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Economics & Finance

Will the Shifting Economic Power Balance Topple Democracy?

Ilian Mihov

A view on where global democracy stands and where it’s headed in the new economic world order.

Economics & Finance

Key Players in the Indo-Pacific Region

Pushan Dutt

Amid ongoing conflicts, shifting allegiances and incumbents jostling for influence, emerging powers such as India will play an increasingly important role in shaping Indo-Pacific relations.

Economics & Finance

Bridging Prosperity and Need

Alexandra Roulet

A country's overall economic figures don't always speak to the difficulty of life for many people. Even Singapore needs a food bank.

Economics & Finance

When Firms Behave Irrationally

Lin Tian

The actions of firms in low-income countries don’t always match our assumptions.

Strategy

Why Some CEOs Are More Likely to Downsize

Guoli Chen

A firm’s decision on whether to downsize when facing performance shortfalls may depend on the CEO’s internal attribution tendency.

Economics & Finance

The World Economy in 2024: Are We Back on Track?

INSEAD Knowledge

Professor Antonio Fatás explores the long and short-term trends shaping the global economic landscape.

Responsibility

The Risks and Rewards of Community-Driven Business Models

J. Singh, A. Adbi and M. Lee

Understanding the hidden dangers of leveraging social capital in low-income communities.

Economics & Finance

When Information Won’t Reduce Stock Price Volatility Immediately

J. W. Bae, F. Belo, J. Li, X. Lin, X. Zhao

Where company disclosures are concerned, “the more the merrier” doesn’t always apply; complexity and timing matter too.

Economics & Finance

How Web3 and AI Will Transform Finance

J. Davis, J. Kasko

Artificial intelligence and crypto are not only reinventing financial products and delivery, but also influencing who gets to participate.

Economics & Finance

INSEAD Insights: December 2023 Research Picks

Lily Fang

Recent findings on consumer confidence, preventing financial runs, competitor information, regulation and gender bias in the workplace.

Economics & Finance

Thawing US-China Relations: Competition Meets Interdependence

Pushan Dutt

What are the biggest wins from the Biden-Xi meeting on the sidelines of the APEC Forum?

Career

INSEAD Insights: October 2023 Research Picks

Lily Fang

Recent findings on bias in employee evaluations, shareholder activism, children’s mental health, the meaning of work and knowledge weighting.

Economics & Finance

China: Caught in the Middle-Income Trap?

A. Fatas, I. Mihov

What would it take for China to get back on its growth trajectory?
2 comments

Economics & Finance

Pay Attention to the Details

Shiwon Song

Focusing on the right information can pay dividends for any investor.

Economics & Finance

Deflation Woes: Can China Avoid Japanification?

Pushan Dutt

What the world’s second-largest economy could do to stop its spiral into economic stagnation.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Covid-19 Furloughs Helped Firms Thrive

M. Bennedsen, B. Larsen, I. Schmutte, D. Scur

Even keeping low-wage workers on the payroll yielded benefits after Covid-19 restrictions ended.

Economics & Finance

Managing Systemic Risks in Tech: Lessons from Finance

F. Candelon, D. Martinez, P. Nathanial, T. Evgeniou, L. Van der Heyden

The financial sector's track record in risk management offers invaluable lessons for the tech industry.

Economics & Finance

Better Geographic Investing Begins With an Inclusive Index

Bernard Dumas

A novel stock return index can help portfolio managers make more informed investment decisions and better manage risks.

Economics & Finance

Why Demographics Matters More Than Ever for Businesses

C. Zeisberger, D. G. Munro

How understanding expanding and shrinking population subsets could help business and investors identify opportunities to pursue and pitfalls to avoid.

Economics & Finance

US-China Ties: Damage Controlled But Obstacles Ahead

Pushan Dutt

Even before the top US diplomat headed to China this week, talk of a new Cold War was unhelpful. Still, Washington and Beijing have their work cut out steering their relationship back on course.

Economics & Finance

The Future of Energy Transition and Climate Finance

Lily Fang

What more can companies and investors do to facilitate the transition to cleaner energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

Economics & Finance

What Comes After the Fall of Silicon Valley Bank?

INSEAD Knowledge

The bank’s collapse could have significant implications for monetary policy and banking regulations.

Economics & Finance

The Costs of Fuelling Economic Growth

Robert (Bob) Ayres

A study of ten large global economies shows that exergy – not human labour – is the primary driver of GDP growth. Existing production models cannot explain growth.

Economics & Finance

Why Did Silicon Valley Bank Collapse?

L. Fang, K. Snellman, C. Zeisberger, D. G. Munro

Risky investments and a lack of regulatory oversight contributed to the failure of Silicon Valley Bank.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Will ESG Investing Solve Our Pressing Problems?

Lily Fang

ESG or sustainable investing suffers from a principal-agent problem. Far more impact will be achieved when business leaders incorporate sustainability into business decisions.

Economics & Finance

The World Economy in 2023: A Recession Year?

INSEAD Knowledge

How current market and economic conditions will shape the year ahead.

Economics & Finance

China is Back: What Its Reopening Means for the World

L. Fang, C. Lin, G. Chen, X. R. Luo, B. Zhou, A. Fatás

What the world economy, businesses and investors could expect from China’s return to the fray.
1 comment

Responsibility

Five Global Trends in Business and Society in 2023

K. Le Goulven, I. Mihov, M. Stabile

INSEAD faculty weigh in on the greatest threats and opportunities for the year ahead.

Economics & Finance

In the US, Owning a Home May Not Lead to a Better Life

Pierre Mabille

Policies meant to help lower-income Americans purchase homes may be perpetuating the Black-white wealth gap.

Economics & Finance

After the Fall, What’s Next for Crypto?

INSEAD Knowledge

Amid the collapse of crypto exchange FTX, Lily Fang, Antonio Fatás, Peter Zemsky and Jason P. Davis unpack why it happened and where crypto could go from here.
3 comments

Economics & Finance

The Importance of Soft Skills in Driving Productivity

M. Guadalupe, B. Ng

The economy of the future requires a workforce with strong soft skills. Investing in these crucial skills can result in increased productivity.

Economics & Finance

The Road Ahead for Venture Capital

Katy Scott

In this Thinkers50 webinar, Claudia Zeisberger provides insights into the state of the venture world in today’s climate of unprecedented uncertainty.

Economics & Finance

China’s Economy: Dragon in Turbulence

Pushan Dutt

Anaemic growth and a crippling economic war with the United States weigh on Xi Jinping even as he cements his position as China’s most powerful leader since Mao.

Economics & Finance

Can Fintech Be a Force for Good?

