Efficiency

Who Needs a Greek Government?

Peter Alexander Meyers | Posted 05.20.2012

Read More: Efficiency, Polanyi, Papandreou, Syriza, Elections 2012, Referendum, Merkel, Greek Debt Crisis, Capitalism, Euro, Pasok, Greece, New Democracy, Alexis Tsipras, Legitimacy, Samaras, Tsipras, World News
Peter Alexander Meyers

Greeks must decide to stay or go. Perhaps that is why it failed to come before the people. Perhaps that is why, when on May 6 the election was played out in a way that minimized the literal and more important question -- "Do you want to adopt the new agreement?" -- it failed again.

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Crossing Meaningless Boundaries: Not All Rules Are Created Equal

Edward Muzio | Posted 05.11.2012

Read More: Airports, Leadership, Crowd Control, Workplace, Children, Management, Discipline, Following Rules, Efficiency, Rules, Innovation, Workplace Efficiency, Emotional Intelligence, Making Rules, Healthy Living News
Edward Muzio

Here's my problem, and it's one for both leaders in the workplace and parents in the airport: We need rules. And yet, we don't want to teach people to follow every rule and obey every rule, regulation, and boundary condition regardless of who set it out or how appropriate it is.

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Why People Fail and How to Stop It

Lisa Earle McLeod | Posted 05.28.2012

Read More: Success, Efficiency, Failure, Siimon Reynolds, Success and Motivation, Gps-Soul, Healthy Living News
Lisa Earle McLeod

You can't succeed without failing. So don't waste mental energy being ashamed of your failures -- learn from them.

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In Praise of Inefficiency

Carl Safina | Posted 04.22.2012

Read More: Farming, Efficiency, Natural Resources, Downsizing, Economics, Inefficiency, Economy, Agriculture, Law of Thermodynamics, Democracy, Music, Fish Hooks, Junk Food, Facebook, Culture, Art, Unemployment, Jobless Rate, Long-Lining, Nature, Fish, Robber Barons, Logging, Dance, Gardening, Fishing, Boats, Fisheries, Green News
Carl Safina

Some people get rich by creating good things, and they support many people. But some people -- they used to be called robber barons -- succeed at others' expense. So just as wealth isn't necessarily bad, "efficiency" isn't necessarily good.

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Reflections on Twenty Years of Policy Innovation

Robert Stavins | Posted 04.08.2012

Read More: Market-Based Environmental Policies, Efficiency, Environmental Policy, Economic Policy, Distributional Analysis, Environmental Economics, Cost-Effectiveness, Politics, Climate Change Policy, Office of Management and Budget, Market Failure, Regulation, Positive Political Economy and Tagged Acid Rain, Obama Administration, SO2 Allowance Trading, Global Climate Policy, Externalities, Waxman-Markey Legislation, U.S. Senate, Energy Policy, Energy Economics, Cap-and-Trade, Environmental Politics, U.S. House of Representatives, Green News
Robert Stavins

In 2009, the U.S. Congress considered but ultimately failed to enact legislation aimed at limiting U.S. greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions. The bill unde...

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Economics of the Environment

Robert Stavins | Posted 03.31.2012

Read More: Market-Based Environmental Policies, Common Property Resources, Environmental Policy, Economic Policy, Forest Policy, Free Rider Problem, Distributional Analysis, Environmental Economics, Cost-Effectiveness, Fisheries Policy, Climate Change Policy, Office of Management and Budget, Regulation, Obama Administration, Information Problems, Global Climate Policy, China, Distributional Equity, California, Linkage of Cap-and-Trade Systems, Environmental Politics, Cap-and-Trade, Kyoto Protocol, Natural Resource Economics, Revenue-Neutral Taxes, Korea, Import Allowance Requirement, Water Policy and Tagged Australia, Efficiency, Natural Resource Policy, Politics, Positive Political Economy, Benefit-Cost Analysis, Mexico, Market Failure, Economic Stimulus Policy, European Union, Corporate Social Responsibility, Brazil, Externalities, Japan, Sulfur Dioxide, Energy Policy, Energy Economics, Public Goods, India, Economic Valuation, Green News
Robert Stavins

The Sixth Edition of Economics of the Environment: Selected Readings has just been published by W. W. Norton & Company of New York and London. Throug...

