Sustainable products have an ironic dilemma; they’re more expensive because of their benefits, but their prices are turning away people who want to buy them for those benefits. Partitioned pricing could help! It divides the price of a fair-trade product into the cost of producing it and the cost of the benefits that come with it. Think of a banana’s price, and then the extra you pay to ensure the farmers who grew it get fairly compensated. Partitioned pricing separates these costs, so people see the benefits they’re paying for. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
