p.30). New York: Dover.
  • Bandura, A. (2016). Moral Disengagement (p.91). New York: Worth.

Emerging Trends in Global Progress of Electric Vehicle Sector

By Dr. Parveen Kumar and Anshika Singh

A worldwide revolution is unleashing to drive the adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs). Countries are embarking on the decarbonization journey with ambitious EV sales targets and are enabling the transition with fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for both supply and demand-side, innovative business models and supportive regulations.

Globally, momentum is building to increase the adoption of Electric vehicles (EVs). Fueled by a host of issues ranging from climate change to air pollution and crude oil prices, several countries have announced ambitious targets to phase out fossil fuel-powered vehicles. While EVs appear as the poster child for promoting sustainable transportation, embarking on the decarbonization journey requires addressing the key barriers including higher upfront purchase costs, range anxiety, and supply chain vulnerability.

Over the last decade, diverse support policies were instituted in key markets to address these barriers and upscale EV adoption with fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for both supply and demand-side. EV penetration, currently confined to China, North American, and European countries provides an opportunity to find enabling mechanisms for EV uptake that could help developing countries like India bridge the gap between the demand and supply dynamics and help cultivate a cohesive EV environment.

China

Across the globe, China remains the largest EV market, accounting for 41% of EV sales in 2020. Setting the ambitious goal of achieving 40% EVs on its road by 2030, China has made wide strides with an array of policies to induce the demand for EVs in the nation. It pumped huge investments through its central subsidy program in 2009, covering 30-50% of the vehicle cost for EV buyers. Through its ‘Ten Cities, Thousand Vehicles program’ launched in 2009, China aimed to deploy at least 1000 new energy vehicles in 10 pilot cities with the help of a one-time purchase subsidy. The subsidy structure is further supported by a variety of policy initiatives including an exemption from travel tax, parking privileges, and road access. The substantial role the purchase subsidy played in China’s success was highlighted when EV sales declined in 2019 growing by a mere 4% y-o-y compared to 62% in 2018 as it announced a phase-out of subsidies from 2020. China’s policymakers then boosted EV production by mandating automakers for selling certain percentages of their total vehicle produced to be EVs while simultaneously backing them through vehicle production subsidies.

Figure 1. Electric vehicle targets and achieved EV penetration of different countries

Figure 1. Electric vehicle targets and achieved EV penetration of different countries

Another vital role was played by the local governments through city-level implementation policies, which include innovative incentive policies and business models, that spurred EV uptake several times at the city level. Shenzhen, a southern Chinese city, started with the development of a comprehensive institutional framework and additional purchase and operational subsidy policies to promote the development of the local EV market. Through the above policy actions and collaborative efforts between local governments, third-party financial institutions, EV manufacturers, and charging facility operators, using leasing and vehicle sharing mechanisms, Shenzen was able to increase the total number of EVs ~58 times compared to 2012. During 2015-2018 (scale development phase), the number of e-buses increased 4-fold (from 4,000 to 16,000) whereas electric taxis and private cars grew 10-fold. It also invested heavily in charging infrastructure, and the city has an average of one fast charger per 0.16 km2. Today, Shenzhen emerges as a source of inspiration with the world`s largest e-bus fleet and almost 100% electrification of taxis and urban logistics vehicles.     

Europe

Europe, giving close competition to China in the growing global EV market, has richly varied electric mobility support policies across its markets. It hosts the countries with the largest penetration of e-car sales including Norway (54%) and the Netherlands (21%). While in Europe, the financial incentives are based on CO2 emissions; different countries have different mechanisms for putting EV adoption in place and each of them is unique in its place.

Norway, with 54% e-car sales penetration in 2020 remains the global leader in EV market share and is also the closest to achieving its national zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) target of 100% e-car sales by 2030. Norway’s success in EV diffusion can be traced back to the outstanding amounts of subsidies the government deployed. Starting back in 1991, Norway exempted EVs from registration taxes and then value-added tax while later it waived tolls and parking fees to EV owners and gave preferential access to bus lanes. In addition to this, the government strongly subsidized charging infrastructure development across the country through direct grants to the service provider. Similar local initiatives were established by city administrations which considerably decreased barriers to development during the early years of diffusion and increased EV adoption by more than 200% after five years in Norway.

Similar local initiatives were established by city administrations which considerably decreased barriers to development during the early years of diffusion and increased EV adoption by more than 200% after five years in Norway.

The Netherlands standing second to Norway in terms of EV adoption has a target to sell all-electric cars by 2030. The introduction of purchase subsidies for even second-hand EVs in chorus with fee waivers for vehicle registration, road tax has led to soaring consumer demand from just 1% EV sales penetration in 2015 to 21% in 2020. Its dense charging network of  1 public charge point for every 5 EVs, has been one of the factors behind a successful EV adoption. Over 80% of charging points deployed into the country’s regime were done through a partnership with municipalities. Moreover, the cooperation among the national, regional, and local level governments to implement the subsidy model, as well as incentives for EVs, has been a worthy tool for mass EV uptake in the Netherlands.

United States

The US was the earliest adopter of EVs, however, the pace of growth has been relatively slow when compared to Europe and China. It had a national target of adopting 18 million EVs on its road by 2030 but was able to achieve only 10% of it by 2020. While EV penetration in the nation remains low, efforts at the state and local levels have gained impetus over the years. The major responsibility for the deployment of publicly available charging stations was undertaken by the states by directing national funds.