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Help Me Understand ...

John Joss | Posted 03.24.2012

Read More: Cell Phones, Tmi, Efficiency, Twitter, Email, Search Engines, Editing, Texting, Business Writing, Digital Systems, Ring Lardner, Analytics, Database, Jr., Communications, Pcs, Productivity, Media News
John Joss

We live in an era of over-communication surpassing the grotesque, bordering on the obscene. We are now the helpless victims of TMI, or Too Much Information.

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Five Ideas For Building Better, More Efficient Homes

Susanna Murley | Posted 03.21.2012

Read More: American Society of Landscape Architects, Efficiency, Video, Greensulate, Energy Efficiency, Ecovative, Architecture, Clarkson University, Solar Hot Water, Solar Decathlon, Green News
Susanna Murley

It's winter and you're probably realizing how awful your insulation is --I'm looking at you, Seattle -- and also starting to rethink that last addition to the house where you used single-pane windows that now render the room useless.

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How to Enjoy Your Life Even When You Can't Slow Down

Lisa Earle McLeod | Posted 01.28.2012

Read More: Purpose, The Inner Life, Gratitude, Happiness, Efficiency, Prioritizing, Fast-Paced Life, Enjoying a Fast-Paced Life, Healthy Living News
Lisa Earle McLeod

The secret of lifetime happiness isn't doing less. It's learning how to enjoy all the responsibilities that make your life worth living.

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Time for a New Gauge

Harris Silver | Posted 01.18.2012

Read More: Efficiency, Automobiles, Mpg, Sci-Arc, Calories, Fuel Efficiency, Energy Diet, Dashboard, Oil, Government Motors, Gm, Green, Sustainability, Harris Silver, Policy, Environment General Motors, Dot, Transportation, Green News
Harris Silver

The way you drive affects your efficiency performance. With an efficiency gauge you experience this in real time. By watching the gauge, you learn how to drive more efficiently.

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The Promise and Problems of Pricing Carbon

Robert Stavins | Posted 01.01.2012

Read More: Clean Energy Standards, Environmental Economics, Obama Administration, International Carbon Tax, Global Climate Policy, Environmental Politics, Cap-and-Trade, California Air Resources Board, Efficiency, Emission Reduction Credits, Japan, Energy Economics, Tarnishing of Cap-and-Trade, Market-Based Environmental Policies, Environmental Policy, Climate Change Policy, Clean Development Mechanism, Offsets, Kyoto Protocol, Leaded Gasoline, Carbon Taxes, North American Climate Initiative, Fossil Fuel Subsidies, Energy Policy, Clean Development, Harmonized Carbon Taxes, Green News
Robert Stavins

In the U.S., political polarization has decimated what had long been the key political constituency in the Congress for environmental action, namely, the middle, including both moderate Republicans and moderate Democrats.

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Why Americans Need To Stop 'Micro-Tasking'

Mark Morford | Posted 12.20.2011

Read More: Microtasking, Multitasking, To-Do Lists, Work, Work Ethic, Productivity, Death, Efficiency, Healthy Living Mind, Emotional Intelligence, Rumi, Time Management, Unplug and Recharge, Healthy Living News
Mark Morford

In other words, you have your gift, your offering, your divine instructions. Don't screw it up.

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Speaking Up Takes Confidence, Candor and Courage

Ron Ashkenas | Posted 11.16.2011

Read More: Communication, Business Tips, Efficiency, Communication Skills, Business Communication, Business Management, Management, Business News
Ron Ashkenas

Whether you are a subordinate or a manager, the key is to take some sort of action to increase the candor and flow of dialogue in your organization.

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Industry Trends & Talent Development Needs in Health Care

Jeanne Beliveau-Dunn | Posted 11.13.2011

Read More: Frances Dare, Cisco, Healthcare Industry, Efficiency, Rapid Transformation, Talent Development, Jeanne Beliveau-Dunn, Health Services, Professionals, Industry Trends, Global Healthcare Practice, Medical Innovation, Healthcare, Quality, Education News
Jeanne Beliveau-Dunn

The health care industry is currently faced with many challenges. Pressures to reduce the cost of health services, concerns regarding health care effi...

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Why Is It So Difficult to Agree on Tax Reform?

