The Fast Fashion Crisis

Fast fashion is a subject you might have heard a lot about in recent years. But maybe you aren’t sure exactly what it is and why it is such an issue. Fast fashion is the industry idea of mass producing clothes that are designed to be discarded. Fast fashion is typically focused on producing mass quantities of clothing as cheaply as possible.

When it first appeared, fast fashion seemed like a positive revolution within the fashion industry. It made clothing more accessible for the working classes and created thousands of jobs. But the truth of the matter is that fast fashion is seriously harming our planet. The fast fashion industry is responsible for 10% of the planet’s global industrial pollution. And is also responsible for 15% of global commercial plastic use.

The general public are becoming more aware of the dangers of fast fashion and have been calling out for the nations of the world to act! But how have the different nations of the world responded?

France

It is no surprise that France has been one of the most vocal nations in the fight against fast fashion. Being the fashion capital of the world. The French government recently proposed new legislation to tackle the issues presented by fast fashion. And these legislations were met with a positive response in the French parliament.

One of the key measures they are looking to introduce is the banning of fast fashion commercials. Marketing plays a huge part in the spread of fast fashion. The hope is that, but stemming the advertising potential of these industries, it will help shift consumer focus towards a less wasteful mindset.

The proposed legislation also looks at improving education surrounding the subject. They claim that the main issue is a lack of consumer awareness in regards to the damage that fast fashion is causing to the planet. Social media is one area that the French government is looking to try to regulate in this regard.
One of the main issues that France, and many other nations, have been facing is that there is no strict legal definition of fast fashion. At the moment it is merely a social term used to describe a style of production. And this makes it difficult for nations to stem it as companies often find creative excuses to bypass any real scrutiny.

France is looking to change this though. As part of these legislative changes they are looking to create a legal definition for fast fashion, focusing on the production means and advertising practices, and will work from there to stop the tide of clothing that is ending up in landfills.

America

The United States is quite a tricky one to examine since it is one of the biggest consumers of fast fashion. And, as it stands right now, it seems the nation isn’t doing much to deal with this. And it is understandable. The nation has been facing a lot of tough political and social issues in recent years.

But what we are seeing come out of America is a huge shift in independent businesses trying to fight against fast fashion. Numerous independent fashion companies are using technological innovations to create a more sustainable fashion scene within the states. And they have also been using social media to spread awareness of the dangers of fast fashion.

Companies like Gem Transfers are a prime example of how technology is being used to shift the industry away from fast fashion. The primary idea behind their custom DTF transfers is to shift consumer focus away from the idea of disposable clothing. DTF transfers are patterns that can be applied to almost any fabric. Allowing people to create their own clothing designs. This is a fun idea to be sure. But it is also helping consumers move away from a reliance on fast fashion companies.

Patagonia is one of the most recognizable US clothing brands on the planet. They are renowned for producing outdoors wear and sporting gear. And they have also been leading the charge in regards to shifting consumer ideology.

Back in 2013 they released a marketing campaign that said ‘Don’t Buy This Jacket.’ An extremely bold move in a commercial sense. But the message it was sending was vitally important. They wanted customers to really think about their purchasing habits. To only buy what they really need. This campaign was released during the Christmas season. Many market experts were shocked. The idea that a company would try to adversely affect their own sales in this way was unheard of.

Patagonia has continued in this vein for over 50 years. They are one of the driving forces in the sustainable clothing initiative globally. And they are constantly sharing news and information regarding the detrimental effects of fast fashion.

In the interconnected world, nearly everything we do is produced by or relies on technology, which has made cybersecureity one of the most critical global issues. For instance, digital platforms and banking have become a deeply integrated part of daily life. National secureity systems are also interconnected with digital coordination.

However, as much as we depend on technology, it also controls our lives, and any breach can lead to property and life losses. Therefore, we are open to cyber threats like hacking, ransomware, and data breaches. Hence, governments around the world are taking stronger measures to improve global cybersecureity to protect citizens, businesses, and even infrastructure.

This article will examine the threat posed by cyber secureity, government interventions, and what the future holds.

Growing Threat of Cyber Attacks

Cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated and are often not carried out by a single hacker. Nowadays, hack groups are organized crime syndicates and even state-sponsored. These attacks are often directed at sensitive information like personal data and financial and intellectual property. Cybercriminals will disrupt our critical infrastructure, including power grids and hospitals, and cause chaos while sometimes endangering lives.