Today, the state of California stands as a flagbearer with its set of progressive policy measures aiming for 100%  electrification of all new car and passenger light truck sales by 2035. Complementing the federal subsidy, California introduced state-level tax credit on EV purchases followed by high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane access and utility incentives for EV owners. The state tax credit stands unique as it incentivizes EVs for a family according to the EV purchase price and its household income to ensure that the credit goes to the real buyers in need. California further introduced the world’s first ZEV mandate for automakers similar to that of China.

At the local level, cities have increasingly adopted more detailed EV strategies and goals to guide future actions. The cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles have aimed for all registered vehicles to be ZEVs by 2030 & 2050 respectively and have adopted stronger EV-ready building codes for facilitating charging infrastructure deployment to this end. As a result of these far-fetching policies, California today accounts for close to half of the EV sales(101,628) made in the US with a 3-fold increase in the EV market share from 2016. Although EV adoption has so far lain on the shoulders of a few state governments, the new US Government is advancing federal support to transition its fleet to ZEVs and establish a nationwide charging network.

India

To meet the global commitment of lowering emission intensity, India has been upping its electrification game with a bunch of progressive policies aiming to achieve 30% EV penetration by 2030. In 2015, the central government announced demand incentives under its flagship Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME) schemes, to prioritize the electrification of public transportation and commercially used vehicles across various segments. Unlike other western nations, where e-cars dominate the market, the EV landscape in India is built on e-2Ws and e-3Ws with an EV market share of 61% and 37%, respectively. Further, multiple initiatives were put forth to accelerate EV adoption including reduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST) on EVs, regulation for allowing the sale of EVs without batteries to encourage battery leasing/swapping, scrappage policy for old fossil-fuel-powered vehicles, etc. While national-level efforts for EV promotion have been in place since 2012, it was only in 2017 that the state governments started devising their state-level EV policies. 20 out of 28 states have announced their EV uptake targets and incentives under EV policies during 2017-2020, whereas 6 out of the 20 states have approved or revised their EV policy in 2021.  Some states (e.g. Gujarat) are even developing EV policy roadmap at the city level. Financial incentives ranging from purchase subsidies, battery buy-back schemes, exemption from vehicle registration, and road tax to boosting charging infrastructure through capital subsidy are some of the enablers deployed at the state level to boost consumer confidence in EVs. The introduction of these policies in conjunction with national schemes has been a gamechanger in growing India’s EV sales share by 17 times from 0.1% in 2015 to 1.7% in 2021.

Figure 2. Registered EV sales trend in India (January-2020- November-2021

Figure 2. Registered EV sales trend in India (January-2020- November-2021.

Government support is further prospering competition in the industry and keeping the stakeholders on their toes with innovative business models like vehicle leasing and battery swapping. Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a public sector undertaking drove the initial adoption of e-cars by partnering with demand aggregators like ride-hailing services and state governments for leasing vehicles procured in bulk from automakers and achieving economies of scale. Further demand in light-duty vehicle segments is currently boosted by the adoption of EV fleets in the last mile connectivity and last-mile delivery sector. Under public transportation, the adoption of e-buses is largely driven by Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Government-run State Road Transport Undertakings (SRTUs) are operating ~1061 e-buses under the Gross Cost Contract model, where the private operator receives payment from SRTUs on a fixed cost per km basis.

For the widespread deployment of charging infrastructure in India, the initial action was taken by EESL by partnering with municipal bodies and electricity distribution companies. With the broader target for setting up one public charging station at every 3 km in metropolitan cities, states like Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Telangana have fixed state-level targets to be achieved with investor-friendly policies, supply chain connectivity, and land availability.

Moreover, to boost an EV manufacturing base and reduce import dependence in India, the central government recently launched the Production-Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) for strengthening different EV component sectors including a planned outlay of INR 18,000 crore for 5 years for manufacturing of Advance Chemistry Cell (ACC) batteries for EVs. Ultimately, it is this continual investment that will support the EV industry with the requisite infrastructure and significantly cause a reduction in the cost of EVs. Although challenges to mainstream EVs on Indian roads still exist including lack of EV models and end-user financing, if these pertinent actions continue to build, the 2030 electrification targets could well be within reach.

Summary

EV adoption has picked up steam in recent years, fueled by a confluence of circumstances and enabling parameters. While many EV promotion activities are used at national and local levels, fiscal support measures and charging infrastructure deployment is among the most prominent ones. Federal and state governments have an important role to play in initiating EV adoption but it is going to take more than government support to realise the electrification targets. Since every component is likely to have a varying degree of stakeholder involvement, innovative and strategic alliances through public-private partnerships remain key to facilitating and optimizing the interplay amongst various actors in the EV ecosystem as seen in Shenzen.

The world’s largest EV markets demonstrate that while a top-down planning approach is of paramount importance to shape and direct the investments at the supply end, a bottom-up planning perspective is equally important to take advantage of local conditions and overcome barriers to adoption. Despite the fact that India is a long way off from reaping the gains of sustainable mobility, it can take heed from these learnings and steer the transition to an electric mobility future.

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About the Authors

Dr. Parveen Kumar

Dr. Parveen Kumar is a senior program manager at WRI India under the Cities program. Currently, he is associated with projects related to the electric vehicle ecosystem. He has previously worked at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, and has received a Ph. D. from JMI, New Delhi. He has more than 14 years of post-PhD experience in science, technology, and policy research. He has published several peer-reviewed papers in reputed journals and articles in the leading magazines.

