Econ Recap

Last night was our last economics class. Actually, this was a bittersweet evening for me. Sweet because it will be nice to have some time flexibility on Wednesdays. Bitter because this class taught me a great deal about life, making decisions, and interconnectedness. Last night, each group shared it research project. The first group studied Martin's grocery store. I was really blown away by the passion and genuine interest these folks demonstrated with their project. I was also struck by their commitment and loyalty to Martin's supermarket. Each member of the group seemed to sincerely believe in Martin's supermarket and their values and success. This stood in stark contrast to the utter disdain for Walmart and Meijer that seeped through during comparisons between the three stores. What does this say about local companies and family businesses? What does this say about chain stores?

Our group studied Memorial Hospital and Healthcare System and Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center. One member shared detailed personal experiences from both systems. It was amazing to hear her describe the importance of relationships and actually feeling care. This sense of family overcame other issues such as difficulties parking and long wait times. What does this say about how we make decisions? What does this say about the importance of building genuine relationships? I was blown away by the multiplier effect as revenues from the healthcare systems entered into second and third rounds of spending. This demonstrates in a quantifiable manner that something relatively small can explode into a huge impact. What does this say about each one of us?