Geraldine Ee

In this Thinkers50 webinar, Lily Fang discusses how the meeting of finance and technology could unleash a transformative force towards more inclusive financial services.

Economics & Finance

A Perfect (Macroeconomic) Storm

Antonio Fatás

The outlook for the world economy next year doesn’t inspire optimism.

Responsibility

Responsible AI Has Become Critical for Business

C. Zeisberger, A. Bose

Investors need to prioritise the ethical deployment of AI – too much is at stake if they don’t.

Economics & Finance

Banning Payment for Order Flow May Benefit No One

B. Zhou, M. Baldauf, J. Mollner

Increased regulations could result in reduced market liquidity and a negative impact on retail traders.

Economics & Finance

Affordable Homes for the Poor Can Boost Collective Well-Being

Pierre Mabille

For all their much-studied drawbacks, affordable housing policies can be a net positive for the aggregate welfare of city dwellers.

Economics & Finance

Casting a Wider Net in OTC Trading: For Better or Worse?

S. Glebkin, B. Y. Zhou

Simultaneous multilateral search for quotes may not always lead to the best deal in over-the-counter trading for dealers and the market.

Economics & Finance

A China Blockade of Taiwan Will Hurt Us All

Pushan Dutt

The global economy will bear the consequences of an all-out economic war between the United States and China should the latter try to shut off Taiwan.

Economics & Finance

Biden’s Misguided Tax on Share Buybacks

Theo Vermaelen

The Biden administration’s ideological distaste for companies purchasing their own stock may do more harm than good.
2 comments

Responsibility

Bob Ayres at 90: Key Insights on Energy in the Economy

The Organising Committee of the Bob@90 Conference

Groundbreaking observations on the fundamental role energy and materials play in the economy.
6 comments

Economics & Finance

Too Many ESG Funds Mislead Investors

Theo Vermaelen

Regulatory reckoning with ESG funds does not go far enough.

Economics & Finance

Don’t Kill Share Buybacks

A. Bonaimé, T. Vermaelen

New proposed restrictions on companies buying back their own stock would likely backfire.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Sales Numbers Are Up? It May Only Be Inflation

O. Binz, E. Ferracuti, P. Joos

Managers need proper information systems to decipher the real causes of any bump in sales revenue and decide whether investments are required.

Economics & Finance

Where a Firm’s Value Truly Lies

F. Belo, M. A. Vitorino

A new approach to uncovering the sum of all the parts of a modern firm.

Responsibility

Can Private Equity Make Money While Doing Good?

Claudia Zeisberger

With the right tools, investors can help prevent an impact investing debacle.

Economics & Finance

China’s Urban Rich and the Quest For Common Prosperity

L. Yang, S. H. Lee

The key to closing China’s income gap lies in education and bolstering the ranks of its professionals, the meteoric rise of its urban elites in recent decades suggests.

Economics & Finance

The Unexpected Role of PE Firms in Reducing Within-Firm Pay Inequality

Lily Fang

The incentives that drive PE firms have an interesting by-product: a reduction in income inequalities, such as the gender wage gap.

Economics & Finance

How DBS Became the ‘World’s Best Bank’

V. D. Rao, R. Speculand

The Singapore titan’s tech-charged quest to take the banking out of banking has paid off handsomely.
5 comments

Economics & Finance

A Sign of the Times: The ESG Buyback

Theo Vermaelen

Using ESG sensitivities to market financial products.

Leadership & Organisations

Aligning Individual and Organisational Values

M. Guadalupe, Z. Kinias, F. Schloderer

How employees’ personal values fit within their organisation.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Trust, Social Capital and the Bond Market Benefits of ESG

Hami Amiraslani

Although ESG-oriented investments are becoming increasingly common, their benefits are often only realised during certain time periods. So, when do these investments deliver economic payoffs?

Economics & Finance

When Scandal Hits, It Pays to Resemble the Villain

Ivana Naumovska

Financial wrongdoing by a single firm often batters its industry peers. Managers and investors may yet profit by using a granular lens to identify a handful of firms that will emerge stronger.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

In Global Trade, Familiarity Breeds Commerce

Pushan Dutt

Given time and experience, even countries far apart in geography and culture can build strong trade links.

Economics & Finance

The Missing Millennial Homebuyers

Pierre Mabille

Property prices fell during the Great Recession, but millions of millennials in the US still couldn’t afford their first homes. Here’s why – and how we could tackle the next housing crisis better.

Economics & Finance

How Africa Could Astonish the World

P. Yadav, V. D. Rao

Already the most dynamic and youngest continent, Africa could be the world’s next growth miracle – with the right type of leadership.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Rethinking Capitalism: The Power of Creative Destruction

P. Aghion, I. Laporte

With the proper safeguards, creative destruction – the process by which the new replaces the old – remains the way to greater economic growth and prosperity.

Economics & Finance

When American Firms Misbehave, Chinese Companies Pay the Price

Ivana Naumovska

“Guilt by association” in US financial markets appears to be driven by investors’ prejudice against Chinese firms.

Economics & Finance

When Do Managers Have an Information Advantage Over Analysts?

Theo Vermaelen

The role of network centrality in timing buybacks.

Economics & Finance

There Goes the Neighbourhood: Legalised Marijuana and Property Values

Lin Tian

When a recreational marijuana dispensary opens, it depresses property prices in its immediate vicinity.
2 comments

Economics & Finance

Social Capital Makes the Difference Between ‘Good’ and ‘Bad’ Buybacks

S Huang, K Snellman, T Vermaelen

Executives who respect both the letter and the spirit of ethical norms aren’t born – they’re shaped by their home communities.

Economics & Finance

Reverse Mergers Went Bust. Will SPACs Follow?

Ivana Naumovska

Despite current exuberance, the signs don’t augur well for “blank cheque” companies.

Economics & Finance

Who Wins the Market: The Swift or the Smart?

Bart Zhou Yueshen

Both speed technology and information are vital trading inputs.

Economics & Finance

Can State and Shareholder Capitalism Combine?

The structural “liabilities” of state-owned enterprises can, in fact, be creative assets that privately owned firms can emulate.

Economics & Finance

What It’s Like to Be a Gig Worker During a Pandemic

M. Stabile, A. Roulet

How precarious workers balance financial uncertainty, health risks and mental well-being in the age of Covid-19.

