Small Cities and Net Worth, Misconceptions, and Hanging on to Gas Guzzlers? @ The RoundUp

The customary weekly roundup

I hope you have found my new initiative helpful and interesting. The following are some of the more interesting reads from top business papers:

• Shipping Costs Start to Crimp Globalization @ NY Times – Gas and oil price levels are significantly reducing the attractiveness of imports in favor of local goods. Sounds much more natural, doesn’t it?
  
  
• Ditch the Gas Guzzler? Well, Maybe Not Yet @ NY Times – Interesting points being made. Still, I say ditch it.
  
  
• China’s dash for freedom @ The Economist – The Olympic Games and China discussed. An interesting and more controversial opinion expressed regarding the influence of the Olympic Games on China’s rise.

On to carnivals:

The Money Hacks Carnival #23 was hosted by Can I get Rich on a Salary. My favorite posts from this edition include:

• Money In The Bank - How Much Of It Is insured? @ Your Finish Rich Plan – Very relevant these days.
  
  Small Cities Better at Growing Net Worth @ Free Money Finance – A very interesting and sometimes counter-intuitive point.

The Carnival of Personal Finance #163 was hosted by You Need a Budget. Here are my carnival picks:

• Common Misconceptions about Government Statistics @ Amateur Asset Allocator – A very important post.
  
• Dealin’ with the devil @ Funny about Money – Great writing. A recommended read.

The Festival of Frugality #136 - Summer School Edition was hosted by Student Scrooge. I’ve found these the most interesting:

• Get 100+ MPG with scooters @ Gather Little By Little – I’ve only recently written a post on the matter myself and I’m glad to see scooters are really kicking in.
  
  
• Consider Dumping Your Newspaper In Favor of Your Iphone @ EnviroHumanImpact – I actually canceled my newspaper subscription two weeks ago in an effort to reduce the amounts of paper lying around the house and to save some money. I’m having trouble getting used to paperless mornings. I don’t think I’ll last long but rationally speaking this is a sound advice.

More from fellow personal finance bloggers:

• The 'Experience-Stretching Hypothesis' @ The Financial Philosopher
  
• Lost Money: How Money Drains Add Up To $175,000 In 10 Years @ The Digerati Life
  
• How to Do a Bond Ladder @ The Financial Blogger
  
• How to Give Money to Charity @ Brip Blap
  
• Finance Fiesta