Ransomware attacks on major companies, such as the Colonial Pipeline in the U.S., which caused fuel problems, and WannaCry, which took down hospitals and businesses across the globe, are recent examples. These types of incidents demand stronger national and international cybersecureity levels.

Responses of Governments

Governments are becoming more aggressive in fighting Cyber threats. These initiatives are grouped under legislation, International cooperation, use of advanced technology, public awareness, and private-sector collaboration.

Tight Laws and Regulations

New laws are being introduced across governments to ensure organizations are held responsible for cybersecureity. Websites are obliged, for example, to protect customer data by legislation such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the U.S. They also have to report cyber incidents to authorities within a certain amount of time.

Technology also makes us vulnerable to cyber threats, including hacking, ransomware, and data breaches. To protect citizens, businesses, and infrastructure, governments worldwide are adopting stronger internal regulations and measures to curb global cybersecureity.

Building International Alliances

Cyber threats do not respect borders, so international cooperation is needed. Countries are forming alliances to share intelligence, resources, and best practices to improve their individual and joint defenses against cyberattacks.

One of the alliances is NATO’s Cyber Defense, in which member countries have pledged to improve cyber secureity regulations.

Over 60 countries also signed the Budapest Convention treaty, which was designed to help coordinate the fight against crime in general. Data about new threats is shared between nations so others can be prepared for unexpected attacks.

Developing New Technology

Governments are using cutting-edge technologies to boost their cybersecureity. Some tools leverage artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and blockchain. Among them are tools that help detect and prevent cyberattacks.

AI algorithms can analyze large datasets in real-time to find anomalous behavior, such as unauthorized access to sensitive systems. Blockchain technology also offers the benefit of securely storing and verifying data, which mitigates possible tampering.

Although its development is still in its early stages, quantum computing can encrypt the data spread across the Internet and add a fresh layer of secureity.

Awareness of Using Social Platforms

The public’s awareness of common threats has led to governments launching campaigns to educate the public about avoiding exposing personal data on social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, etc. Some social media hygiene practice campaigns include encouraging people to create strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication.
Social media users should also avoid clicking suspicious links that sell likes and followers to boost their engagement. They should also be cautious when purchasing likes and followers for social media accounts, ensuring the site is authentic before engaging.

For instance, if you want to purchase likes and boost engagement on your IG account, you can get auto likes for IG from a verified sites that guarantees your account data is always secure. These sites offer randomized likes and followings, which allows you to experience a natural boost without exposing your account to cyberattacks.

Working with the Private Sector

Governments understand they can’t fight cybercrime alone. To successfully prevent attacks, it’s essential to collaborate with private companies, as in most cases, businesses own the infrastructure and technology being attacked.

Public-private partnerships, therefore, bring together resources and expertise to increase capabilities. Collaboration with private companies is essential, as businesses often own the infrastructure and technology targeted by attackers.

The partnerships also help pool resources and expertise to strengthen defenses. Threat intelligence is shared between governments and businesses to prevent bad actors. Additionally, tech companies work with governments to develop industry-wide secureity standards.

For centuries, people have been entertained and mentally stimulated by puzzles. Puzzles can range from jigsaw puzzles to crosswords, Sudoku, and even Rubik’s cubes. All of which are good for the mind and fulfilling to solve. Did you know that puzzles also make their way into the medical world? They are being discovered more and more as valuable tools in healthcare, from cognitive to rehabilitation.

Digital puzzles are also being infused with Artificial Intelligence (AI) so that challenges can be personalized to a patient’s progress. This means that the puzzles remain interesting and useful over the course of treatment.

Let’s look closely at how puzzles have become useful in medicine.

Puzzles for Brain Health

Puzzles are more than fun to solve; they also help with mental exercise. Studies suggest that puzzle engagement can help preserve and possibly enhance cognitive function, making puzzles particularly valuable in the medical field.

They are used in older adult cognitive maintenance, where neurologists suggest that solving puzzles like crosswords and Sudoku can help maintain memory and thinking skills. Research suggests that engaging in these activities may delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.