Economics & Finance

Why Universal Basic Income Should Be President Biden’s Top Priority

Robert Ayres & Jeroen van der Bergh

An updated system of income and taxes would alleviate the worst crises the United States faces, including climate change. What’s more, we’ve got the numbers to prove it can work.
9 comments

Economics & Finance

In Bad Times, Decentralised Firms Outperform Their Rivals

P. Aghion, I. Laporte

When there’s increased turbulence, delegating power improves sales and productivity, boosting a firm’s chance of survival.
2 comments

Economics & Finance

Doing Good: Where Sustainable Investing Gets It Wrong

Lucie Tepla

A high sustainability rating does not necessarily equate to real sustainability impact (and profit).

Economics & Finance

A Liquidity Cushion in Troubled Times: The PE Secondaries Market

Even without deep discounts, secondaries’ modest risks and returns are attracting investor interest.

Economics & Finance

Covid Cost-Cutting May Backfire in the Long Run

Oliver Binz

Macroeconomic uncertainty makes firms more profitable in the short-term, but the bill comes due later.

Economics & Finance

How Would an Immigration Surge Affect Your Pay Cheque?

Lin Tian

Workers whose product or output is not easily sold elsewhere are more likely to lose out amid an inflow of immigrants.

Economics & Finance

How Trade Made the Richest 0.1% Even Richer

Dimitrije Ruzic

Better access to foreign markets benefited exporting firms’ top executives disproportionately more than rank-and-file workers.

Economics & Finance

Introducing Excess Value: A Metric for Private Market Outperformance

A Turetsky, M Pyrz, B Griffiths, J Lujan, I Beckel

The gains from private market investing are best understood relative to public benchmarks. But there has been no way to compare the two in currency terms – until now.

Economics & Finance

How Universal Basic Income Could Save Capitalism

Robert U. Ayres

A viable democratic social system must not allow a “winner takes all” approach.
3 comments

Economics & Finance

What’s Behind the Rising Inequality of Everything?

B. Kessler, M. Olsen

However you parse the data, capitalism increasingly appears to disproportionately benefit the very top performers.
7 comments

Economics & Finance

Can Investors Save the Planet While Making a Profit?

D. Gospodinov, C. Zeisberger

Sustainability is fast becoming a core investment focus. Here’s what the industry can learn from the most successful climate impact funds.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Corporate Funding Gap and the Role of Fintech

N. Maneri, J. Dermine

Financing for small and medium enterprises is limited in many parts of the world. Is P2P lending the magic bullet to narrow the funding gap?

Economics & Finance

Covid-19 Furloughs Are Getting the Job Done

M. Bennedsen, B. Larsen, I. Schmutte, D. Scur

Despite questions as to their cost and fairness, employment subsidies in the EU appear to be working as intended.

Economics & Finance

Has Venture Capital Strayed From Its Roots?

M. Varadan, K. Hassan, C. Zeisberger

Take a step back in time to observe how Georges Doriot – the founder of both VC and INSEAD – set up a machine to fuel and fund innovation and development.

Economics & Finance

Impact Investing in Covid-19 Times: A Three-Step Mission

Despite the economic crunch, the joint pursuit of profit and purpose may have a very bright future. But first, we need to return to basics.

Economics & Finance

Private Equity’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan

Benjamin Kessler

Board members and senior managers can learn from the “structured crisis management” techniques PE firms are employing with their portfolio companies.

Economics & Finance

To Save India’s Economy, Think Big, Blunt and Fast

Pushan Dutt

With unemployment pushing 30 percent, the world’s fifth-largest economy needs a strong dose of fiscal and monetary intervention.
3 comments

Economics & Finance

Social Norms for the Era of Social Distancing

Rachael Noyes

What we do determines the trajectory of the pandemic.

Economics & Finance

Three Keys to Ending the Great Lockdown

Lily Fang

Mass testing combined with AI is our best hope of managing the coronavirus and containing the economic fallout.

Economics & Finance

COVID-19: Four Reasons for Optimism About the Stock Market

Theo Vermaelen

Although this economic crisis is unique, there is good news from the recent and distant past.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

The Shape of the COVID-19 Economic Recovery

Rachael Noyes

The shock of shuttering the economy is real and very large. But this is not a normal recession because we decided to shut it down. What happens when we choose to reopen?

Economics & Finance

COVID-19: A Turning Point for Inequality?

Benjamin Kessler

The pandemic calls into question the economic trends of the last four decades.

Economics & Finance

What China’s Cyber-Cash Advantage Means for the Global Economy

Aly Madhavji & Mansoor Madhavji

The rise of cryptocurrency could threaten the dominance of the US dollar and cost the United States trillions in increased debt financing charges.

Strategy

The Changing Tides of the Global Economy

L. F. Monteiro, M. Troyjo

Political economist and diplomat Marcos Troyjo advises us to buckle up for a possible new round of globalisation.

Economics & Finance

The Psychology Behind Coronavirus Panic Buying

A. Yap, C. Chen

The rush for toilet paper and other necessities in the face of COVID-19 is a natural behavioural response to the loss of psychological control.
7 comments

Economics & Finance

The Problem With Politically Motivated Funding Boycotts

Banks that refuse to back controversial companies create space for less fastidious lenders to step in – and to gain advantage.

Economics & Finance

Turn the Office Into a Lab

Using randomized controlled trials, firms can find out what is really going wrong (and right) in their organisations.

Economics & Finance

Warning Tremors Before a Flash Crash

Cross-market arbitrage that connects one marketplace to another should be watched more closely than it is.

Economics & Finance

How the Daily Commute Affects the Gender Wage Gap

A. Roulet, T. Le Barbanchon, R. Barthelot

Women’s aversion for commuting motivates them to look for closer and not-so-well paid jobs compared to men.
2 comments

Economics & Finance

India’s Quiet Digital Revolution

Vinika D. Rao

As China’s breakneck digitisation rivets the world, another Asian giant is unfurling its own transformation.
1 comment

Leadership & Organisations

When an 80-Hour Workweek Helps

High potentials need to work a lot and in a way that is visible to the firm.
2 comments

Economics & Finance

A Hippocratic Oath for Corporations

When it comes to corporate responsibility, it’s time to stop the virtuous talk and begin to take simple actions.
2 comments

Economics & Finance

Universal Basic Income: Lessons From a Failed Experiment

The world needs well-designed studies to move beyond the philosophical aspects of how wealth should be distributed.
4 comments

Economics & Finance

The Changing Face of Family Offices in Europe

C Zeisberger, C Decker-Lange, K Lange

The tumultuous events of the last two decades have affected European family offices differently, in accordance with the continent’s diversity.

Economics & Finance

Information About Differences Ultimately Leads to Profit

When firms participate in industry classifications, their product may turn out to be better or worse than that of their competitors. Either way, the bottom line is boosted.

Economics & Finance

The Global Impact of the Trade Stand-Off Between Japan and South Korea

A regional trade tiff has the potential to bring on a global recession.