Anshika Singh

Anshika Singh is currently working as a Program Associate with the Electric Mobility team at World Resources Institute India. She currently holds a Master’s degree in Transport Planning and a Bachelor’s degree in Planning from the School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi. Her areas of interest include climate change, sustainable transportation, green mobility, low-cost transportation.

References

The Importance of Tourism Readiness

By Dan Fenton

Travel and tourism accounts for 10.4 percent of the global GDP and is a cornerstone of the worldwide economy. It includes a wide range of industries from hospitality to visitor attractions. Money generated by tourists helps cities not only pay for infrastructure projects and essential workers, but also for services to improve the local quality of life and preserve cultures.

Thanks to increasing disposable incomes across the globe, improved physical and digital connectivity, reduced fears over the pandemic, and an increasing desire to see the world, future growth expectations of the travel and tourism industry are strong.

For a city to truly thrive and for travel and leisure to develop in a sustainable manner, city planning authorities, developers, investors, legislators, and community groups need to understand how ready the city is for future tourism growth and what challenges and opportunities it may face. It is imperative to create long-term plans that focus on environmental sustainability, regenerative tourism, public safety, small business impact, and local resident quality of life.

Governments need to provide and promote a supportive, physical, regulatory and social environment. This requires official policy that prioritizes the livability of cities; ensures there are proper city services (waste management, etc.); and provides exceptional education, good transportation, and abundant green space.

Another key component in the success of a travel destination is public safety. If the location or country is perceived as unsafe, it will have a negative effect on tourism. The industry must be collaborative with public safety leaders in terms of supporting proactive safety measures, which is a major bellwether of how successful a destination is from a tourism perspective.

Local businesses are another key component in determining the success of the overall visitor experience. In some cases, local restaurants and businesses are what really make up the destination experience – it’s those small businesses as a collective that create the attraction. There is currently a huge recognition of how important it is to think about protecting small businesses going forward. The notion of readiness entails how these vital businesses are supported to encourage long term success.

It’s no longer solely about the number of tourists, but the social and economic impact of the sector on the community. The travel and tourism industry has not traditionally been perceived as environmentally friendly by nature. There are parts of the world that have been permanently impacted by tourism in terms of pollution, waste issues, public safety, and more.

Cities including Amsterdam, Barcelona, and San Francisco have in recent years seen high tourism growth momentum, but at the same time have either experienced tourism pressure or are at risk of facing potential issues. In fact, Barcelona has focused significant resources on managing the amount of tourists descending upon Plaza Catalunya and other highly trafficked tourist destinations resulted in a negative visitor experience and had a very negative impact on the community and environment.

For group travel, especially in busy destinations like Amsterdam, arranging ground transport early can significantly enhance the overall experience and reduce logistical stress, coach hire Amsterdam from 8rental allows groups to stay together, manage luggage easily, and coordinate schedules without relying on fragmented public transport or multiple taxis. Planning these transfers in advance is a small but impactful part of tourism readiness that helps ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip.

Wherein before the mindset was more is better. Today, it’s not about more visitors, it’s about the right mix and level of travelers and planning for that in order to make a successful tourism economy.

City government, tourism organizations and policy makers are increasingly realizing the need to shift from solely focusing on destination marketing to take a more proactive and holistic destination management approach. They also need to plan their growth; define where they want to grow and assign priority to tourism planning at the highest levels.

levels of city readiness

Achieving tourism readiness involves more than just focusing on the travel and tourism sector. Success requires a range of other considerations to support the visitor economy including city infrastructure and the availability of labor and safety measures.

There are four main steps in achieving sustainable tourism growth.

Understanding a City’s DNA

As a first step, it is essential to understand the clear essence of the city’s DNA. What are the assets and unique features that make people want to live, invest, and visit the city? How does the city’s history and culture affect the community’s values, beliefs, and ways of living? How is it viewed? And most importantly, how does it interface with the residents?

Assess the Current State of the City’s Tourism Ecosystem

Stakeholders should have a thorough understanding of the level of tourist concentration, the overall scale of the travel and tourism sector, and the driving factors behind it. These elements go hand-in-hand in helping to identify gaps and growth opportunities.

It is also central in determining which tourist segment the city should pursue to achieve maximum benefit. For cities with a high concentration of tourist activities and a disproportionate focus on leisure travel such as Prague, Barcelona, and Rome, the development of a larger corporate traveler base could be beneficial as this segment generally generates more revenue and travels out of high season and on the weekdays. Further, business travelers spend less time in key tourist attractions, thus relieving some of the pressure from a crowded city center.

Set Sustainable End Goals and Develop a Plan with Policies to Achieve Those Goals

Once a thorough assessment of the city is completed, key stakeholders should collectively decide the end goal and develop a detailed roadmap to achieve it. All elements involving citizen satisfaction should be considered, particularly the views of communities living within the city center.

Cities are on the frontline of major global and societal changes. In embracing the value from tourism, the authorities and destination management organizations must be proactive in incorporating tourism policies which consider the needs of both visitors and the local population.

City councils and tourism authorities should include neighborhood representatives on committees to discuss problems and help devise solutions as well as offer on-line forums for citizens to provide suggestions and feedback.

To ensure that residents are comfortable with the approach, it is important to invite them to take part and contribute. City councils and tourism authorities should include neighborhood representatives on committees to discuss problems and help devise solutions as well as offer on-line forums for citizens to provide suggestions and feedback. By communicating the value and contribution travel and tourism have on the city, citizens are more likely to be supportive.

