Productivity and The Role of Small and Medium Enterprises in Local Economic Development

(Illustrative Only)
Ying and Yang as
a philosophical concept
large and small,
product and service,
two businesses, etc.
sharing what 
they do best to help 
each other and developing
economic balance.

It is possible to create
synergy through connecting ideas, 
fostering a business community,
and expanding the wealth
of two+ partnering businesses
which encourages 
other growth in the area.

A few semi-related
ideas. 
Org. Collaborate
Start-UP
Attracting MNC
Cluster Formation
Supply Chain Int.
Transac Sub
Rebuild Downtown
Social Cognition
Economic Platforms
Sustain Systems

Small and medium-sized businesses play a major role in the economy and in the development of local communities. As large corporations grow, they tend to pull resources and profits toward investors and centralized operations. Some local wealth is created but could be maximized if they worked more closely with small area businesses they could create broader wealth as well as economic cushion. Small businesses usually circulate more of their revenue within the local area (i.e. downtown, industrial park, etc.). Maximizing the development, efficiency, and productivity of MSMEs leads to drawing resources more locally and that can have a long tail impact on broader transactions throughout the community both economically and socially (In theory called broad based capitalism)

Small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) make up a significant share of the economy, but they are typically less productive than large firms. They often have limited resources and rely on the tools and abilities of those who manage them. When new businesses form and begin to grow, there is often room to improve efficiency, strengthen financial footing, and refine or scale their products. Supporting this process benefits both the businesses and the communities around them.

Some localities have stronger connections to global supply chains, which can create opportunities for local firms. Economic clusters—groups of related businesses in the same area—often form around a few anchor companies that are tied into larger supply chains or financial networks. Smaller businesses grow around these anchors, providing support services and complementary products. Other firms, such as those in tourism, may also benefit from anchor businesses while diversifying the local economy. This diversification helps communities become more resilient to economic shocks and more attractive for future investment, talent, and growth.

The study referenced below discusses the challenges SMEs face and the importance of connecting them to supply chains. However, it’s also valuable for businesses to diversify their revenue streams when possible rather than relying on a single industry. This is one reason micro-manufacturing, start-ups  and medium businesses are appealing: they can produce exportable goods, support additional industries like tourism, help revitalize downtowns, improve local wages, increase the tax base, and can tie into supply chains when an export market opportunities are available (The reason why we have discussed not only start ups but also export conduits and marketing). These businesses can scale while still keeping most of their revenue within the local community, supporting broad-based economic development. It also can create additional investment capital and attract new investment capital.

An interesting article, 

A microscope on small businesses: Spotting opportunities to boost productivity

• Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are a major part of the global economy, accounting for about half of value added and a large share of employment in many countries.

• MSMEs are generally much less productive than large companies. On average their productivity is about half that of larger firms.

• Closing the productivity gap could be worth an estimated 5 % of GDP in advanced economies and 10 % in emerging economies.

• Productivity differences vary widely by country, sector, and subsector; some subsectors offer much bigger opportunities to improve than others.

• MSMEs often benefit when they are closely connected with larger firms (for example in supply chains), and business-to-business MSMEs tend to be more productive than those selling mainly to consumers.

• Productivity improvements don’t just help small firms — when MSME and large firm productivity both rise together, the broader economy benefits more.

• Policy makers, larger companies, and MSMEs themselves all have roles to play in improving productivity, such as by improving access to markets, technology, finance, and better infrastructure. 

Madgavkar, A., Piccitto, M., White, O., Ramírez, M. J., Mischke, J., & Chockalingam, K. (2024, May 2). A microscope on small businesses: Spotting opportunities to boost productivity. McKinsey Global Institute. https://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/our-research/a-microscope-on-small-businesses-spotting-opportunities-to-boost-productivity?

The Concept of Willful Ignorance: Choose Moral Leaders and be a Moral Influence

(Illustrative Only)

People struggling
to pay their bills,
afford groceries
or pay for healthcare.
Wages are not rising
for the average but
are expanding quickly
for the people on top.

Immorality in certain 
circles is high and it
is the rest of us who suffer. 
Leaders should be the 
best and brightest and 
not the most connected
or wealthy least
selfishness is projected
onto the rest of society.

Sometimes we wonder why, even when we know something is wrong, we don’t fix it. In many ways it’s like any other pattern we fail to correct — it simply continues. Most of us are decent people who try to do the right thing, as long as it doesn’t inconvenience us too much. But very few of us are willing to take a loss, even when it would be the moral choice. Our values become flexible, and the bigger the gap between those who gain and those who lose, the easier it becomes to justify self-serving behavior.