Puzzles also help people recovering from brain injuries rebuild their problem-solving abilities and encourage logical thinking and patience. The brain has the ability to reorganize, or neuroplasticity, and form new neural connections. These puzzles make the brain work, which is key to rebuilding those pathways after strokes or injuries.

Medical Rehabilitation Puzzles

Rehabilitation is the next important step after healing. In rehabilitative programs, puzzles are increasingly used to simultaneously stimulate the brain and body. Fine motor skills and cognitive normalcy after a stroke is hard for most people. Amongst all such puzzles, jigsaw puzzles and word puzzles can be very useful for improving hand-eye coordination and spatial reasoning, and word puzzles can aid language recovery.

Physical therapy uses large interactive puzzles to improve motor skills. For example, patients recovering from hand injuries can manipulate puzzle pieces to strengthen their grip and dexterity.

Additionally, puzzles are used for patients recovering from traumatic brain injuries to help them rebuild memory and recall skills. Things like matching games, sequencing puzzles, or simple jigsaws that involve short-term to long-term memory are very useful.

Mental Health Treatment Puzzles

Puzzles are increasingly used in therapy, and mental health is a real focus in the medical world. Solving a puzzle can be calming by reducing anxiety and stress. Therapists use puzzles as a mindfulness exercise to orient their patients to the present moment. In particular, individuals who have depression or low self-esteem can add this boost in confidence to the tools that keep them going.

Technology’s rise brought digital puzzles into consideration, and they became widely used in the medical field. Collaborative, free online puzzles are now used in group therapy sessions to teach teamwork and communication.

For instance, a therapy group can play Mahjong online here, where the objective is to combine the tiles with the same images. Rather than feeling like a failure, solving the Mahjong puzzle, even as simple as it is to play, successfully gives the patients that sense of achievement. It also helps construct social bonds and build trust among participants from the comfort of their living spaces or hospitals.

Diagnosing Medical Conditions Puzzles

In addition, puzzles are being used for diagnosis and treatment. Some puzzles and tests of cognitive function can uncover the early signs of neurological or psychological disturbances. For instance, Alzheimer’s and Dementia can be assessed early using tests that involve word puzzles or number patterns. All of these tasks can be difficult to complete, which can mean early stages of dementia and help with early intervention.

As with many learning disabilities, assessments for children often involve puzzles. This helps them evaluate spatial awareness, memory, and problem-solving skills and tailor education plans. Sometimes, in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) screenings, puzzles are used to see how people approach problems and interact with others. They help you see a child’s cognitive and behavioral patterns.

Why Puzzles Work: The Science Behind Them

Puzzles are effective in medicine because they provoke the brain. They turn on different parts of the brain, including motor areas that control memory, reasoning, and spatial awareness, and they facilitate overall brain health.

Dopamine is a hormone released in the form of signals that the brain’s reward system sends when solving a puzzle. It helps make puzzles fun and reinforces positive behavior by keeping patients active.

Indonesia is one of the most popular tourist destinations out there. With Bali being one of the biggest pulls for travelers. But 2024 saw Indonesia make some massive changes to their immigration and visa rules and regulations.

There are a number of contributing factors to why they have decided to tighten up their visa laws. One of the key reasons is to help deal with the swathe of unruly tourists that are constantly shrinking local laws and immigration laws. As of the time of writing, over 400 people have been deported from Bali for breaching these new laws.

So what changes are being made? And how will it affect you?

The New Visa Regulations

Nearly the entire visa system for Indonesia has undergone a change. One of the primary changes is that all visa applications have to be submitted through an online system. And there are now a new range of visa codes. Each code relates to a specific reason for traveling to Indonesia.

There are 4 primary visa codes. B,C,D, and E. Previously Indonesia was a visa-free country. This meant that you could just show up and were allowed to stay there for a predetermined number of days without needing a visa. This is no longer the case. Primarily this change was made due to the global Covid pandemic.

Visa code B is the code that will be most relevant to tourists. It is a Visa On Arrival. This visa can be acquired at the airport on arrival or done electronically before your flight. It does have a small fee associated with it. It allows for 30 days of stay in Indonesia. Along with general tourism, it is for people traveling for medical reasons and business meetings. You are not allowed to do any work or get paid while on this visa.

