Business & Entrepreneurship

Consumer demand is making aluminum cans more relevant than ever, according to a report from the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business. More than 92 billion aluminum beverage cans were sold in the U.S. in 2011 reflecting a decline in annual sales -- particularly among standard 12-ounce cans -- since the industry’s peak five years prior.

Colorado business leaders’ attitudes remained almost unchanged going into the fourth quarter, according to the most recent quarterly Leeds Business Confidence Index, or LBCI, released today by the Leeds School of Business . The LBCI’s reading remained positive, above the critical mark of 50, but fell from 53.6 in the third quarter to 51.6 in the fourth. A reading greater than 50 indicates positive expectations, while one lower than 50 indicates negative expectations.

Colorado business leaders’ attitudes remained almost unchanged going into the fourth quarter, according to the most recent quarterly Leeds Business Confidence Index, or LBCI, released today by the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business. The LBCI’s reading remained positive, above the critical mark of 50, but fell from 53.6 in the third quarter to 51.6 in the fourth. A reading greater than 50 indicates positive expectations, while one lower than 50 indicates negative expectations.

The depth of explanation about novel products influences consumer preferences and willingness to pay, according to a study led by the University of Colorado Boulder and Brown University. When it comes to descriptions about the functions of new and unusual goods -- such as a self-watering plant system, special gloves for touchscreens or an eraser for wall scratches -- some people prefer minimal details. Dubbed “explanation foes” in the study, they gain a strong sense of understanding and desire for products through shallow explanations.

The Anschutz Foundation has committed $2 million to launch two new initiatives designed to make the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder a more powerful economic contributor to Colorado and beyond. The contribution from The Anschutz Foundation will be divided evenly between two undergraduate programs.

The Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder is trying out a whole new way of introducing its freshmen to college. First-year Leeds students will plunge into an intensive full-day program of action learning called “CoLab: Essentials of Collaboration and Innovation” on Aug. 25. CoLab is designed to orient the Class of 2016 to what it takes to be a successful business school student, as well as what it means to be a successful business leader.

Presidential Election. Kenneth Bickers, professor of political science at the University of Colorado Boulder, can comment on the U.S. presidential race in Colorado and nationally, campaign issues and tactics, the youth vote and the 2012 election in general. He also can discuss whether a political party gains any advantage in the state where it holds its national convention. He can be reached at 303-492-2363 or bickers@colorado.edu .

The Colorado economy continues to grow at a modest pace in 2012, positioning the state among the healthier in growth nationally, according to economist Richard Wobbekind of the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business. Midway through the year, Colorado’s job growth rate is up to about 1.6 percent -- a gain of about 35,000 jobs in 2012 if the pace holds steady.

The University of Colorado Boulder today announced the start of a national search for the inaugural Visiting Scholar in Conservative Thought and Policy. An advisory committee of five faculty members and five community members is soliciting letters of interest and curriculum vitae for the position, which will be housed in CU-Boulder’s College of Arts and Sciences. The committee seeks a “highly visible” scholar who is “deeply engaged in either the analytical scholarship or practice of conservative thinking and policymaking, or both.”

Colorado business leaders are less optimistic going into the third quarter than last quarter, according to the most recent quarterly Leeds Business Confidence Index, or LBCI, released today by the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business. The LBCI’s reading slid from 62.2 in the second quarter to 53.6 in the third, but remained higher than the 10-year average for the index and above the critical neutral mark of 50. A reading greater than 50 indicates positive expectations, while one lower than 50 indicates negative expectations.