Filipino Theory of Value II

Here’s a theory that might be right. More importantly, its testable.

Language is built upon the requirements and environmental conditions faced by society. It seems to me that these words are quite similar to language traders use (expensive/ discount).

The history of the philippines says that, prior to the Spaniards, we were a country composed of small trading tribes. [i have to read up on the specifics of this, but it seems right to me].

Trading tribes develop language that helps them with trading.

Therefore, other indigenous peoples with the same ‘trading’ background as the pre-spanish filipinos should have language that is similar to that of the philippines. That is, their words for love and sorry should also be based on a culture of trading.

This is easily testable, maybe later this summer.

A Filipino Theory of Value

I was thinking today about the filipino word for sorry, which is ‘patawad’. This is the same word for ‘asking for a discount’

The filipino word for love is ‘mahal’ which also means high value.

For the filipino, love is to place a high value on something, and to ask for forgiveness is to ask for a low value/valuation for something done.

Fascinating that value and opportunity cost figure prominently in filipino/tagalog. this may be a reflection of filipino psyche as well. I need to think about this some more.

Filipino Mob in California?

I was reading NY magazine on profits in NY area businesses. I was intrigued by the life of nick, a drug dealer in NYU. He discusses the supply chain of crystal meth, and i was shocked to find out that NY crystal meth can come from a filipino mob in California!

Interesting… i did not know one existed, not to mention notorious for its drug making abilities. I thought filipinos were good citizens.

Product Durability

My ibook AC adaptor konked out today. It turns out the product warranty for the adaptor was only for one year.

There has been a number of web articles that talk about apple products are not designed to last long. And a few articles on planned obselesence.

i have a theory that firms that have fast new product development tend not to design for durability. you’d see shorter warranty periods for industries with more new products than an industry with less dynamism, holding constant other supply side characteristics like cost.

i should compile data on that…