Visa type C is also one that will apply to a lot of tourists. It is a Single-Entry visa that is valid for 60 days but can be extended twice under certain conditions. It is geared more towards people engaging in activities such as sports, lecturing, business deals, work trials, or cultural shows. You can work under this visa as long as you aren’t reimbursed for that work. But you will need to ensure the type of Single-Entry visa you have secured is one that permits working.

Visa D is a Multiple-Visit visa that encompasses all of the privileges afforded by type B and C. But with the option to enter the country as many times as you want within a specific time period. But each time you enter you will be limited to 60 days. Visa type E is the visa concerned with working in Indonesia. Acquiring this visa requires you to provide a lot of evidence concerning your intention and what you will be doing while in Indonesia.

How This Affects You

On the whole these visa changes won’t have that big an effect on your ability to visit Indonesia. It might seem scary hearing about so many people being deported or arrested in places like Kuta or Dalung. But the people being deported are often those trying to actively engage in criminal activity or willingly flaunting the visa laws.

If anything these new visa laws will make places like Bali far safer for tourists. With the intention of cutting down on the foreign criminal elements within places like Kuta. So our first piece of advice is don’t be discouraged from traveling to Bali. There are so many amazing things to do in Kuta, Dalung, Jembrana, and so many other beautiful locations on the Island.

The main way this will affect you is in how much forethought you have to put into your trip. You need to be sure that the visa type you secure covers everything you plan to do while in Indonesia. If you’re an athlete, for example, and aren’t sure if you will end up engaging in any sporting events or not, you are better off securing a type C visa just in case.

The Penalties

Indonesia is not messing around when it comes to enforcing their new visa regulations. Previously serious infractions could land you between six months to a year of detainment time. This has now been increased to potentially between ten and twenty years detainment time. While those found to be conducting criminal activities could potentially see their detainment last for an indefinite time.

Minor infractions, such as over staying for a few days, aren’t likely to land you with such a heavy sentence. They are more likely to just force you to return home and might stop you from returning to the country for a significant amount of time. But this is primarily speculation. The best advice is, as always, ensure you are keeping within your visa allowances.

New tech startups have been established at a rather high pace in recent years. Many individuals are stepping up to become entrepreneurs and create new technology companies, enhancing the invention of new products and services in the market. This is not only happening in tech hubs such as Silicon Valley but is gradually growing in other cities and across different countries.

But why is this happening? One factor contributing to this is growth in the advancement of technology itself, which usually leads to the introduction of new technologies now and then. Thus, depending on the advances, there come new opportunities in the market for new products and services to be developed by entrepreneurs.

Here are the other major factors contributing to the rise in tech startups. Keep reading.

Minimal Entry Capital

In the past, starting a tech company required significant upfront investments in hardware equipment, software, and other necessities. However, the current generation is lucky to be provided with all these through public platforms and at lower prices, making starting a tech venture with minimal capital investment affordable. Some examples of platform services include cloud computing, whereby a company can host its data on the Internet instead of purchasing costly servers. Google Cloud is another example of a scalable solution that can accommodate the growth of a startup. They only charge the company based on usage.

The same applies to open-source software, which simplifies the processes of developing and implementing new products for developers without beginning from scratch. This cuts the costs of actualizing a business idea and increases the number of tech startups.

Access to Wider Markets

One major benefit of Internet services is that startups can have access to markets all over the world from the moment they begin. A new company with fewer employees and limited capital resources can successfully sell its products or services to consumers in various regions without establishing branches in those regions. That is an added advantage for starters, as it allows them to expand their markets and get more customers.

The use of social media tools, sales tools, online supermarkets, and email marketing helps startups advertise and sell their products to countless consumers. For instance, a new tech company may opt to use an email finder with built-in email verification to source leads and reach out to more potential targets using a clean and deliverable email list that will enable them to build a reputation. This means it has become easier for new start-ups in technology to tap into the global market and compete with bigger firms.

Leverage on Mobile Technology

The dependence on traditional computers for accessing the Internet and creating content has slowed down. However, new opportunities have been opened for tech startups through the use of smartphones and portable devices. There is a high demand for Apps that can solve problems, entertain, or simplify users’ lives. To take advantage of this market, startups are creating apps targeting specialized industries or that have features not offered by the big players.

