Assignment 6A

Identifying Opportunities in Economic and Regulatory Trends

• Economic Trend: A massive increase in the working population
• https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/09/global-competitiveness-report-2017-trends/
• I believe there is an opportunity because over the last few decades, over four billion people have entered the workforce. With this increase in workers, flexibility and job security need to become balanced.
• The prototypical customer is most likely a recent college graduate trying to find a job where their skills, training, and education can be utilized.
• I think that this opportunity may be hard to exploit because our world is vastly overpopulated and sometimes this leads to good jobs being harder to find. Overpopulation has been affecting nations around the world for years and there isn't a strong sign that this problem will be solved in the near future.
• I spotted this opportunity because I am currently a sophomore in college and I am fearful of finding a job after graduation. There are many jobs that have either flexibility or job security but rarely both. The thought of entering a job market that is overpopulated can be extremely frightening.

• Economic Trend: U.S income inequality continues to grow
• https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/19/income-inequality-continues-to-grow-in-the-united-states.html
• I believe there is an opportunity because according to the Economic Policy Institute, in 2015, the top 1% of families in the U.S. made more than twenty five times what families in the bottom 99% did. One of the biggest reasons for this opportunity is the stagnation of wage growth.
• The prototypical customer is any American in the bottom 99%, they would benefit from an increase in income equality.
• If individuals in certain professions were paid fairly, then this problem would be easily solved. I think for this reason that this opportunity has the potential to be easy to exploit.  For income inequality to decrease, our nation needs to start appreciating the work that is being done in a variety of professions.
• I think I found this opportunity because my mother is a high school teacher with a Master's degree. However, she is underpaid for her work and her education level. Teachers are underpaid and other professions that require less schooling and skills are given higher pay. It is simply unfair, I think my passion for achieving income equality led to me identifying this opportunity for growth and change.

• Regulatory Trend: Public businesses having increased accommodations for handicapped individuals
• https://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/Accommodations.htm
• I believe there is an opportunity because under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act, modifications can be made to accommodate those with disabilities. I believe these accommodations should be applied to businesses as well. 
• The prototypical customer is any individual with a physical disability. 
• I think that this trend would be relatively easy to exploit because accommodations such as wheelchair lifts and ramps are already in place at the jobs and schools of those who are disabled. 
• I recognized this opportunity because my boyfriend's sister is paralyzed from the waist down and in a wheelchair. She has a full-time job and is a valuable part of society. The accommodations made for her have helped facilitate her success. However, sometimes when we try to go to a restaurant, there is no wheelchair access. If businesses had modifications for those with disabilities, then they might have even more business. 
• Regulatory Trend: Establishing legislation to prevent minors from obtaining e-cigarettes
• https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/12/health/fda-e-cigarette-juul-crackdown-bn/index.html
• There is an opportunity with this issue as illustrated in an article published by CNN. The head of the FDA is taking aim at e-cigarette companies. Specifically, e-cigarette companies are being asked to prove ,within the next two months, how they will keep their products from reaching minors. E-cigarette producers and sellers can either come up with a plan to stop minors from using their product or have their product pulled from the shelves.
•  The prototypical customer is producers and sellers of e-cigarettes.
•  I think that this trend will be easy to exploit because companies are already being forced to not sell their products to minors. If the sale of e-cigarettes to minors continues, then subsequent legislation to stop the sale would follow. 
• I recognized this opportunity because I think that vaping and e-cigarettes are annoying. The reason for the epidemic is that teenagers think that they are cool when they use these products. I think that it is vital that these products cease being sold to minors and legislation would be a step towards this goal.