“Sweden exports health care (and it comes assembled)” and other links…
Naomi Powell: “Under a new umbrella organization, dubbed ‘SymbioCare,’ the government aims to use the Swedish model to push domestic firms to the forefront of the global healthcare market. Government ministers have already presented Sweden’s approach to eldercare and infectious diseases in places like India, China and Denmark, accompanied by Swedish firms providing services in the field.”
“Flier beats TSA video recording charge in court”
Rob Beschizza: “Phil Mocek knows he isn’t required to show ID to fly, and that it’s perfectly legal to record video in publicly accessible areas of an airport. A jury agreed with him earlier this week, acquitting him of trumped-up charges brought against him by TSA and police officers who demanded obedience. He didn’t need to call any witnesses or testify himself; he was acquitted based on the evidence entered against him.”
“What You Need to Know About Socially Responsible Mutual Funds”
Reshma Kapadia: “Amid all the headlines about money fleeing stock funds, one category of funds has been doing just fine. The group known as socially responsible mutual funds pulled in more than $200 million in 2010, sending assets past $45 billion, as tough times led more people to search for ways to make their investments match their values. But behind the growth are a few surprises that are giving some investors pause: portfolios sprinkled with companies that don’t fit their idea of socially responsible investing (or SRI), fund managers who seem more like bystanders than activist investors, and a sense that some funds just pay lip service to their ideals.”
“A Biodiesel Prius? VW To Release 69.9 MPG Diesel Hybrid (We Thought)”
Clayton B. Cornell: “Toyota may lose its high-mileage stranglehold on the U.S. auto industry, thanks to Volkswagen’s new Golf hybrid-electric diesel. At 69.9 MPG, the new model is a serious contender for high-mileage biodiesel usage with a ridiculously low-emissions profile, especially since it will meet the strictest emissions standards in the world: Europe’s Euro V and America’s Tier II Bin 5.”
“Online Airfare Battle Heats Up as Carriers Remove Listings”
Michelle Higgins: “And for those who care most about the quality of the flight experience, there are a couple of notable mentions. Rather than a long list of fares, Hipmunk.com sorts fares according to an ‘agony’ index that factors in price, length of flight and number of connections. In a similar vein, InsideTrip.com, evaluates flights by 11 criteria, including legroom, aircraft age and on-time performance.”
Book Review: “The Price of Everything”
Megan Buskey: “Back in the 18th century, Adam Smith propounded a very different idea: products had an unshakable value equal to the cost of the labor put into them. Much of Porter’s book can be seen as a vehicle for the author to explain to Smith just how wrong he was. Porter marshals an impressive array of research to show all the ways consumers can be shortsighted, self-indulgent, oblivious and inconsistent — not to mention hugely vulnerable to profit-eyed marketers.”