Marcelo Giugale | Posted 09.26.2011

Read More: Taxes, Efficiency, Poverty, Development, Equity, Tax Reform, Internal Revenue Service, Progressives, World News
Marcelo Giugale

Can't we just agree on a system that is simple, fair and sufficient? Well, it's complicated. When you design a tax system, you are trying to hit six -- sometimes contradictory -- objectives at the same time.

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Good Government Through the Looking Glass

Toni Preckwinkle | Posted 09.18.2011

Read More: Civic Consulting Alliance, Efficiency, Set Targets Achieve Results, Government Transparency, Budget Cuts, Cook County Board, Chicago News
Toni Preckwinkle



I realize that simple band-aid solutions won't fix broad, systemic problems. A key step towards reform in any government requires taking an honest and thorough look at the current budgets and programs.

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Balanced Life -- If I Can't Accomplish Anything Else Today, I Can Do These 10 Things.

Gretchen Rubin | Posted 09.05.2011

Read More: Tips, Habits, Efficiency, Lists, Practice, Time, Resolutions, Happiness, Healthy Living News
Gretchen Rubin

Every Wednesday is Tip Day. This Wednesday: Ten things I can do every day -- even when I can't do anything else. We've all had days where it seems a...

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Systematize One Process at a Time

Peri Pakroo | Posted 08.20.2011

Read More: Procedures, Efficiency, Processes, Freedom, Operations, Systems, Work-Life Balance, Business, Business News
Peri Pakroo

It can seem like such an insurmountable burden to develop business systems, operational policies and procedures -- including finalizing them in writin...

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Balanced Life -- Are You Always Late? 7 Tips To Arrive On Time.

Gretchen Rubin | Posted 11.17.2011

Read More: Tips, Efficiency, Time, Lateness, Work, Tardiness, Healthy Living News
Gretchen Rubin

Every Wednesday is Tip Day. This Wednesday: Seven tips if you're chronically late. Feeling as though you're always running twenty minutes behind ...

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Multitasking is Out, Single Tasking is In

Dr. Jim Taylor | Posted 06.08.2011

Read More: Efficiency, Multitasking, Business, Technology, Workplace Productivity, Workplace, Productivity, Technology News
Dr. Jim Taylor

Delegating is win-win. You are freed to focus on really important work, thus elevating your productivity and efficiency. You are less stressed and more creative. Your team wins even more.

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9 Easy Ways To Save Time

Susan Orlins | Posted 11.17.2011

Read More: Easy Entertaining, Time-Saving Tips, Travel Tips, Saving Time, Efficiency, Self Help, Efficiency Tips, Time Management, Healthy Living News
Susan Orlins

Since I cannot slow down time, it gives me comfort to collect time-saving tips. Here are some ideas, including some from the most efficient people I know.

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Take My Wallet

Tim Devane | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Startups, Efficiency, Venmo, Technology, Technology News
Tim Devane

If technology is a vehicle for anything, it must at least consider simplicity as end goal.

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5 Smartphone Rules to Live By

Dr. Jim Taylor | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Smartphones, Connectivity, Technology, Iphone, Efficiency, Blackberry, Android, Technology-Addiction, Email, Technology News
Dr. Jim Taylor

The smartphone has become a ubiquitous status symbol of and tool for businesspeople doing business. In offices, on the streets and in airports, what s...

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14 Tips For Holding A Productive Meeting

Gretchen Rubin | Posted 11.17.2011

Read More: Efficiency, Psychology, Meetings, Work, Productivity, Happiness, Business, Healthy Living News
Gretchen Rubin

Nothing drains happiness faster than a long, unproductive meeting. On the other hand, a productive meeting can be tremendously valuable, a big time-saver, and even exhilarating. Here are some strategies I try to deploy.

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Urban Water Management in San Francisco: Conservation by Recession, Efficiency and Innovation

Francesca Vietor | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Efficiency, Education, Urban Water Management, Climate Change, River Diversion, Innovation, Diminishing Snowpack, Water Conservation, Water Scarcity, Future Generations, Water Reuse, Global Warming, Drought, Economic Recession, Conservation, Green News
Francesca Vietor

Water, water, everywhere. Reservoirs are overflowing, utilities are beaming and skiers are ecstatic. The City and County of San Francisco is experienc...

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