Economics & Finance

Less Than Zero: The New Normal for Interest Rates?

Antonio Fatas

Will your bank pay you to borrow money?
6 comments

Economics & Finance

How Benchmarking Can Make Markets More Opaque

Adrian Buss

The growth of assets under management by institutional investors influences the informational efficiency of financial markets, asset prices and investors’ portfolio returns.

Economics & Finance

BRT: A New View of Corporations and Capitalism

Theo Vermaelen & N. Craig Smith

Our experts respond to the Business Roundtable's revised statement of the purpose of a corporation.
3 comments

Economics & Finance

BRT: The Fuzzy Purpose of the Corporation

The Business Roundtable’s statement confuses rather than clarifies.
3 comments

Economics & Finance

BRT: The New Capitalism?

US CEOs have unveiled a bigger tent that puts shareholders on a par with customers, workers, suppliers and communities.

Economics & Finance

Cautious Creativity With Investment Funds: A Guide for Non-Profits

Boris Liedtke & Peter Lai

Why charities should be interested in exchange-traded funds.

Economics & Finance

How the Volkswagen Scandal Turned ‘Made in Germany’ Into a Liability

Dimitrije Ruzic

Firms that leverage a collective reputation for marketing purposes should never lose sight of the fact that one bad apple can spoil the barrel.
2 comments

Economics & Finance

Getting Rid of Gender Bias in Venture Capital

M Varadan, K Hassan, C Zeisberger

The gender gap in VC doesn’t merely reflect society’s sexism. It’s an alarm bell, warning of an industry’s obsolescence.

Economics & Finance

The Trick to Predicting Recessions

A primer on predicting the unpredictable.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

The High Cost of Being Private

Privately held companies need to understand that cost of debt is higher for them, but they can adapt to alleviate it.

Economics & Finance

How Charities Should Manage Their Cash

Boris Liedtke & Peter Lai

For non-profits, a large cash position could signal prudence or betray a lack of investing sophistication.

Economics & Finance

Why Managers – Now More Than Ever – Need to Understand Corporate Finance

Gabriel Hawawini

Sound business strategy isn’t about shareholders vs. stakeholders, but about holistic vs. narrow value creation.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

When Should Non-Profits Invest More Adventurously?

Boris Liedtke & Peter Lai

In select cases, alternative assets can help to diversify a charity’s portfolio and ease the volatility of returns.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Latin American Family Firms and the Path to Longevity

A. Albers-Schoenberg, C. Zeisberger

Survey of family firms shows institutionalisation enables them to overcome the third-generation challenge.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

What Non-Profits Should Know Before Engaging With Money Managers

Boris Liedtke & Peter Lai

Trustees and investment committee members need to acquire a basic understanding of financial instruments.

Economics & Finance

Creating More Economic Equality for Women

B Kessler, C Cortland, Z Kinias

How to address resource-based gender gaps across a wide variety of contexts.

Economics & Finance

Is Full Employment Sustainable?

Antonio Fatas

Research shows in previous economic cycles, the U.S. has not been able to sustain a low unemployment rate.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

How PE and VC Are Closing the Gender Gap in Emerging Markets

Claudia Zeisberger & Heather M. Kipnis

If including women in senior private equity and venture capital leadership teams improves returns, why is the gender gap still so pervasive?

Economics & Finance

What Non-Profits (and Governments) Need to Know About Investment Strategy

Boris Liedtke & Peter Lai

Charities investing in hedge funds isn’t necessarily a cause for concern.

Economics & Finance

Viewing Healthcare Through the Lens of Economics

Hubert Gatignon

A multidisciplinary group of experts share their insights into health economics.

Economics & Finance

Gender Wage Gaps Close When They Are Disclosed

New evidence confirms that transparency creates a more equitable workplace – with no impact on firms’ profit.

Economics & Finance

Finance as a Force for Good

Industry experts discuss how investors, businesses and society all benefit from sustainable finance.

Economics & Finance

The Growing Danger of EU Disintegration

A stabilising hegemonic power or coalition is vital for the EU to survive future crises and the rise of populism.

Economics & Finance

Should Central Banks Start Issuing Cyber-Cash?

Antonio Fatas

To move the fintech debate forward, we need to distinguish between money and payments.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Four Strategies for Balancing Charities’ Investment Risks

Boris Liedtke & Peter Lai

Avoid, reduce, transfer and accept are bywords for a disciplined and cautious approach.

Economics & Finance

The Five Archetypes That Define National Culture

Dissecting the values that constitute culture reveals unexpected contrasts and commonalities between nations.

Economics & Finance

The Return of Realpolitik and the Rise of Populism

The imminent departure of Chancellor Merkel concludes a dystopian era for the European Union.
2 comments

Economics & Finance

Fact and Fantasy About Buybacks: The International Evidence

Share repurchases are good for long-term shareholder value globally.

Economics & Finance

Charities and the Investment Risks They Face

Boris Liedtke & Peter Lai

Macroeconomic changes and fraudulent behaviour pose investment challenges.

Economics & Finance

The Growing Menace of Non-GAAP Measures

S. David Young & H. David Sherman

Firms have become increasingly brazen in their use of alternative metrics which cast their financials in a favourable light.

Economics & Finance

KPIs Should Never Be Tied to Compensation

S. David Young & Kevin Kaiser

Monetised indicator targets too often get in the way of value creation.
9 comments

Economics & Finance

The WTO Is Not Passé

The WTO has played a greater role in the expansion of world trade than preferential trade agreements between small groups of nations.

Economics & Finance

Charities’ Path to Financial Longevity Begins With a Manifesto

Boris Liedtke & Peter Lai

An investment policy statement should guide the work of investment committees.

Economics & Finance

Why Venture Capitalists Should Invest Like Poker Players

K. Hassan, C. Zeisberger

No matter your level of experience, early-stage investments are considered high-risk gambles. Why not treat them as such?
5 comments

Economics & Finance

Unemployment Doesn’t Have to Be So Damaging

Alexandra Roulet

Adequate government policies can eliminate the health and death hazards that usually come with business shutdowns.

Economics & Finance

Can Private Equity Reinvent Itself as Patient Capital?

Kyle Lee & Konstantin Synetos

There is a rising trend against short-termism in private equity.

Economics & Finance

European Safe Bonds Are Unlikely to Attract Investment

The European Commission’s proposal for European safe bonds (ESBies) will not entice low-rated banks away from holding risky domestic government debt.