In essence, we choose a level of ignorance. And that ignorance has real consequences for society. Some people end up consistently treated poorly, while others benefit without thinking much about those left behind. Those who are gaining rarely worry about those who are losing. It is just the way it has been since the begining of soceity. For the vast majority of people it is about taking all they can get, ensuring the processes around them make it easier to do that, and surrounding themselves with people who can help them gain what they want. 

Of course, some people are different. They are more prosocial, guided by deeper values, and more aware of the needs of others. But research shows that about 40% of people choose willful ignorance—especially when being informed would mean acknowledging harm to others or giving up personal benefit. The real number may be even higher, depending on how we define it. No one is perfect. People can be selfish, decent, or—on rare occasions—truly generous. It has always been that way and likely always will be, because it’s deeply rooted in human nature.

Still, we can make choices about who we want to be. That awareness makes us more in control of our impulses. The next time you select someone for a position, consider an unearned advantage, lack of moral qualifications, or vote for a leader, think about the long-term consequences for everyone if people continue acting out of narrow self-interest and judging others based on status or social circles. These small decisions may be part of the reason the rich grow richer while many average folks are falling further behind.

I have seen people go out of their way to take advantage of others and I have seen people do wonderful things. Each has its benefits and detractors. Don't expect all people or leaders to be moral or make good decisions for society. Expect it to be a toss up but always beware of those who want things a little too much. 

Choosing Ignorance: 40% Shun Consequence Knowledge for Selfish Gains

• About 40% of people choose not to learn how their decisions will affect others when given the option.

• People who avoid this information tend to act more selfishly in those situations.

• When people are informed about the consequences, they behave more generously (altruistically) than those who stay ignorant.

• One reason for choosing ignorance is that it allows people to maintain a positive self-image without having to act in a costly altruistic way.

Vu, L., Soraperra, I., Leib, M., van der Weele, J. J., & Shalvi, S. (2023). Ignorance by choice: A meta-analytic review of the underlying motives of willful ignorance and its consequences. Psychological Bulletin, 149(9–10), 611–635. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000398

Is There Too Much Money in Campaigns, Voting, and Outcomes that Don't Support the Average Person?

(Illustrative Only)

Jed worked with his hands
his whole life but has 
learned a lot. 
He is from the hypothetical
Feather Party and wants
to help the next generation. 
As he retires he seeks
to help his grandchildren
and is tired of the overconcentration
of wealth and opportunity.
He knows that many 
politicians follow the money and
compromise their values. 
Sometimes their souls. 
Vote for the best and brightest
and for your personal
values. Not for rhetoric
or slogans. Be your own
person.

*The hypothetical Feather
Party doesn't exist at this time
in history, is made of independents,
seeks to tip votes based on evidence
and good judgement, caps donations,
doesn't work with special 
interests, doesn't allow
for party line votes
as each member makes
their own decision based
on a decision making matrix. 
They owe their
loyalty to no one
except the Constitution, 
their communities, the next
generation, and their moral
conscious. Public
office should be held
by servants of people and
not the entitled.

 We live in a K-shaped economy where wealth is heavily concentrated at the top. When wealth concentrates, so does political influence — money drives votes, campaigns, media visibility, and access to policymakers. As this continues, decisions increasingly benefit those at the top rather than the average American. That’s why small and medium businesses often struggle while large corporations have direct access to key decision-makers.

People sometimes look at political choices and wonder, “Why would they do that?” The answer is often found in the network connecting wealthy donors and politicians. As politicians filter information through donor and special interests, their positions shift, and money pressures them into strict party-line voting even when ideas don’t fully align. That impacts the laws and institutional trust and performance.

In the end, regular people get left behind. They may feel disconnected. One practical solution would be stronger limits on campaign spending. Campaign finance reform could help rebuild trust in institutions, because right now many decisions are shaped by money rather than fairness or the broader public good. Because of that things are not always pointed true north.  It is helpful to think of ways to change that. 

This is an interesting article you may want to read that supports in part the idea that money has an influence on decision making and voting.
Political donations from mega-donors affect political representation in US politicians

• Contributions from the richest 1 % of donors grew a lot after the Citizens United decision, rising from about 7 % to about 20 % of all campaign donations.

• Members of Congress were more likely to vote in line with the preferences of wealthy constituents after large donations, and less likely to align with the preferences of lower-income constituents.

• This shift was stronger on fiscal policy issues where rich and poor voters tend to disagree.

• The researchers interpret this as evidence that big money gives wealthy donors more influence over political representation

Xu, G., Babenko, I., & Fedaseyeu, V. (2024, December 16). Political donations from mega-donors affect political representation in US politicians. Rotterdam School of Management Discovery. https://www.rsm.nl/discovery/2024/political-donations-from-mega-donors/

Reducing Crime and Social Trust Through Feedback Loops

Reducing crime isn’t always about spending more money or being “tougher.” Another major factor is social and economic development—helping people connect, creating opportunities, and building community. We often gravitate toward the more obvious but don't understand the underlining factors. As an example, one might run an analysis and find that economic and social development reduces crime significantly. 