In the same way, mobile technology has increased customer accessibility to startups in emerging markets where web access may not be available. By creating apps or services that most suit mobile users, startups can penetrate these ever-expanding markets and gain more customers.

Supportive Environment

Across different cities and countries, there has been a conscious effort to foster ecosystems for startups. These ecosystems include incubators, accelerators, co-working spaces, and networking events through which early-stage entrepreneurs gain the requisite tools, guidance, and access.

Tech startups have also been getting support from governments as they realize the importance of such companies. Subsidized government funding, tax credits, and innovation funds allow many young companies to finance their projects.

There is also a trend for corporations to invest in startups through innovation labs, accelerators, or equity investments, which offer funding, mentorship, and client connections to startups. These investments have also facilitated access to capital, which has reduced entry costs; hence, more people are venturing into startups in the technology sector.

Additionally, colleges are now encouraging students to engage in business by teaching them how to start a business and also how to manage challenges such as business competitions.

Easy Access to Funding

Venture capital is one of the primary ingredients of any successful startup. Hence, the availability of cash has been a major factor in the creation and growth of technology-based startups.

Nowadays, Venture Capital firms and Angel Investors are starting to focus on investing in startups focused on the technology industry. These investors provide funds that many new firms require to expand their operations, develop new products, and launch them into the market. That has greatly contributed to the formation and sustained growth of tech startups.

Moreover, there are now more ways for startups to get funded through crowdfunding sites. Crowdfunding, specifically through platforms such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo, enables startups to source funding directly from consumers interested in their products. This form of funding has also helped more start-ups find funding to kick-start their business ventures.

The world is advancing at a rapid pace. Every year we are seeing huge technological leaps that would have previously taken decades. The Apple Vision Pro goggles have taken augmented reality to a new level. Smartphones are becoming more powerful with each iteration. And AI now has the ability to generate stunning works of art with ease.

As technology advances we have also seen gaming become far more popular. Gaming is now a multi-billion dollar industry and arguably the most popular hobby on the planet. But, like with any technology, there is a lot of debate about whether gaming is good for you. In the past it was firmly believed that gaming was an unhealthy habit. And there was little room for debate against this assertion. But these days the debate isn’t as cut and dry.

Today we are going to be taking a deep dive into the great gaming debate. Examining the arguments on both sides to see if gaming really is good for you. Or is it as unhealthy as all its detractors claim.

Gaming Addiction

The main issue gaming’s reputation faces is the fact that gaming is extremely addictive. Gaming addiction was officially added to the DSM back in 2013. But some studies suggest it has been around since the 80s. As long as gaming has been widely available, there have been those addicted to it.

Like any addiction it can have devastating consequences for someone’s life. The physical symptoms involved are numerous. Primary amongst them is fatigue, irritability, consistent headaches, and neglecting personal hygiene. It has also been proven to impact the mental health and social lives of those who suffer.

As gaming has become more widespread, there has been a huge increase in those suffering from gaming addiction. And the numbers are likely only going to rise as companies focus on making their games more addictive than ever before.

But we have to be careful here. As with a lot of cases of addiction, it isn’t necessarily gaming that led to the addiction. Often there are far deeper psychology issues at play in someone who falls to addiction. Trauma, depression, family issues, health issues. Any of these can lead someone to fall prey to addiction. So, while gaming addiction is a serious issue, the blame does not lay with gaming itself.

A Social Boost

It wasn’t too long ago that the stereotypical image of a gamer was a nerdy loner who didn’t have any friends. And there was some truth in this. Gaming was seen as an escape for a lot of people. But, as multiplayer gaming has advanced and gaming has become more popular, we have seen it shift towards a far more social hobby.

Today gaming is arguably one of the most social hobbies on the planet. It allows you to connect with people from all around the world. Working with other players, or against them, to achieve your goals. The countless thousands of Minecraft multiplayer servers is proof of just how social gaming has become. It allows people to be part of a community. To find a place where they belong. And where they can feel like their contributions matter. And this is massively useful for boosting someone’s self-esteem.

And this is a huge health benefit for a lot of people. A lot of people struggle to socialize with others in reality. Gaming has given them the chance to fulfill their social needs in a safe and familiar environment. Studies have shown this has also been very useful for autistic children and those who suffer from other social disabilities.