Sydney, for example, has online and in person citizen and community engagement programs which helps shape the strategic direction of the city. In Paris, the government has a website inviting residents to participate in many communal areas of city life and join discussions on how to develop public space.

It is also important to have an economic development plan – one that addresses the potential impacts of growth and how investing in infrastructure will support that growth. Forward-thinking city authorities must also consider not only the needs of the city’s economy but of its ecology as well by examining the effects of increased carbon emissions, waste, and water supply.

As the world reopens to leisure and business travel, destinations and cities alike could be increasingly threatened by their own popularity in environmental, social, or aesthetic terms. While there is no easy fix to overcrowding, it is important to identify hotspots and consider implementing strategies to mitigate bottlenecks, such as offering incentives and transportation solutions to visit on off-peak days, weeks, or months and promote outer district bookings.

travel

Further straining the overcrowding of destination cities is the increasing popularity of home sharing opportunities such as Airbnb. Many of the listings are in residential areas, which can have a negative effect on noise levels within these communities. While the industry needs to be embraced, it should also be managed just like any other hospitality industry.

Implement, Monitor, Evaluate, and Communicate

Once the strategic direction of the city and its policies for sustainable growth have been determined and implemented, it is essential for the tourism bodies to monitor and evaluate the impact on the sector. This can be done from both a qualitative and quantitative perspective.

The Need for Readiness

The notion of readiness considers all the different parts of a community including the effects it will have on the residents and businesses, environment, and the overall economy. Tourism must be good for visitors and residents alike and its growth must be organized, well planned, and have a positive social impact. In addition to thinking about marketing, the market, and building high profile attractions, there needs to be a greater connection between conservation, sustainability, and tourism among destinations, citizens, and leaders. It’s not always connecting, and it needs to.

Today, there’s an opportunity to ask key questions. Is there a smarter way to reopen? Could visitors actually leave the destination in better condition than when they arrived? These are particularly important questions for drive-to destinations as many are already at capacity and in a reactionary mode.

Determining a city’s future readiness for tourism growth requires a view that accounts not only for its current physical and natural assets, but also from its social capital and the impact of its policies. Whether a city is looking to grow its travel and tourism sector or manage rising visitor numbers, businesses and city leaders must balance all the dynamics that make up a city’s fabric.

Successful destinations will manage their tourism process and be more focused on who they are targeting from a visitor perspective. More for more’s sake is not always better. It’s not about more visitors, it’s about the right mix and level of visitors. The travel and the tourism industry needs to manage demand effectively.

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About the Author

Dan Fenton

Based in San Francisco, Dan Fenton is an Executive Vice President with JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group specializing in tourism and destination strategic planning. With more than 25 years of experience, he provides operations, sales and marketing support for destinations, public assembly venues and hotels. Fenton is a graduate of Cornell University where he received a Bachelor’s degree, with distinction, in hospitality administration and management.

St. Kitts & Nevis CBI Programme: Conclusive Insights & What The Future Holds

As the need for expanding businesses and living without travel restrictions is rising, the demand for citizenship by investment is becoming more of a necessity than a luxury, specifically in the MENA region. To tackle the topic of becoming a Global Citizen in more details, Bluemina will be hosting a webinar on March 28th, 2022, at 16:00 GST.

A powerful second passport offers you an unlimited array of benefits including the freedom of movement across more than 160 countries including all Schengen countries, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Hong Kong and much more. Owning a passport from an economically and politically stable country means being a secured citizen for life, living with peace of mind and much less to worry about when it comes to the future and what it holds.

Mr. Bashar Daoud, managing partner of “Bluemina Citizenship & Residency” said: “Since our operations started in 1997 our main focus was to introduce innovative programs that will cater to all needs, and guarantee successful investments to all our customers. That being said, the Saint Kitts & Nevis program that Bluemina offers you is the oldest and most established citizenship by investment program worldwide.”

A major contributor to the high satisfaction rate that Bluemina has with clients who opt for the Saint Kitts & Nevis citizenship by investment program can be attributed to the strong relationship between the Bluemina management and the Island’s Prime Minister, Dr. the Honorable Timothy Harris and the CEO of the Citizenship by Investment Unit, Mr. Les Khan.

St. Kitts & Nevis CBI Programme

Les Khan, PMP, MSOC, BBA, who currently holds the position of CEO of the Citizenship by Investment Unit for Saint Kitts & Nevis, is originally from Trinidad. Khan has completed his education in Australia and the United States of America and has more than 20 years of experience in the fields of finance and risk management.

To capitalize on this relationship and in order to further enlighten you with the benefits of these programs and the world of citizenship by investment, Bluemina represented by its Managing Partner Mr. Bashar Daoud and in collaboration with Gulf News will be hosting a live webinar on 28 March 2022 at 16:00 GST, via airmeet featuring an exclusive discussion with Mr. Les Khan, to discuss the Saint Kitts & Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program and how it can open a global and unlimited world of opportunities and priceless benefits to all investors.

Moderating this webinar will be Ms. Sally Moussa, an international presenter and speaker who has interviewed many of the world’s most influential change-makers across every field.

The webinar will mainly tackle the importance of becoming a Global Citizen in this day of age, the importance of conducting strong due diligence, the various benefits of obtaining a powerful second passport through the Saint Kitts & Nevis citizenship by investment program of and the eligibility requirements that applicants must meet to acquire this citizenship.

Moreover, the webinar will also be reviewing the Saint Kitts & Nevis program in light of the current political events taking place across the globe and any future implications they may have on second nationality holders or applicants.