Economics & Finance

How Charities Can Ensure Financial Longevity

Boris Liedtke & Peter Lai

Charities should create an investment strategy to meet long-term financial liabilities.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

ICOs and Financing Blockchain Projects

A new mechanism for financing innovation: seigniorage.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Business Model Innovation Comes to Private Equity

Many investment firms go beyond leveraged buyouts to build sector-specific investment ecosystems.

Economics & Finance

No End in Sight for the “New Normal” in Monetary Policy

Getting out of a low inflation environment is proving much harder than what we thought.

Economics & Finance

Giving Workers Equal Representation on the Board

Beatrice Weder di Mauro

Germany’s unique, consensus-based system of corporate governance demonstrates how society’s demands shape business culture.

Economics & Finance

Impact Investing Comes Into Its Own

A discussion with Kevin Lu, Chairman for Asia at Partners Group and Distinguished Fellow at INSEAD’s GPEI.

Economics & Finance

Impact Investing Business that Makes a Difference

Jasjit Singh

How one of the world’s largest asset managers is experimenting with a unique impact investing model in Asia.
2 comments

Economics & Finance

The Paradox of Protectionist Populism

Pushan Dutt, Devashish Mitra

Most Americans support free trade. So what accounts for the protectionist rhetoric of a putatively populist president?
2 comments

Economics & Finance

Still in the Danger Zone

The continuing surge of anti-European populists casts a dark shadow over the future of the EU.

Economics & Finance

How the Unbanked Can Save and Borrow

The composition of savings groups makes all the difference to their effectiveness.
2 comments

Economics & Finance

Who Suffers in a Trade War?

The U.S. president is shoring up his base at the expense of the international trade order.
2 comments

Economics & Finance

When Fintech Goes Green

B. Liedtke, P. Walburg

Instead of competing directly with banks, some fintechs are finding opportunities banks haven’t noticed.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Why Economists Should Think Like Plumbers

Mark Stabile

When good policy doesn’t work, it’s often because of bad plumbing, rather than bad economics.
5 comments

Economics & Finance

Short Sellers Hiding in the Noise

B. von Beschwitz, O. Chuprinin & M. Massa

How a soft news story enables short sellers to hide their sales amongst the noise traders.

Economics & Finance

What the Productivity Paradox Means for Our Economic Future

In the midst of a tech boom, productivity growth is slowing. Is the global economy simply gathering strength, or is innovation becoming elusive?

Economics & Finance

Economic Narratives for 2018 Are Too Simplistic

Concerns about rising debt and asset prices driven by central bank liquidity are overstated.

Economics & Finance

Should We Fear the Robot Revolution?

The AI boom holds both utopian and dystopian possibilities that we may not yet be prepared for.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Surviving the Generational Clash

How society can avoid fragmentation as generations blame one another for these precarious times.

Family Business

What Family Firms Need to Ensure Longevity

Bowen White

The professionalization of leading family firms.

Economics & Finance

The Stock Market’s Potential as a Wealth Equaliser

Nudging people to invest in the stock market could reduce wealth inequality.
2 comments

Economics & Finance

Governments: The Next Heroes of Innovation

As the world’s biggest buyers of goods and services, governments can play a starring role in the pursuit of knowledge-economy reforms.

Economics & Finance

Retail Trading Ripe for Fintech Disruption

Warren Lee & Theodoros Evgeniou

Start-ups in the capital market space are a small part of the fintech world but find multiple opportunities to disrupt retail trading.

Economics & Finance

Why China Needs “Soft” Infrastructure Investment Now

W. Lam, A. Schipke, B. Weder di Mauro

The Chinese government must move away from directing and owning resources.

Economics & Finance

Europe’s Single Resolution Mechanism Is Creating Instability

Recent bank bailouts show that the Single Resolution Mechanism doesn’t work in its current form.

Economics & Finance

How Value Is Destroyed in Acquisitions and Disposals

Boris Liedtke & S. David Young

Corporate incentives are often skewed towards short-term gains at the expense of long-term value.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

The Virtuous Circle Between Financial Information and Innovation

Firms’ R&D activities and financiers’ information about innovative projects reinforce one another.

Economics & Finance

Share Buybacks Are Corporate Suicide

R. Ayres, M. Olenick

When firms invest too heavily in buying back shares, there is likely to be trouble ahead.
3 comments

Economics & Finance

How Private Investors Can Narrow the Global Infrastructure Gap

Governments have been unable to address infrastructure shortfalls. Private investors can help fill the gap.

Economics & Finance

The Role of Digital in Financial Planning

Lucas Weatherill & Boris Liedtke

Retirement planning, riddled with uncertainty and consumer biases as it is, may be best handled with a mix of digital and face-to-face advice.

Economics & Finance

The Dark and the Darker Sides of the Market

Bart Zhou Yueshen & Rachael Noyes

Total transparency in financial trading can be costly.

Economics & Finance

Banks Are Passing the Buck in Cost Cutting

Boris Liedtke & S. David Young

Misaligned incentives still reign in the banking industry, turning cost cutting into a hot potato passed around divisions.
2 comments

Economics & Finance

Response to Henning Huenteler: Use Climate Funds to Deal With Consequences

The amount of money needed to comply with Paris Agreement would be better spent on funds that will alleviate climate change damage.
3 comments

Economics & Finance

Response to Professor Vermaelen: U.S. Climate Policy Is Based on Shaky Arguments

Giving President Trump credit for a careful cost-benefit analysis misses the details and implications of this decision.

Economics & Finance

How In-Work Benefits Reduce Poverty

The U.S. and Canada adopted similar programmes to combat family poverty in the 1990s. How have they fared?

Economics & Finance

Trump’s Climate Policy is Based on Cost-Benefit Analysis

President Trump’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris accord is based on economic arguments.
5 comments

Economics & Finance

Why Your Financial Planner Should Be a Robot

Lucas Weatherill & Boris Liedtke

Retirement planning requires more data and less human involvement to nudge customers to a more comfortable future.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Banks Are Still Thinking Short-Term

Boris Liedtke & S. David Young

A single-minded focus on the bottom line can destroy value.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

China’s Colonial Ambitions

Paulo Vicente dos Santos Alves & Fabian Salum

China is heading down the path of colonialism as it tries to slake its thirst for resources.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

A (Temporary) Reprieve for Europe

Macron’s probable victory gives the EU a chance to recover from recent shocks but will he be able to “turn around” France?
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Economics & Finance

Private Secondary Markets: A Growing Investment Opportunity

Tech companies want to stay private for longer, driving interest and liquidity in secondary markets.

Economics & Finance

How Invisible Inequality Hurts the Poor

We need to confront how increasing income inequality is affecting people’s inner lives.

Economics & Finance

A Recipe for Employee Motivation

Absenteeism is less prevalent in family firms than in non-family firms.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Mortgage Foreclosures: A Necessary Evil?

