A well-documented effect of the pandemic has been an ongoing semiconductor shortage across a range of industries.  As chip fabrication companies race to meet demand, the price of chips has steadily risen. Now the largest chip manufacturer in the world has announced plans to raise prices to help pay for a massive investment in new chip research and manufacturing capacity.  Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) controls more than half [...]

Are supply chains a challenge to manage?  You bet, whether in normal times or not.  Even household staples like toilet paper can be a challenge on the supply side. Toilet paper (tp) sales have increased over the last month to pandemic-level highs.  The increase came after preceding quarters, which saw paper product sales drop to below pre-pandemic levels.  How do paper product supply chains handle such wild swings in [...]

How did Social Security fare during the pandemic recession?  A severe economic slowdown, coupled with lowered worker productivity, elevated mortality rates, decreased immigration and lowered birth rates, did affect payroll tax revenue.  The payroll tax is the primary source of income to the Social Security system.  A faster than predicted economic recovery however, with a record number of new businesses, helped bolster the system more than expected. What does [...]

Does anyone remember Gateway Computer from the 1980’s and 90’s?  Gateway was a disruptive retailer that originally sold computers remotely by mail order on their way to becoming the largest direct seller of PCs in the country.  As they grew quickly, competitive pressures brought them to the point of first opening stores and then selling through retail channels.  Why would they do that?  As it turns out, there are [...]