Compulsory Consumer Hour
The PLC inter-firm coordinating committee introduced the Consumer Hour two yearcycles ago. The experiment was an instant success. Offering citizens a one-time opportunity to purchase new and exciting products at a generous 2.5 % discount (buy 20 cans of B3, get one free), the Consumer Hour created a median increase of 2.7 % in PLC service firms' revenue.
The upsurge was temporary, and after three monthcycles economic activity took a downward turn. New packaging and subliminal advertising provided only temporary solutions. After market and logistics analysis, the Compulsory Consumer Hour was introduced in 46 test sectors. IntSec agreed to provide the required personnel resources. (In exchange for a 15 % share of the profits generated, it seems.)
The first Compulsory Consumer Hours were highly successful. Sales in the target group increased more than 1,200 %, and the IntSec forces providing marketing assistance exposed more than 500 traitors. Buoyed by the initial success, a shadowy group of high-clearance PLC execs known as the Voodoo_Economists (investigation pending) decided to expand their profits. Apparently they manipulated the distribution of oral hygiene products, stockpiling them in sectors where they had influence (causing severe shortages in sectors CRY & BBY). The mandatory Floss++ purchases were raised from 20 items to 40, effectively doubling the profits.
Refs: B3, Floss++, Voodoo_Economists
-- Enkid-U-RUK-4
Commentary:
An excellent summary of the facts!
For the record, I would like to verify that I had no involvement whatsoever with the Voodoo_Economists, nor was I in any way aware of their activities. Clearly, they went to great lengths to hide their scurrilous schemes from my perspicacious intellect! Any sudden increases in my personal finances during the time period in question are totally unrelated. I have discussed the matter with IntSec, and they corroborate all my claims.
-- Jan-U-ARY-31
I'm sure none of these so-called Voodoo_Economists are present on this review board, if (in fact) any such "shadowy group of high-clearance PLC execs" even exists. Like the WMD_(Warriors_of_Masked_Dentistry) this smells like a budget-devouring witch-hunt in the offing-- one which I hope we all agree should be nipped in the bud. While Compulsory Consumer Hours have, obviously, done well for the PLC bottom line, I think a review of all available financial records will indicate that no member of this board profited unnecessarily from the shortages in CRY & BBY sectors.
-- Knok-U-OUT-5
It is pleasing to see hard numbers being referenced.
Still - "more than 1200%" and "more than 500 traitors" are somewhat vague statements. If you have more precise data, it would be appreciated.
-- Err-U-DYT-9