Energy economics

Finally I chose the job doing energy economics research. My first task maybe how new energy industries affect the economy and environment, especially on the indicators such as GDP and CO2.

I must admit I am not familiar with energy economics...I took the courses of environmental economics before, but not resource economics. So I have to learn by doing. The first step is understand this field as soon as I can. There are some lectures online(eg. MIT OCW). And reviewing econometrics is also important.

This is an interesting and important issue. I will try my best. p(\_/)q

THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/23/opinion/23friedman.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Friedman, my family has his book, the World is Flat. And I once watched his 'Addicted to Oil' on TV. His reporting style is very interesting.
Now he focused on green issue. I just watched his speech video on Youtube.
He is on leave for his new book now, about green and energy policy.

Wish I can have such good writing talent...

Environmental Trust

I once introduce environemtal trust to the related authoroties. I read a series of reports by one environment protection organization about environmental trust, and then started to pay attention to it. I also read the book, Capitalism 3.0.
I did some research, and went to some seminars to understand if it is practical in Taiwan. But I found Taiwan is not 'capitalism' enough. Trust, is not very mature here. No mention about environmental trust, the ideas about energy-saving, environment protection, preservation, ecology...are still "not my business" for many people. If the oil price didn't go such high, people will still drive big car. (RV vehicles were so popular in the recent years.)
But environmental trust is really a beautiful idea... It have developed for a long time in British. The media said the European care about their environment much more...I don't know it's true or not. But I thought some innovation of business model in Europe is really interesting.

The chance is really coming to me?

I dreamed to be an environmental economist. However, I just couldn't find such position in Taiwan. Just as I was giving up and started to look for a job in financial sector, there are two opportunities, one is about energy economics, and the other is carbon exchange. I will have second round interview in February.
Carbon exchange sounds cool, the newest business in the world. Energy economics, the chance to work for national energy policy. I have to make the choice...(of course, I should get the job first.)

There was an article on newspaper mentioned the carbon exchange policy should be more careful. And Worldwatch published the report, http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5597, which made me rethink carbon exchange market... I thought it is very beautiful... well, it's still a trading target, like stock. In principle, after IPO, how the stock market goes do not affect how much the company get. After the carbon reduction project being finished, how carbon right be traded do not help the world. But if the liquidity of carbon right is robust, the carbon reduction projects will be much more preferred.

By the way, I have to do more research....especially energy economics, I am not familiar with it.

Language Exchange(Chinese/English)

I want to strengthen my English skill, especially in speaking and listening.
So I am looking for someone interested in learning Mandarin...
Then we can practice Chinese/English together, by skype or MSN.

The next government will be better?

It's the chart of TSEC weighted index (Taiwan) today.

It's typical "next must be better", for everyone thinks next President won't be worse than President Chen. It's the worst situation now...the Taiwan economy will get better.

Now I start to think why our envrionment and economic lost simultaneously. (Sometimes they go in constrast way, but it went into the same bad direction during Chen's tenure.)

And how we survive in this global economy.

legislative election today

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/01/12/asia/taiwan.php

This election, KMT, the opposite party won almost 3/4 seats.

In the very important area, Taipei city, Taipei county, and Taoyuan county, they won 16 seats of 18. I said the those area are so important because it's the center of business and politics. And there are so many residents!

I know most foreign companies wish Mr. Ma win the president election, for KMT's economic is more attractive. I listened to his speach carefully this evening, he mentioned that the other parties' policies are also important and KMT should respect them. If he really won the president in March, I wish he remembered his promise today.

Ma is a bit special politician. One famous author, Lung Ying-Tai, said Ma flew to German to invite her join his team while he was Mayor of Taipei city. Lung warned him that she would insist her own principle. Ma answered her, "That's why I am here."

Hmmm... politic is so difficult... but it influents our economic, environmental problems, and so many aspects of life. Wish Taiwan can recover from recession and depression soon.