Limiting foreclosure will make mortgage-backed securities more risky and banks lend less.

Economics & Finance

The Economic Consequences of Shareholder Value Maximisation

Robert U. Ayres

Shareholder primacy is causing secular stagnation.

Economics & Finance

The Stars Are Aligning for Socially Responsible Investing

Calls for a more inclusive style of capitalism are boosting a budding industry.

Economics & Finance

What Are Trump’s Promises Really Worth?

Poorer voters may have misjudged Trump by taking him “seriously but not literally” on income inequality.

Economics & Finance

Mix Enforcement With Persuasion

For the best compliance, don’t just enforce the rules, set the norms.

Economics & Finance

The Future for Share Buybacks Under Trump

Despite his protectionist tone, some of President Trump’s proposed policies indicate a positive environment for buybacks ahead.

Economics & Finance

The Implications of the EU vs. Apple Case

Morten Bennedsen & Mark Stabile

The European Commission is taking a gamble with its case against Apple’s tax arrangements in Ireland.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

How Business Can Respond to Populist Pressures

The rise of public-sector power obliges firms to get serious about emotional capital and rely on middle managers.

Economics & Finance

Unilever: Why Firms Should Maximise Shareholder Value

If firms lose sight of shareholder value maximisation, they make themselves vulnerable to takeover.
6 comments

Economics & Finance

How the Market Reacts to Media “Bias”

The stock market is incapable of distinguishing between actual and perceived media bias.

Economics & Finance

Anti-Takeover Provisions Backfire

The more protected the firm, the less takeover premium it can command.

Economics & Finance

Building a Cluster from the Outside In

Abu Dhabi’s diversification strategy rests in part on laying the seeds of future industries overseas while preparing for their reception at home.

Economics & Finance

Thinking in Scenarios Improves Forecasts

Making accurate predictions based on historical precedent is flawed, but thinking in scenarios reduces uncertainty.

Economics & Finance

Financial Regulation in Volatile Markets

A. Buss, B. Dumas

Regulation should limit speculative activities without impairing risk sharing.

Economics & Finance

Are Investors Underpricing Current Risks?

Since the U.S. election, the risk premium has gone down, which is puzzling.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

The Future World Order

With globalisation on the ropes and a hegemon in decline, prevalent political science theories suggest a conflictual future.
4 comments

Economics & Finance

How to Model Our Future Cities?

The representation of the city we need is a mystery to us; now, without that vision, we "mutilate" urban value.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Why You Should Give Investors Greater Say on CEO Pay

Even non-binding shareholder votes on CEO pay improve firm performance and shareholder value.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

How China Can Innovate

Unless China improves its intellectual property protection, it will not create the environment needed for sustained innovation and growth.

Economics & Finance

Understanding Populism: Inequality by the Numbers

The populist surge of 2016 was a long time coming, as data on income inequality demonstrates.
3 comments

Economics & Finance

The End of Globalisation? How Executives Should Respond

If globalisation is to be preserved, business may be required to give up some economic freedom.

Economics & Finance

Emerging Markets – The Comeback Story

Uncertainty in the rich world and a new growth normal in developing economies add up to big changes.

Economics & Finance

What Really Matters Is Poverty, Not Income Inequality

P. Dutt, I.Tsetlin

Machine learning affords insight into what affects social and economic progress.
3 comments

Economics & Finance

The End of Globalisation?

Political science suggests that a reversal, or even collapse, of globalisation is a distinct possibility.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Donald Trump: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

INSEAD professors react to the election of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States.

Economics & Finance

Why the Intellectual Elite Can’t Learn Its Lesson

Even after failing to predict Brexit and Trump, elites haven’t reckoned with their own limitations.
10 comments

Economics & Finance

Hail the Populist Counter-Revolution!

The parallels between today and the 1930s are disturbing.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Forget the Stereotypes About Conglomerates

Nirmalya Kumar

Not all diversified groups deserve the “conglomerate discount”. Some types are more likely to add value than others.

Economics & Finance

The EU Cannot Be at the Mercy of the Few

A small group of farmers blocking an important trade agreement highlights the EU’s vulnerability to the “tragedy of the commons”.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Sensational News Distracts Retail Investors

Daniel Schmidt & Joel Peress

Sensational TV news events drain liquidity and reduce volatility in stocks mainly owned by retail investors.

Economics & Finance

Actually, the Stock Market Looks Cheap

Some investors fear that the recent records set by the stock market are signs of a giant bubble.
2 comments

Economics & Finance

The Ocean Cannot Absorb Much More CO2

Robert U. Ayres

Most carbon emissions are absorbed by the ocean, but it’s running out of capacity, which could make global temperatures rise even faster.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Is Hillary Clinton Right About Share Buybacks?

Theodoros Evgeniou & Theo Vermaelen

Share buybacks do not undermine long-term shareholder value.

Economics & Finance

The Climate Could Be More Sensitive to CO2 Than We Think

Climate sensitivity could be underestimated, adding urgency to reducing carbon emissions.

Economics & Finance

The Middle East’s New Oil Paradigm

Nasser Saidi & Patricia McCall

Saudi Aramco’s proposed partial privatisation is the start of much needed GCC reform.

Economics & Finance

The Factors That Create Outperforming Stars

A small number of people account for the vast majority of value creation in private equity.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Operational Improvement the Private Equity Way

The private equity approach to operational improvement is selective and takes place in phases.
2 comments

Economics & Finance

European Union Faces Another Year of Living Dangerously

Beware - the European Union is not set in stone. It can disintegrate.
2 comments

Economics & Finance

Settling the Debate on Climate Change

Robert U. Ayres

Scientists are closer than ever to definitively proving that climate change exists and putting the deniers to rest.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Why We Need Facts and Experts

Reasoned economic and scientific debate is sorely lacking in developed countries despite high education levels.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Gender Diverse Boards May Have Less Inside Information

Theos Evgeniou & Theo Vermaelen

Gender diverse boards are less likely to use share buybacks to buy undervalued shares and achieve excess returns, than male-dominated ones, which may have better access to information networks.

Economics & Finance

Commercial Real Estate Needs a Digital Transformation

From landowners to urban residents, all stakeholders would benefit from bringing digital, collaborative and transformational elements together in the traditional real estate value chain.

Economics & Finance

The Brexit Breakup Brings New Opportunities

The Brexit referendum result sparked market volatility, upending the status quo, but it is not all doom and gloom.

Economics & Finance

The Mixed Results of Motivational Rankings

Andrew Shipilov & Henrich Greve

Rankings designed to shame companies into changing their behaviour often accomplish just the opposite.