If you would like to attend the online event, simply register here.

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Wrongful Death: How Does A Lawsuit Work?

One of the most common lawsuits followed in the civil court of law pertains to wrongful death cases. These unfortunate events can be defined as the death of an individual due to the negligence of ill-actions of another party, be it an organization or person. Every year, there are over 90,000 deaths in the US alone due to medical malpractice, not including other forms of wrongful deaths. So what can be done to help the aggrieved parties receive justice? The legal system has several statutes in place to help with the loss and damages caused due to such an occurrence. Let’s explore the workings and scope of wrongful death lawsuits.

What defines Wrongful Death?

If a person passes away or is killed because of the misconduct or negligence of a second party, the next of kin or surviving members of the family are within their rights to sue for “wrongful death.”

These kinds of cases demand compensation for the loss due to the death of this individual, be it lost wages, companionship, medical, or funeral expenses.

A wrongful death claim can be filed when an individual dies due to the legal fault of another organization, professional, or individual. These parties may include a drunk cab driver that killed a passenger to the bartender or a club that served drinks to the drunk driver.

Wrongful death legislation may differ from state to state, but they dictate who gets to sue and what damages can be filed for by a wrongful death attorney. Originally the lawsuit was created for the children and widows of such deceased parties to receive financial compensation but has been extended to the rest of the family as well.

Who Can Sue For the Wrongful Death of an Individual?

State laws have made provisions for the recovery of compensation by the individual’s surviving spouse, immediate kin, children, or the parents of a deceased fetus. The recipient of these depends on a state’s statute for wrongful death and can vary from the definition of legal heirs under the state law for inheritance cases. A claim for wrongful death is presented by the decedent’s estate’s personal representative.

How is Wrongful Death Proven in the Court of Law?

To  win a lawsuit filed for the wrongful death of a party, the plaintiff has to prove the following in the court of law:

  • The death of a human individual
  • The death was caused by a second party’s negligence, or the objective to cause harm
  • The surviving family members have suffered financially and emotionally due to such a death.
  • A personal representative has been appointed for the decedent’s estate.

Once all the four have been proved to the court, a legal proceeding begins.

Damages in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit

The first category of damage claims in the case of a wrongful death provides for the recovery of damages undergone by the deceased person from the point of such a negligent act that caused their death, until the time of death. These damages can include:

  • Medical costs
  • Compensation for the deceased individual’s mental/physical pain and suffering
  • The deceased’s lost income or wages
  • Funeral and burial costs.

The second category of damage claims covers the losses incurred by the immediate family after the death of the individual. It compensates the next of kin for the financial damages suffered due to the loss of income up till the age of the said deceased person’s retirement.

A few states also provide “loss of consortium,” referring to the loss of companionship that a spouse or immediate family members have been deprived of. This is an important provision especially when a young parent leaves behind underaged children or dependent family members.

What to Consider Before Hiring a Lawyer?

As with every other lawsuit, not all wrongful death cases make it to a full hearing before the jury. Due to litigation expenses and the time consumed, attorneys often make settlement deals to avoid such costly affairs. These legal representatives can negotiate better damage settlements than the defendants can on their own, which is why it is necessary to seek a reputed attorney or firm for help.

Wrapping Up:

If you have lost a loved one due to an accident or injury caused by the misconduct or negligence of another company, individual, or entity, you could be entitled to sue for wrongful death against the responsible parties. While selecting an attorney, make sure to check their track records regarding wrongful death cases and compensations to make the best choice.

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Why Effective Cybersecurity Starts at the Top

`Wherever we may be, it is undeniable that technology has revolutionized our lives on a global scale. Apart from providing faster means of communication, devices like smartphones, tablets, and powerful computers have made our lives easier.

Thanks to tech firms, tedious chores from grocery shopping to banking can now be conveniently effected by a touch of a button or a swipe on a screen. As a result, the pace at which people and companies conduct business online can only be expected to soar.

However, increased digital activity is not without its drawbacks. Where companies exchange data with consumers for a satisfactory transaction, cybercriminals prowl for victims.  

Consumers can be sensitized to be vigilant, but they can only do so much, and it is mostly the companies that are equipped to mitigate cyber threats by enforcing security measures.

As witnessed across the globe, the recent wave of Covid-19 saw many organizations resort to working from home. Unfortunately, this trend may stay for the long run for its effectiveness, which brings about the need to secure the new working environment.

The ever-looming threat of cyberattacks cannot be underestimated, with both established and start-up organizations having fallen victims to cybercrimes. These attacks range from unwarranted access to financial and personal data to the impersonation of CEOs.

Even though cybercriminals are getting savvier on their strategies, many businesses remain nonchalant to the threats and fail to acquire the latest and quality cybersecurity tool. Unfortunately, this often ends with detrimental effects.

Cybercrimes can halt operational and financial aspects of an establishment resulting from theft of resources or intellectual property. It can also lead to payments of fines for exposed data. Worse still, the credibility and reputation of an establishment are affected, which can put off potential investors.

Undeniably, the risks are too big to warrant the board’s attention.

In addition to sanctioning funds for the acquisition of quality cybersecurity tools, the management should be at the forefront in instilling the following security measures.

Raising Awareness

It is hard to combat that which you don’t acknowledge.

Many users are aloof to cyber threats, and as such, they remain susceptible to criminals. Security Information Officers should lead the technology team in raising awareness of the dangers posed by cybercriminals. Brainstorming on the ever-proliferating cyber attacks and how to best counter them should be relayed to management for presentation to the board.

