The Roll-Up

August 2024

Going For Gold

Sure, winning gold for your country is pretty nice, but what are some of the perks you can expect to receive upon your triumphant return to your homeland? This month, we're rolling-up some of the more unique incentives countries dish out to their most prized athletes... those NIL deals don't look that crazy after all:

Indonesia: When badminton champs Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu returned home after the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, they were showered with gifts: a new house, a few cows, and their very own meatball restaurant. Because nothing says "Congratulations, you're a champion!" like a mooing housewarming party and a lifetime supply of meatballs from your fellow countrymen!

Taiwan: Gold medalists in Taiwan hit the jackpot with NT$20 million (over $600,000) and a lifetime monthly stipend of NT$125,000 (about $4,000) through a government medal program. Talk about a golden retirement plan!

Kazakhstan: Olympic winners here are legally entitled (yes, it is a law) to apartments, with the size depending on the medal color. Bronze might get you a studio, but gold? Now you're living large.

China: When Yi Siling snagged gold in the air rifle event at the 2012 London Olympics, Chinese authorities showered her with $7.65 million yuan (over $1 million), a luxury car, and custom-made alcohol (whatever that is). Other athletes often score expensive new homes from real estate companies – a clever way to deal with the massive supply of vacant Chinese housing!

Russia: Winning gold in Russia can catapult you straight into power. Champions receive 4 million rubles ($45,300), luxury foreign cars, apartments, honorary titles, and lifetime stipends. Many Olympic heroes even transition to careers in politics, because why not trade a podium for a podium?

South Korea: Practicality takes the prize in South Korea. Any Olympic medalist can skip their mandatory military service, which is no small perk considering all adult men must enlist by age 28 for at least 18 months.

The U.K., Norway, & Sweden: Tough luck, athletes. No extra prizes for you. Maybe next time?

Colorado Barricade Expands CO Footprint

We're excited to announce the opening of two new Colorado Barricade facilities in Aurora and Colorado Springs this summer. This expansion enhances the Company's ability to provide top-notch traffic control, temporary fence rentals, barricades and custom signage services to the southern Colorado and eastern Denver metro markets.

Colorado Barricade is a provider of roadway safety, pavement marking, traffic control, and sign installation solutions for commercial customers, utility contractors and roadway infrastructure maintenance providers.

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Infants & Inflation

Babies are expensive (understatement of the year!), so you'd expect high inflation to mean lower birth rates, right?

Surprisingly, birth rates and inflation seem to rise together. This trend makes sense when you consider that inflation can be driven by increased spending or population growth.

Two major periods of global instability, the Vietnam War era and the COVID-19 era, both saw higher birth rates and inflation. Further fueling the early 1970s overheated economy was the 500,000 troops re-entering daily life in America; and it was a long trip, Sailor!

From 1972 to 1979, the growth in the US birth rate climbed 12 percentage points from -8% to +4%, while inflation jumped 10.5 percentage points to 14% by 1980.

So, Mr. Powell, what's your plan this time?

The Roll-Up

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