Economics & Finance

Doing Good by Investing in Sin

Diverting investments away from “sin” doesn’t necessarily make the world a better place.
13 comments

Economics & Finance

The Cost of Being Associated with Tax Havens

James O'Donovan, Hannes Wagner & Stefan Zeume

Firms with shell companies in four tax havens linked to the “Panama Papers” leak lost more than US$220 billion in market capitalisation following the revelations. Firms with activities in corrupt countries suffered even greater losses.

Economics & Finance

Soft Stick Regulation Improves Disclosure

Open communication between regulator and company improves disclosure practices and reduces investor uncertainty.

Economics & Finance

Ten Questions to Ask Before Pursuing an Acquisition

Claudia Zeisberger & Graham Oldroyd

Corporate acquirers can benefit from asking the same questions private equity firms ask themselves before pursuing acquisitions.
2 comments

Economics & Finance

China’s Slowdown is a Natural Phenomenon

When compared to other countries making the transition to developed economies, China’s slowdown looks normal.

Economics & Finance

The Benefits of Inflating Inflation Expectations

Setting a higher target should move inflation expectations in the right direction and help the ECB reach that target.

Economics & Finance

Fintech Versus Banks: Déjà Vu?

Those sounding the death knell of the banking industry at the hands of fintech start-ups are underestimating the resilience of banks to disruptions.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

The Cost of Geopolitics to M&As

Laurence Capron & Olivier Bertrand

When geopolitical relations between nations are strained, states are more inclined to intervene to block mergers and acquisitions on national security grounds. But this makes mergers more difficult and more expensive, putting them at odds with the national interest.

Economics & Finance

The Innovation Potential of Human-Centred Cities

Cities designed around the individual can support sustainable urban development and create lasting value and innovation.
3 comments

Economics & Finance

The Best-Case Scenario for Avoiding Brexit

The Brexit referendum could be a knockout victory for Cameron and Whitehall, if they adopted this simple solution.
2 comments

Economics & Finance

How China Can Avoid the Middle Income Trap

Michael A. Witt

Without further institutional development, China is headed for the middle-income trap.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Is Fintech Here to Stay?

2015 was the best year for venture investment in US Fintech start-ups since 2000, with $21.6 billion invested, but the number of deals fell for the first time since 2009.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Central Banks Need to Get Real (Not Nominal)

To benefit the economy in the long–term, central banks need to reassess their attitude to short-term nominal interest rates.

Economics & Finance

What Now For the European Central Bank?

The European Central Bank seems to have hit the limit of what it can do to stimulate growth.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Does Democracy Help or Hinder Growth?

Regardless of its appeal politically, can democracy be defended on economic grounds alone?
1 comment

Economics & Finance

The Road to Brexit and What it Would Mean

The United Kingdom (U.K.) may vote to leave the European Union (EU) on June 23. The implications of this – for the EU as well as the U.K. - are important … and overwhelmingly negative.
4 comments

Economics & Finance

China: Years of Decline?

Hellmut Schütte

China’s 2015 growth rate sent shivers through global markets, but the country added the equivalent output of Thailand and the Philippines to its economy last year.

Economics & Finance

Aramco IPO: It’s Not About the Money

Is the proposed sell off of Aramco the start of a Thatcherite revolution in Saudi Arabia?
2 comments

Economics & Finance

Have the BRICs Hit a Wall? The Next Emerging Markets

As the BRICs falter, a new group of growth economies is emerging, but they have lots of work to do before they are stable enough to become serious players.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

What “The Big Short” Gets Right—and Wrong

For a Hollywood movie, “The Big Short” is surprisingly sophisticated about what caused the financial crisis, but it fumbles a few key issues.
3 comments

Economics & Finance

The Risks of Fast News Analytics and Institutional Trading

High frequency news analytics services give institutional traders an edge by speeding up reaction times to new information. But this efficiency comes at a price.

Economics & Finance

Keep Europe Borderless

The Schengen Accord is one of the most tangible achievements of European integration and a boon for cross-border business. Resurrecting border controls will be politically and economically costly.
5 comments

Economics & Finance

Even in Non-Corrupt Countries, Political Power Pays Off

Illegal rent-seeking may be rarer in Western developed nations, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be concerned with transparency.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Fiscal Consolidations Make Crises Worse

Post-crisis fiscal consolidations can have persistent and permanent effects on growth. More aggressive fiscal and monetary policy is needed, not less.

Economics & Finance

A New Look at The Housing Market

Amine Ouazad

A new formula for forecasting house prices suggests easy credit can do more harm than good when it comes to creating a fair and open housing market.

Economics & Finance

Collaborating to Compete

Maria Guadalupe

The Dutch flower cluster shows how much value can be found in a commoditised sector that collaborates before it competes

Economics & Finance

Is The World Ready For the Next Recession?

Another recession is coming in the not-too-distant future. With monetary policy not yet back to normal, governments and central banks should start planning their responses.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Time for an Economic Rethink

As the "lowflation" phenomenon continues, is it time to revolutionise how we view the world's economies?

Economics & Finance

The Double-Edged Sword of Globalisation

Seven long-term trends underscore both the hope and the threat that globalisation has brought to our world.

Economics & Finance

Where Are the Best Private Equity Returns?

Quarterly and annual returns from Chinese private equity are more volatile than global funds, but a portfolio of Chinese funds offers a surprisingly good risk-return profile.

Economics & Finance

Innovation Enriches the 1%, While Increasing Social Mobility

David Hemous

The quickening pace of innovation has made life both sweeter and more unstable for the mega-rich, and given the poor a higher chance of reaching the top.

Economics & Finance

Protecting Minority Shareholders Pays

Where minority shareholders are protected, more investment takes place.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

The Real Cause of Low Interest Rates

Are lower interest rates creating an unstable financial future?

Economics & Finance

Why Do Governments So Often Disappoint?

Maria Guadalupe, Subi Rangan

Notwithstanding serious effort and dedication, so often there is a shortfall between peoples' expectations of government and what government delivers. At a recent symposium on government and progress, participants explored why and suggested that a new social contract is needed between public leaders and citizens.

Economics & Finance

The Left Has Found a New Enemy: Share Buybacks

Attacking share buybacks is misguided. When companies buy back shares it is not only a sensible use of excess cash, but good for shareholders and good for the economy.

Economics & Finance

It’s Time for the EU to Embrace Haircuts on Greek Debt

European taxpayers have already lost money on loans to Greece. EU lenders should accept a haircut on Greek debt to shield them from even greater losses.

Economics & Finance

Hack Society

Government has always decided where to allocate resources for the greatest social good, but it might be better done by “the crowd”.