Creating awareness can emanate from simple drills aimed at helping employees in learning on how to protect themselves and the institution. In addition, making this an ongoing project can help employees to remain vigilant when sharing information on sites, using apps, and on how to safeguard their gadgets.

On top of raising awareness, it is important to constantly remind them of the consequences that may arise from laxity to cyberthreats. For example, exposure to corporate information can ruin a company’s reputation, causing loss of trust and revenue.

Employees can also endanger their own sensitive information by failing to secure their devices and their applications. Therefore, it is wise to use real-world cybercrime cases to stress the need for vigilance and the importance of updating cybersecurity tools.

Accountability

It is often assumed that cybersecurity is solely the responsibility of the IT department. Contrary, it is a shared responsibility where the IT department accords the required expertise. The management should encourage behavioral attributes that help to implement cybersecurity measures.

Encouraging the use of strong and complex passwords or even password generators are simple steps that lead to big cybersecurity gains.

IT Heads, and their team should keep the rest of the management team up to date on the latest security protocols and potential threats for immediate communication to the rest of the staff.

Allocation of Resources

Chief Financial Officers play a huge role in allocating resources. Catering for Cybersecurity finances will help in funding training for staff throughout the departments. This should not be underestimated, seeing that hackers mostly target the most sensitive of data with financial information at the core.

Rather than advocating for a low expenditure, CFOs should lead in liaising with the Chief Information Officers on how best to invest in staff training and quality cybersecurity tools.

Application

Lastly, CIOs and the rest of IT management bear the mandate to investigate whether their proposed measures are being implemented. For instance, they can keep tabs on personnel who have or needs to attend cybersecurity training programs.

They can also check how many staff members are keen on updating their devices to the latest software. Though simple, these metrics are key to measuring adherence.

Low engagement numbers might indicate vulnerability, hence the need to reassert proposed measures. Changing settings on vital applications to prompt password change can also encourage implementation. However, if the numbers are satisfactory, the management should commend the job done and highlight the benefits.

Conclusion

Customers feel safe when assured of the safety of the data they provide. The management’s collective responsibility is to communicate to their customers about the measures they are undertaking.

They can also add to their expertise by engaging their customers on how best to bolster their security, making the customer feel valued. This serves not just to boost cybersecurity but their partnership as well.

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3 Ways to Pay for College without Taking Out a Loan

Not too long ago, paying for college used to be something students could manage on their own with a part-time job. 

These days, however, attending a college or university often means taking out loans just to get through one or two semesters. Don’t forget room and board, textbooks and school supplies, school and activity fees, and personal expenses. 

Despite all these rising costs, many students take out loans without fully understanding the gravity of being tied down by student debt. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are three ways students and families can pay for college without taking out a loan:

1. Invest in a Savings Plan

By contributing to an investment account, not only are you making your dollars work for you but you’re also saving money on taxes. For example, the 529 plan is a popular tax-advantaged investment account specifically designed to fund students’ post-secondary education. Best of all, earnings in these plans are not treated as taxable income. 

As with any low-risk investing strategy, the earlier you start contributing, the better. Even just a few extra years can make a big difference in the end result. Thus, opening a 529 plan account when the future college-bound recipient is young is a great way to make paying for their two- or four-year degree more manageable.

2. Apply for Grants and Scholarships

If students aren’t applying for grants and scholarships, they’re leaving free money on the table. The first step to applying for this type of aid is by completing a FAFSA application, although some organizations don’t require it. Scholarships are a particularly great way to fund education, as many are given out on the basis of interests, community and club membership, volunteer work and civic involvement, or other special circumstances. 

Whether you’re a water skier, golf caddy, or merely a student willing to write an essay on safe driving, there are thousands of niche and need-based scholarships out there. Often, students must write essays to earn a scholarship. However, the return on investment for the time and energy it takes to apply is well worth it. 

Furthermore, applying for more than one scholarship and using tools like the U.S. Department of Labor’s Scholarships Search Tool can help make the process simple and improve your chances of receiving free money for school.

3. Earn a Work-Study Job

Work-study programs are federally-funded jobs made available to students who fill out a FAFSA and qualify for work-study aid. Students often have to find their own jobs, but most schools offer work-study positions. While students are only guaranteed minimum wage, work-study is a great opportunity to help pay for college.

Gaining professional experience related to your studies is what sets soon-to-be graduates apart from the masses and gives them an edge in the job market. Work-study programs are a two-for-one deal for students. They not only help pay for their degree but also prepare them to enter the workforce quickly and in their chosen field upon graduation.

Paying for College is More Than Possible

Graduating debt-free is realistic for a majority of college students. Between long-term saving strategies and taking advantage of different forms of financial aid, there are ways to graduate free and clear of loan payments. Of course, choosing an affordable, in-state college will make things easier for students and their families. But no matter how or where a student chooses to obtain their degree, there are ways to significantly decrease, if not erase altogether, the need to rely on debt to get there.

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Top-6 Reputable Russian Dating Websites To Meet Women Online

About a thousand Russian citizens come to the US as foreign fiances yearly. But after Russia invaded Ukraine, Russian women lost an opportunity to travel and migrate, and we decided to find out if sanctions will change the online Russian dating market. So, are there any sites with Russian women that still work?

List of biggest legitimate Russian dating sites

BravoDate

If you are looking for the biggest Russian dating site, consider joining BravoDate. The platform was designed exclusively for Slavic ladies and men who want to meet them, and now it has over 450 thousand monthly visitors worldwide. What else makes it worth using? In short, it has everything a good Russian dating site is supposed to have.

