Alex Clouser- Identifying Opportunities in Economic and Regulatory Trends Assignment 6

Economic Trends

1. Interest rates have leveled off. I found this trend on https://www.thebalance.com/top-usa-future-economic-trends-3305666 . I believe that this trend could lead to an opportunity because it means that people are saving more money from their deposits, which means they are more likely to spend money on normal goods as their income is slightly higher. I think the prototypical customer of this opportunity would be the average consumer. I believe that the opportunity is relatively hard to exploit because there is no way that you can 100 percent accurately guarantee that consumers will put their new savings into normal goods, but there is an opportunity here nonetheless. I believe that I saw this opportunity because of my background in macro and micro economics and in the Academy of Finance at my high school. 

2. The economy is in an expansion phase of the economic cycle. I found this trend through various news outlets and https://www.thebalance.com/top-usa-future-economic-trends-3305666 . I believe that this trend could lead to an opportunity because it means that now is the time to sell things such as houses and other long term investments, as they are going to be worth much less once the economy goes into the recessive phase of the economic cycle. I think the prototypical customer of this opportunity would be homeowners and other owners of long term assets similar to houses. I believe that this opportunity is relatively easy to exploit because there are people looking for houses all the time, they don't just stop needing a house because the economy is doing well. I believe that I saw this opportunity again because of my background in economics and finance. 

Regulatory Changes
1. The e-cigarette flavor ban that is being proposed. I found this trend through the news. I believe that this ban could lead to an opportunity for many people to enter the market of e-cigarettes, which is a very fast growing industry, by creating their own flavors that are not regulated by the policies currently in place or being ready to be put into place. I believe that this ban could have the opposite effect that it is meant to have and could in fact increase the variety of flavors that are available to the very teens and young adults that this ban is meant to protect. I think the prototypical customer of this opportunity would be the vaping community, which is primarily composed of teens and young adults. I believe that this opportunity is relatively easy to exploit because it is very easy to come up with new flavors that are not banned and market them for retail in small smoke shops in many cities. I believe that I saw this opportunity because I have seen the market for e-cigarettes expand greatly since I have been in college and I understand the consumer's decision making process behind this industry as I have been exposed to it through friends.

2. New tariffs and trade policies implemented this year. I found this trend through the news as well. I believe that these policies could lead to an opportunity because it will open up more opportunity for American grown businesses to start up and thrive. I believe that the high tariffs on certain foreign products promote growth for American domestic companies to produce and sell more because of the cheaper cost to the consumer. I think the prototypical customer is the average consumer because they will buy more domestic products instead of more expensive foreign products. I believe that this market is relatively easy to get into because it deals with such a wide variety of products. I believe I saw this opportunity because of my background in economics and finance as well.