Economics & Finance

A Third Scenario for Stock Markets

Are stock prices expensive or cheap? Compared to other asset classes, prices are consistent with historical levels.

Economics & Finance

Governing in an Age of Great Expectations

Government matters for societal progress and will always do so. In which ways and to what extent depends on the social contract.

Economics & Finance

Who’s Afraid of BlackRock?

Should large asset managers be subjected to the same scrutiny as banks and insurers? The industry says financial giants like BlackRock pose no threat to the marketplace. But our research tells a very different story.

Economics & Finance

Do You Have What it Takes to Work in Private Equity?

The dynamic, fast-paced operating environment of a PE-backed company can provide executives with a unique career opportunity and very attractive rewards. But it’s not for the faint hearted.

Economics & Finance

How Greece Can Unite its People

Divisions and distrust are keeping Greece from bouncing back. Uniting the people for the sake of the nation, not of its politicians, could help.

Economics & Finance

Micromanaging European Reforms is Sowing Disunity

“More Europe” is not necessarily the solution to ensuring a robust domestic reform agenda in member states.

Economics & Finance

The Euro Is in Deep Trouble

Last-minute agreements may have prevented a “Grexit”—for the moment—but the Eurozone’s troubles are only likely to worsen.

Economics & Finance

Impact Investing in Future Leaders

“Soaring inequality isn’t about education, it’s about power.” Paul Krugman, Economics Nobel Laureate
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Lack of Trust Is Preventing a Long-Term Greek Solution

Any outcome of the current negotiations between Greece and its European creditors won’t satisfy either party.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Are Central Banks Keeping Interest Rates Artificially Low?

Interest rates are currently low everywhere. There is little evidence that central banks are the cause.

Economics & Finance

Why You Should Care About Family Office Values

Asian family offices are at a nascent stage of development; while they are keen to progress, there are clear philosophies they don’t see the need to change.
4 comments

Economics & Finance

Reforming Europe: It’s Time to Accept Differences

Reforms are happening where they’re needed in Europe, but their effects are not as big as planned and they’re not always happening fast enough. To accelerate the reform process, national approaches are needed.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

When Three’s a Crowd: How to Upset a Good Partnership

The French state’s intrusion into Renault-Nissan may upset a very strong alliance.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

A Stand-off in Euroland: Athens on a Knife-Edge

The future of the Eurozone has been thrust into uncertainty as Berlin and Athens descend further into mutual resentment.
2 comments

Entrepreneurship

Capitalism: Making Altruism Sustainable

Those with a genuine interest in helping the poor can apply capitalist principles to understand the needs of the market and provide it with what it needs.
5 comments

Economics & Finance

Competition Makes Bloggers Reckless

As bloggers strive to be heard are we missing out on the truth?

Economics & Finance

Is The Greek Dra(ch)ma Making a Comeback?

If Greece leaves the Euro area, it could generate a crisis of unknown consequences. This should drive the negotiators to seek compromise over the issue of reforms.

Economics & Finance

Is Urban Harmony Bad for Business?

Market realities are more to blame than social elites for the rise of segregation in today’s cities.

Economics & Finance

Stop Selling!

We don’t trust salespeople because they are mostly obsessed with satisfying their own interests, not the customer’s. This must change.
3 comments

Economics & Finance

The Future for Labour Is Self-Employment

The technological revolution won’t phase the human worker out of existence, but it will change the way we work.
2 comments

Economics & Finance

Four Ways to Gain Positions of Power

Weak players in organisations can overcome their dependence on powerful actors, but it comes at a cost.
8 comments

Economics & Finance

Fighting Inequality Starts with Early Childhood Development

Kaisa Snellman

Income inequality may have the greatest impact on society’s most vulnerable: very young children. Without addressing early childhood development, efforts to close class gaps may fall short.
1 comment

Leadership & Organisations

The Path of an Exemplary Leader

Lee Kuan Yew was a pragmatic realist who favoured logical problem solving over idealism. Singapore is his monument.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

The Changing Face of Private Equity in Emerging Markets

Bowen White

Brazil reflects the changing fortunes of emerging market investment and how private equity firms are adapting.
2 comments

Economics & Finance

How Business Schools Must Evolve

Business education must enable students to reconcile enterprises with the changing realities of the global marketplace.

Economics & Finance

What’s Behind the September Stock Market Blues?

Lily Fang

Wall Street traders know that September is ominous for stocks. Despite the complexity of the market, the reason boils down to something as simple as the post-holiday “blues”.
3 comments

Economics & Finance

Let the Central Bankers Inflate

Worries about central banks trying to create inflation are overblown.

Economics & Finance

What China’s “New Normal” Means for Leaders

Slowing economic growth and the changing shape of leadership and management in China.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Making Pension Systems Stronger via Financial Markets

Life expectancy keeps increasing and pension payout levels are often higher than what a company or fund originally accounted for. This risk of ‘longevity’ can be transferred to financial markets, but pricing and risk management of longevity risk are urgently needed.

Economics & Finance

Where the Great Recession Took the Greatest Toll

Sometimes just looking at the headline figure is not the best way to judge a country’s performance in times of crisis.

Economics & Finance

Fast and Furious Finance Careers Are Things of the Past

Finance has become a difficult industry to operate in with tighter regulation around the world post financial crisis. Now more than ever, those set on a career in investing need long-term views, curiosity and lots of patience.

Economics & Finance

Not the Debt, But the Future: The Crux of the Eurozone Crisis

Now that the Syriza party has won the Greek election, what comes next will not be easy.

Economics & Finance

Margin Call on Overleveraged China

The explosion in margin lending has fuelled a baseless rally in the Shanghai Composite, but the magnitude of leverage in the stock market is still coming to light.

Economics & Finance

The Dark Side of Social Media: Did Facebook, Twitter and YouTube Kill Charlie?

Terrorists actively use social media networks to spread their propaganda and recruit fighters as well as copycats. Should social media be regulated and, if so, how?
4 comments

Economics & Finance

No Level Playing Field in After-School Activities

Working-class students are disappearing from extracurricular activities, an alarming sign of declining social mobility.

Economics & Finance

Are We Ready to Make Decisions for Our Retirement?

Rapidly aging populations are forcing policymakers to rethink pensions. Defined contribution schemes are quickly becoming the norm, but people don’t yet seem ready for them.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

The Buyback Fund That Gives Back

A buyback fund we launched in 2011 has continued to grow in 2014 and is now open to small investors.
2 comments

Economics & Finance

This is How Greece Might Leave the Euro

Germany and the ECB may not come to the rescue this time.
2 comments