Bravodate

➤ Register at BravoDate now and get 20 Free Credits

Profiles of Russian women registered on the site are validated and pretty detailed (most ladies have at least 10 photos and often a video)—the moderation system works pretty well and female members pass the verification procedure. Men can contact them in live chat (and also send media right in the messenger), send gifts, wink them, add profiles to favorites, etc. The good news is that the prices are not high—new members get free credits and then can buy more for only $2,99 for 20 credits (with a discount for new users).

Pros Cons
Validate profiles of Russian singles No mobile app
Reasonable prices for credits Watching videos is a premium feature
Bonuses and free credits for newly registered members

READ ALSO: Full BravoDate Site Review

JollyRomance

Jolly Romance is one of the real Russian dating sites designed to help people find love. Though you can choose different relationship goals when signing up, most Russian singles registered on the platform are looking for serious relationships. There are some standard features like messaging, emails, search, but if a member, for example, a man meets his ideal Russian beauty and wants to get closer to her and take their relationship to a new level, he can request her contact details or even send a real meeting request through the website.

jolly romance - through website

➤ Register at JollyRomance now and get 20 Free Credits

Note that requesting contact details is free, but they won’t be disclosed to a stranger—a man must have a verified profile and be able to prove that they’ve been interacting a lot before. As for the prices, the cost of credits can be different- if you want to buy 20 credits, you’ll pay $9,99 and if you buy 750 credits, you’ll spend $149,99.

Pros Cons
Great mobile optimization (no app though) No support live chat
Profile verification (is optional for men) No translation service
Meeting and contact requests

AmourFactory

What can be better than a good and safe Russian dating site? Maybe a half-dating site and half-social-networking site? Of course, AmourFactory doesn’t work like Facebook, but it’s one of the rare dating sites that not only have live chat or provide gift delivery services but also have newsfeeds with posts from real Eastern European women. This improves the dating experience, makes it more entertaining, and allows finding more random attractive Russian women.

amour factory - russian women

➤ Register at AmourFactory now and get 20 Free Credits

Of course, good old features like basic and advanced search with a lot of different filters, support, emails, favorites, etc., are available, too. Some of them (registration, search, support, favorites) are free, and some (live chat, watching videos, etc.) are paid. Members can buy credits to use special services, and the cost of one credit starts from $0,20.

Pros Cons
Modern, easy to use online dating site Only premium members can really interact with others
Effective anti-scam policy No mobile app
Some interesting special features like newsfeed

READ ALSO: Legitimate Russian Brides: How To Find a Women For Marriage

UkraineBride4you

What’s the most important thing to consider when choosing a Russian dating site? There are a few of them, and the number and quality of features are definitely in the top-3. UkraineBride4You is one of the best Russian dating sites not only because it has a lot of gorgeous female members from Eastern Europe but also because it offers more tools than most other online dating sites can offer.

ukriane bride - sites can offer

➤ Register at UkraineBride4You now and get 2 FREE chat vouchers

Want to have a live chat? No problem, choose text chat or video chat. Prefer to write, send and read longer letters? You can send different types of so-called Mails. Want to call one of the Russian singles? You can do it right on the site. UkraineBride4You is not cheap, though. Instant messaging as well as other types of interaction (except for greeting emails) are premium features bought for credits, and the cost of 1 credit starts from $2 (1 credit for 20 minutes in live chat).

Pros Cons
One of the best Russian dating sites with a lot of female members No unlimited communication
You can use the popular Russian dating app (Qpid) to access the site Lengthy personal test
A lot of great features

SingleSlavic

What distinguishes unreputable dating sites from an international dating site that is worth joining, using, and paying for? A lot of things, but mostly these are paid registration, fake profiles, and a small number of low-quality tools. SingleSlavic is one of the reputable Russian dating sites everyone can join without paying, just by providing some details (there is a lengthy personality test you can and should take though).

single slavic

➤ Register at SingleSlavic now and get 2 FREE chat vouchers

You also don’t have to pay to make your profile attractive for Russian girls, and the good news is that they also do everything to make their own profiles look appealing. There are a lot of great tools to use, from CamShare to call services and good old live chat. On SingleSlavic, credits are the virtual currency you can buy and spend on any services, from chat to gift delivery (from $3,99 for 2 credits).

Pros Cons
Free registration for everyone No VIP membership with unlimited messaging
Good site to meet thousands of Russian women online Need to have credits to contact women directly
Ad-free browsing

KissRussianBeauty

KissRussianBeauty is one of the legitimate Russian dating sites designed for people looking for love internationally. So, most members on this site are looking for a serious relationship and can use the Smart Matches feature, as well as search to find them. You don’t need to pay in both cases—there is no need to unlock additional search criteria or anything like that—on this dating site, you can use any search and matching tools to meet an ideal Russian woman or ladies from other countries of Eastern Europe, in particular, Ukrainian women.

kissrussian beauty

➤ Register at KissRussianBeauty now and get 2 FREE chat vouchers

Members can use plenty of features from messaging to video chat, international calls, and global gift delivery. Such services are paid ones, though. There is no premium membership—free users can buy credits and spend them the way they want. The cost of services starts from less than 2 dollars per credit, and the company offers extra discounts for special services like live chat.