The larger point is that we often overlook an important part of the picture. Communities have different experiences and perspectives, and metrics need to reflect that. If we surveyed people—asking where problems are, what’s going well, and what needs improvement—we would create a useful feedback loop. Feedback and adjustments builds trust. It adds information beyond budgets, prisons, or crime statistics and helps guide better decision-making.

Most people agree that policing and removing dangerous individuals from the streets are necessary. At the same time, corruption and hate undermine trust at its foundation. A broader metric—one that includes public feedback and social trust—helps reveal those problems. Sometimes more information doesn't help but based on broader conversations this one might help head off unseen or covered problems.

For example if courts know of wrongdoing and put it on victims due to dehumanization then generally that wouldn't show up in standard metrics even thought it becomes part of the outcomes. In our allegory the Clan ignored important metrics, relying instead on loyalty and social ties rather than purpose or oaths. While this does not reflect the many honorable people who take those oaths seriously, the story highlights why improvements and better measures of accountability are needed. Thus, stronger metrics that give a more holistic perspective as well as highlight areas of improvement can help. Otherwise rights can become subjective and outcomes misaligned.

Social Trust in Criminal Justice: A Metric

• The authors argue that current ways of measuring how well criminal justice works (like crime rates or conviction rates) are flawed and don’t capture what really matters.
• They propose using social trust as the main measure of success.
• Social trust means how much people trust: institutions and officials in the criminal justice system, government more broadly, and each other after crime and justice responses.
• A well-functioning system is one that increases people’s trust; a poorly functioning system decreases trust.
• Measuring trust could be done with surveys asking people how encounters with the system affected their trust.
• Using social trust as a metric would align government incentives with community values and make issues like fairness, legitimacy, and racial justice more visible.

Let me know if you want this in even shorter form or broken into sections.

The Producers in Escanaba-Theater and Arts Impacts Your Mood and the Local Economy

(Illustrative Only)

Another production is hitting the stage from Players De Noc, this time at the Bay College Theater (There was a fire a while back in the other theater and they are working on restoring it.)! The cast and crew have worked their tails off to make this happen, so it’d be awesome if you came out to support them. But this isn’t just about “supporting your local theater” (though that’s already a good enough reason). Theater has some long-term perks: it helps youth and others express themselves, builds relationships among actors and crew, and—bonus—can actually boost the local economy.

What...artsy fartsy and the economy? Esky-nomics,

Yes, you read that right. Theater can be good for the economy and tourism. People love to travel, engage in new experiences, check out local arts, and explore interesting places. Tourism in Escanaba and Delta County is growing, which is starting to create jobs and boost revenue. 

(Illustrative Only)

Jeff thinks these...

"Little old ladies
are awesome!

Bravo he yells,
bravo! He
gave thema standing
ovation.

He feels great after
the show. 
Better than coffee!

He bought the sweater
from a store on Ludington St.
Cool businesses and
activities popping 
up all the time.

He saw this
older lady
looking at him
gestering to help
her with something
she got caught in her eye.
Maybe lint or something.🙃

According to the article below in some places people often spend around $50 extra on top of their tickets—maybe grabbing dinner, buying a snazzy new outfit, or making a whole night out of it. Tourists? That’s a whole other story. They stay in hotels, eat at restaurants, and spend like it’s going out of style. So theater isn’t just culture—it’s economic development in action.

But here’s the kicker: this show isn’t just good for your community—it’s hilarious. You’re going to laugh so hard your cheeks might hurt, and science (yep, actual research) says that laughing makes you happier, more optimistic, and even encourages spending on fun stuff. So really, by buying a ticket, you’re investing in your mood, your local economy, and your quality of life.

Life can be serious. But maybe, just maybe, we can take a step back, laugh at it a little, and enjoy ourselves. And this is the perfect place to start. The sets are gorgeous, the performances are sharp, and some scenes… well, let’s just say I laughed until I cried.

(Illustrative Only)

Betsy realized how
much fun these ladies
are having and decided
to frequent the
theater more often 
when touring the 
Great Lakes.

She would like to
see more information
on tours and arts
in the area.

She winked a couple
times at a guy
with a nice sweater on
but not sure if he understood.
😬🙃

Don’t miss it. This is a one-and-done deal—so come see it, enjoy it, laugh, and maybe even leave a few extra bucks behind in the community while you’re at it.

The Tickets and Summary of the Show-The Producers!

Tickets are selling quickly, and Players is ready to close the season with a hit. Mel Brooks transformed his 1968 cult-classic comedy into the award-winning musical The Producers, and the cast has been hard at work bringing it to life.