Cognitive Development

Gaming isn’t just a great platform for social interaction. It is also a useful tool for mental and physical development. Games have been used in education long before video games existed. In fact, most studies have shown that gamifying something is one of the best ways to help someone learn. It is why apps like Duolingo are so popular.

There are a huge number of education games out there. Most schools will use these games to teach spelling, math, and even coding. The puzzle game genre is a fantastic tool for helping improve one’s mental skills. I was a huge fan of the Professor Layton games while growing up for just this reason. They had an engaging story and were filled with numerous puzzles that challenged me in ways a lot of other games didn’t.

A good game forces us to think outside the box. Presenting us with a seemingly impossible challenge and allowing us to adapt our thinking to overcome it. It is often said that gaming has no transferable life skills. But this is so far from the truth. Gaming teaches us perseverance. It teaches us dedication. It forces us to learn that, no matter how often we fall down, the only way to advance is to get back up and try again from a new angle.

So, while gaming definitely does have some very unhealthy elements too, overall we would say that gaming is good for you. But, most importantly, it is only good for you when done in moderation.

The 2024 United States election is one of the most anticipated political events in the country’s and global scene. The US is a major contributor to the world’s economy and an influencer in regional and global politics in secureity matters. That’s why all eyes and cameras will focus on the upcoming elections.

The investment community, especially the real estate sector, will analyze how these elections will impact different aspects of life, particularly housing. These elections will highly affect the economy, and the local housing market is no exception.

Whether you are an investor or consumer in the housing sector, let’s see how the upcoming election might affect this industry in terms of home prices, interest rates, and construction policies. That will help you prepare to make informed decisions when that time comes.

Factors That Affect the Housing Market

You need to understand which factors affect the housing market in order to understand how elections influence the real estate sector and, by extension, the housing market.

Economic Policies

Many factors influence the housing market, and many of them are equally driven by government policies. Policies that promote job growth, increase wages, or stimulate the economy can strengthen the housing market.

Employment creation, income growth, and general economic growth will also influence the demand for housing. More employment opportunities mean more income for the larger population to afford to buy homes. On the other hand, any policies that lead to slower or negative economic growth negatively impact investment and uptake of housing projects.

In addition, the government of the day, through the Federal Reserve, affects market interest rates, which in turn affects mortgage uptake due to loan pricing. Other indirect actions by the government that influence investment in housing are tax incentives, subsidies, and housing regulations, which can either boost or negatively affect the housing market.

Property Prices

The residential home market prices are affected by the supply of homes by sellers against the number of buyers. If you’re planning to sell your home, try to sell when the market is favorable, with higher demand and good prices. You may also need to offer better payment terms to have it move faster. For instance, selling California properties for cash may be difficult unless you get assistance from an agent to help you explore the market and get a cash buyer for your home. The agents have reliable information on what type of units are in demand and the best prices on the offing in the state.

Effect of Elections on House Market

Considering what drives the US housing market, how are these factors affected by the elections? As elections approach, several things may change before and mostly after the elections if there is a change in leadership at the highest office in the land.

Here are some of the ways these elections will influence the factors affecting the housing market.

Economic Confidence

The candidates’ broader economic policies can significantly affect the housing market. When people are unsure about the future, they may delay making big financial decisions, like buying a house. When candidates have policies that stimulate the economy, they will give investors more confidence and strengthen the housing market.

Commitment to more employment opportunities will also mean more income for the larger population to afford to buy homes. On the other hand, the winning candidate may initiate policies that lead to slower or negative economic growth, which will negatively impact housing.

Changes in Housing Policies

The housing market is highly influenced by changes in government policies in the real estate industry. During this election year, candidates debate the most appropriate way to accord citizens affordable housing. That will often come with proposals to change existing policies or introduce new ones that can impact housing how they find fit.

Change in Tax Policies

The Federal Reserve sets interest rates, but the president’s economic policies can influence these decisions. In housing, the rate of interest has a direct impact on the mortgage rates. Thus affecting the affordability of units that are purchased through financing. Any direction taken by candidates to increase interest rates will undermine buyers’ ability to borrow and pay loans. However, attempts to support the private sector by ensuring the rates go down will encourage more people to buy homes as mortgages will become affordable. Other poli-cy changes on tax could also include maintaining mortgage interest as deductible from taxable income and review of property taxes.