Jonathan Adler
It was the fatal conceit of socialism, in Hayek’s famous phrase, that wise government bureaucrats could guide society to a better future. Substituting red aspirations with green ones does not change the undertaking’s essential nature-or its likelihood of success.
Content: Quotation | Source: The Economist | Subjects: Economics, Government
The Economist
In principle, patents open up innovations in two ways. First, they confer only temporary rights; once patents expire or are abandoned, the intellectual property they are designed to protect passes into the public domain. Second, they require the details of the invention to be disclosed so they can be replicated. This permits follow-on innovation, which is essential for industrial progress.
More recently, as the patent system … [ Read more ]
Content: Quotation | Source: The Economist | Subjects: Intellectual Property, Legal
The Great Thrift Shift
America is spending while the rest of the world is saving. But for how long?
Editor’s Note: I don’t usually like to add topical articles but the analysis in this one has learning value that I believe will extend beyond the current economic environment…
Content: Article | Author: Zanny Minton Beddoes | Source: The Economist | Subject: Economics
Future Finance: How Technology Can Help Create a High-performance Finance Function
A new survey from Accenture and the Economist Intelligence Unit finds a lack of awareness about the role of technology in improving finance operations. Here are the areas of mastery – technology, structures, processes and outsourcing – that organizations need for a superior finance function.
Content: Article | Sources: Accenture, The Economist | Subjects: Best Practices, Finance
China’s Telecom Market
Driving High-Performance Outsourcing: Best Practices from the Masters
Companies beginning an outsourcing initiative often have more questions than answers. This article presents the results of a study by Accenture and the Economist Intelligence Unit, synthesizing the outsourcing best practices and ideas of hundreds of global executives from companies who have “been there, done that.” In addition to the overall results, you can see specific survey results by industry, including automotive, consumer goods and … [ Read more ]
Content: Article | Sources: Accenture, The Economist | Subjects: Best Practices, Outsourcing / BPO
Management Reading (The Economist)
This Economist section features “What’s In The Journals” which offers a regular wrap-up and commentary on leading articles from a number of business journals. You can also find book reviews and abstracts.
Editor’s Note: my only fault with this site is that there is no corresponding email newsletter so you have to remember to regularly visit the site…
Content: Online Resource | Source: The Economist | Subjects: Education, Reference / Search
Volatility: An Eerie Calm
The fact that implied — ie, expected — volatility in financial markets is so low should give investors everywhere pause for thought.
Editor’s Note: though topical, this article introduces an interesting and useful concept many will be unfamiliar with…
Content: Article | Sources: CFO Publishing, The Economist | Subjects: Economics, Finance
In the Shadows
The informal economy is neither small nor benign.
Content: Article | Source: The Economist | Subject: Economics
But Can You Teach It?
No form of education is more commercialised than management education. But are business schools teaching the right things?
Content: Article | Sources: CFO Publishing, The Economist | Subject: MBA Related
The New Networks
The Lunatic You Work For
If the corporation were a person, would that person be a psychopath?
Content: Article | Sources: CFO Publishing, The Economist | Subject: Miscellaneous
Executive Views on Intangible Assets: Insights from the Accenture / Economist Intelligence Unit Survey
Accenture commissioned the Economist Intelligence Unit to survey executives worldwide regarding their views on intangible assets. Overall, executives clearly recognized the importance of intangible assets but admitted they were a long way from managing them effectively. The results point to a need for more effective methodologies for managing and analyzing the way intangible assets create value.
Content: Article | Sources: Accenture, The Economist | Subject: Management
A Blueprint for Top-Notch Training
The usual narrow approach to training hurts an organisation’s chances of reaching its full potential because training is unlikely to mesh well with the business strategy. On average, about 2% of payroll goes to training The right kind of framework will help training directors determine where and when to place the training dollars that are so vulnerable to the accountants’ red pens Performance management serves … [ Read more ]
Content: Article | Author: Steven Tallman | Sources: Bain & Company, The Economist | Subjects: Best Practices, Human Resources
India Telecom Market
Global Storage Market
Online Retail Booms in UK
Guide to Economic Indicators: Making Sense of Economics (The Economist Series)
Guide for the non-specialist on interpreting economic indicators relating to GDP and GNI (GNP); growth, trends, and cycles; population and employment; government; consumers; investment and savings; industry and commerce; balance of payments; exchange rates; and money and financial markets. Clearly explains the economic realities of today’s world.
Content: Book | Source: The Economist | Subject: Economics
Jeremy Bullmore
Brands were the first piece of consumer protection. You knew where to go if you had a complaint.
Content: Quotation | Source: The Economist | Subject: Marketing / Sales
MRM Software Brings More Visibility to Marketing
Marketing resource management (MRM) automates a host of tedious administrative tasks, from pushing draft proposals through an approval process to monitoring spending, which diverts creative resources. Greater visibility is often cited as one of MRM’s biggest attractions.
Content: Article | Sources: CFO Publishing, The Economist | Subjects: IT / Technology / E-Business, Marketing / Sales