Portal:Capitalism/Selected article/1
Towards the late 1970s,
Hong Kong became established as a major entrepôt between the world and China. The city has developed into a major global trade hub and financial centre, and is regarded as a world city and one of the eight Alpha+ cities. It ranked fifth on the 2014 Global Cities Index after
New York City,
London,
Tokyo and
Paris. The city has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, and the most severe income inequality among the advanced economies. It has a high
Human Development Index and is ranked highly in the
Global Competitiveness Report. Hong Kong is the third most important financial centre after New York and London. The service economy, characterised by low taxation and free trade, has been regarded as one of the world's most laissez-faire economic policies, and the currency, the Hong Kong dollar, is the 13th most traded currency in the world. (
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Portal:Capitalism/Selected article/2
The
slate industry in Wales began during the
Roman period when
slate was used to roof the fort at
Segontium, modern
Caernarfon. The slate industry grew slowly until the early 18th century, from when it expanded rapidly and reached its peak output in the late 19th century, at which time the most important slate producing areas were in north-west Wales. These included the
Penrhyn Quarry near
Bethesda, the
Dinorwig Quarry near
Llanberis, the
Nantlle Valley quarries and
Blaenau Ffestiniog, where the slate was
mined rather than
quarried. Penrhyn and Dinorwig were the two largest slate quarries in the world, and the Oakeley mine at Blaenau Ffestiniog was the largest slate mine in the world. The
Great Depression and the
Second World War led to the closure of many smaller quarries, and competition from other roofing materials, particularly tiles, resulted in the closure of most of the larger quarries in the 1960s and 1970s. Slate production continues on a much reduced scale. (
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Portal:Capitalism/Selected article/3
Norwich Market (also known as
Norwich Provision Market) is an
outdoor market consisting of around 200
stalls in central
Norwich, England. Founded in the latter part of the 11th century to supply
Norman merchants and settlers moving to the area following the
Norman conquest of England, it replaced an earlier market a short distance away. It has been in operation on the present site for over 900 years.
By the 14th century, Norwich was one of the largest and most prosperous cities in England, and Norwich Market was a major trading hub. Control of, and income from, the market was ceded by the monarchy to the city of Norwich in 1341, from which time it provided a significant source of income for the local council. Freed from royal control, the market was reorganised to benefit the city as much as possible. Norwich and the surrounding region were devastated by plague and famine in the latter half of the 14th century, with the population falling by over 50%. Following the plague years, Norwich came under the control of local merchants and the economy was rebuilt. In the early 15th century, a Guildhall was built next to the market to serve as a centre for local government and law enforcement. The largest surviving mediaeval civic building in Britain outside London, it remained the seat of local government until 1938 and in use as a law court until 1985. (Full article...)