Pros Cons
Site’s matching algorithm works great Need to buy credits to unlock premium features (the most useful ones)
Advanced search options Here, you’ll hardly find anyone for casual relationships
Browsing profiles, using search and the Smart Matches feature is free

READ ALSO: Top 12 International Dating Sites and Apps to Meet Singles Online

Facts about Russian dating sites & Russian online dating at large

Before we start discussing ways to find the best Russian dating site and avoid Russian dating scams, let’s talk about the online dating market in a bit more detail. Here are some interesting facts and figures that will help understand the trends and the situation in the segment overall.

  • 5% of all Russian single women sign up for a dating site/marriage agency.
  • The biggest dating website/marriage agency will have up to 25,000 Russian women applying for their services annually.
  • In the online dating market, the number of Russian users is expected to amount to 0m by 2025.
  • 90% of Russian women seeing a mail order marriage are employed.
  • 65% of the women who look for a husband through a mail order bride business are between the ages of 21-30.

21-30

The number of Russian women looking for foreign husbands has always been large, and now it’s expected to grow dramatically. Sanctions and the invasion of Ukraine will turn the Russian Federation into a pariah state, and life there definitely won’t be easy.

So, women who were looking for husbands for plenty of different, social, personal and cultural reasons (disappointment in local guys, bad relationship experience, desire to escape problems like domestic violence and alcohol abuse, desire to find a more respectful and caring man, etc.) now also have political reasons to migrate. There motivation will be stronger than ever, after all, it’s not about just McDonalds’ shutting out down its restaurants—the consequences will be hundreds of times more severe. Of course, a lot of ladies, especially those who don’t support the Russian government will look for opportunities to escape.

Russian dating sites scam: signs and online dating safety tips

Some may argue that looking for Russian singles online is not that safe. Well, that’s partially true. Russian women dating scams exist, but it doesn’t mean that real Russian singles don’t. The thing is everyone who’s going to look for a girlfriend in Eastern Europe should know how to avoid scams. Here are some red flags you should always notice:

  • Low-effort profiles. Yes, there are bad and good profiles on all dating apps and all dating sites. But good international platforms don’t just accept new female members without making them provide detailed information/photos/videos and most importantly, verify their identity. A real person who’s motivated to find love will hardly have an empty profile.
  • Fake photos. Google search by image is really helpful for those who want to make sure the person they’ve met online is real. Take a close look at the photos a girl has. Is this one person in all the photos? Save one of them and Google it—if this picture is found on other sites, it’s a scammer.
  • Auto Generated messages. On scam sites, you can receive three similar messages from 3 different girls, and that’s definitely a red flag.
  • Tons of messages per minute. Though ladies from Eastern Europe want to find a boyfriend, they will hardly contact 10 men an hour, especially men who have empty profiles. If you’ve just signed up and created a profile and you already have 15 inbox messages, this is not the site you should use.
  • Paid registration, hidden costs. Yes, it’s hard to find a free site with Russian singles. Owners of international dating sites and dating apps spend a lot on promoting their sites, moderation, developers, etc., but they never have registration fees. If you need to provide your credit card number when signing up, just don’t do it. On top of that, we recommend taking a close look at the price list—on the best dating sites, you see how much you’ll pay for credits and how much all the features cost. Otherwise, the site exists not to help you find your Eastern European love but to make you pay as much as possible.

pay as much as possible

The truth is everyone can find a good online Russian dating site with real women, good features, and reasonable prices. However, there’s no denying that scam websites and dating apps exist, too. Just spend some time checking the platform to protect yourself—it’s absolutely worth it.

Final thoughts—Does looking for Russian women online still make sense?

Yes, online dating in Russia still exists—we’ve already listed the best platforms that still operate and seem to have even more members than ever before. Still,  it gets harder for women to leave the country, and, of course, visiting a Russian girlfriend somewhere in Moscow seems like a really bad idea. Still, Russians can go to some countries like Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Turkey, so meeting them somewhere on neutral ground is still possible. It’s hard to make predictions, but now the market is working, and the chances are that won’t change, at least in the near future.

FAQ

Are Russian dating sites real?

Yes, but there are dating sites that work and there are sites that don’t. Every user should choose the platform carefully—you can meet an ideal match in Russia or any other country only if you join a safe and reputable platform.

What is the best Russian dating site for the US?

If you are looking for the best Russian dating site in USA, you can choose one of the top platforms (we listed them all in this guide). The thing is every website has its pros and cons, and you need to choose the safe and reputable platform that will work the best for you.

How much does it cost to use a Russian dating site?

It depends. Some sites sell premium membership plans, other Russian dating sites sell credits (and in most cases, the sites with credits offer better services). In the second case, a lot will depend on your dating style (number of women you contact, features that you use most frequently), but most men spend $100 per month on average.

READ ALSO: Price Of Dating Russian Women—How Much Do Russian Brides Cost?

Why are there so many women on Russian dating sites?

A lot of Eastern European women want to date and marry foreign men for plenty of reasons like 1) competition between ladies (women outnumber men) 2) desire to find a decent, loving, and caring husband (it’s considered that western guys are better mannered, more romantic, etc.) 3) bad previous relationship experience (a lot of divorces/breakups on the grounds of domestic violence, alcohol abuse, etc.) Now a lot of Russian women also want to escape Russia after their country invaded Ukraine.

Are Russian women on dating sites scammers?

It depends on the site that you choose. If you don’t check the website, if there are a lot of fake, low-effort profiles, and if you receive tons of automatically generated messages a minute, you’ll find only an international romance scam. However, if you choose one of the best Russian dating platforms, you can meet real Russian singles and start an authentic relationship with one of them.

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