The story follows a desperate Broadway producer and his anxious accountant as they scheme to profit from the worst show ever made. Their plan? Stage a widely inappropriate show, swindle their sweet elderly investors, and hope it all collapses. Naturally, chaos, mishaps, and plenty of laughs ensue.

Show Dates:
March 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Matinee: March 8 at 1:30 p.m.
Doors open 30 minutes early.

Tickets:
Available online or at the Bonifas Arts Center front desk (Tue–Sat).
All performances held at the Bay College Besse Theater.

Support Players De Noc with 50/50 tickets before the show and $1 souvenir buttons during intermission—cash encouraged.

Recommended for ages 13+ due to some mature content. Bring the "checkie" if you want to donate to the Players de Noc Theater.

More info & tickets: https://playersdenocinc.ludus.com/index.php

Facebook Players de Noc

You may also be interested in Bonifas Fine Arts Center

Economic Impact of Tourism in Delta County

Visitor spending in Delta County has shown notable growth over recent years—from roughly $92.8 million in 2021 to $119 million in 2024, which is nearly a 30% increase over three years (Daily Press, Micheau, Data from MEDC Oct. 4, 2025 from).

btw....household income may have rose in 2024 as well locally from a number of reasons of which tourism, arts and sense of community could be a couple of softer influecing factors. Investment, new businesses, etc. are others. 

Economic Value of Arts in One City:

You may be interested in this article The Economic Power of Arts as it describes the additional benefits the art sector may have per trip from visitors. While this informaton relates to Philodelphia it is beneficial to see how some of the benefits of ticket sales and visitors may impact local development.

• Arts attendees in Greater Philadelphia spend about $49 locally beyond tickets; overnight visitors spend about $235 per trip.

• Nationwide, arts and cultural industries contributed an estimated $1.17 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2023.

• The U.S. holds a trade surplus of nearly $37 billion in arts and culture goods and services.

• The arts also provide community connection, cultural understanding, well-being, and educational benefits beyond their economic value.

Self Defense for Fuller Fitness and Self Mastery

(Illustrative Only)

Older guy teaching a younger
guy that even just
a finger can be a self defense
tool against even
the strongest person 
 if you know
the soft spots. 

Self-defense is about 
self-mastery not 
ego and bronse. Be
humble, be kind,
be wise, and
learn to de escalate
while holding your ground.

Engaging in self-defense is an important part of overall fitness. We often think of fitness as going to the gym, getting on a bike, or stepping onto a treadmill—but full, functional fitness is much broader. Traditional gym routines often work the same muscle groups repeatedly, while self-defense and martial arts provide varied movement, coordination, flexibility, and functional strength.

I’ve practiced different forms of martial arts for around two decades; maybe a little more. I’m not someone who trains every day, but I weave martial arts into my workouts and visit the dojo from time to time to practice with people I’ve known for years.

Martial arts and self-defense range from simple to complex. Many people choose a specific style and move through structured ranks, working toward belts. There’s nothing wrong with that; it’s a meaningful path. Others prefer mixed martial arts, drawing from multiple systems to build a more flexible approach. The key advantage in starting with the basics is discovering which style fits you. Different bodies, personalities, and learning styles excel in different forms.

Despite what you see in movies or long choreographed sequences, most real self-defense is simple and happens in the first 10–15 seconds. It relies on fundamentals: blocking, striking, recognizing soft spots, reacting quickly, and holding your body correctly. Even small amounts of muscle memory—like instinctively raising a defensive guard or using a quick reversal when grabbed—can end an altercation before it escalates.

But the most important part of self-defense is knowing how not to use it. True mastery is the ability to walk away. It’s recognizing that someone else’s anger or chaos is not a reflection of you. Those who lack control—quick tempers, aggression, constant conflict—are the ones easily manipulated and prone to mistakes. Real mastery is internal: staying in charge of your emotions, choosing the right timing, and knowing when disengagement is the smartest option.

Self-defense is a blend of physical capability, confidence, fitness, and self-mastery.

I’m a licensed fitness trainer and open to doing more virtual training. If you’d like tips, a custom routine, or a basic nutrition plan, feel free to send me a message—I’d be happy to help.

You may be interestedin this article below,

6 Benefits Of Learning Self-Defense Through Martial Arts

A Few Nautical Pictures

 Here are a few nautical-themed pieces from my gallery. If you’re interested in any of them, feel free to send me a message. You can make an offer, or I can quote a price based on printing costs. Since the theme focuses on boats and ships, I thought it made sense to share these selections.

I enjoy posting my work so others can see it, and I hope you enjoy browsing through the images. If anything catches your eye, just let me know.

Start of India

Fishing Dock

Sailing Rigging

Bay of Boats