He discovered a trade publication called Flexible Packaging and in it, found a manufacturer in California that could recreate the pouches used by Andros and Materne: a blend of recyclable, food-grade plastic and aluminum, with a resealable pouch that could hold 90 grams of applesauce.

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Lower trade barriers, more flexible work practices and deregulation of product markets have boosted productivity growth and put the economy on a better footing to withstand shocks.

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David Cameron's European idea is of a flexible, pragmatic union that focuses on trade.

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Even when the zloty hardened, demand from Germany kept exports booming (keen prices and flexible workers make Polish subcontractors a vital part of the Teutonic trade machine).

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It is hard to see how the 11.3% of the German workforce who are out of work, measured by the latest unadjusted figures, benefit from trade-union opposition to the idea of more flexible working patterns and less rigid job protection.

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Furthermore, Kramer believes that the dissatisfaction derived from the work-life trade-offs may also be eased by company-supported flexible work policies, including paid vacation, flexible work arrangements or telecommuting and compressed workweeks.

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The report gave warning, however, that to prevent large trade imbalances, reforms would be needed to make prices and wages more flexible and workers and capital more mobile.

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Learning how to day trade and adapting to the norms of other cultures while travelling has taught me to be a more flexible person.

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Offering flexible "click and collect" services and encouraging customers to browse online from in-store kiosks could encourage more trade, she suggested.

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