The Eurozone economy continues to wallow in dismal results. Inflation fell to 1.8% in February, but unemployment overall rose to 11.9% in January, which represents 19 million people out of work. The unemployed include 23.6% of youth under 25 years of age. Consumer demand dropped and the Markit Eurozone Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index, at 47.9…
Gold-mining returns to California after a six decade hiatus. Canadian company, Sutter Gold Mining Inc., controls mining rights to approximately 3.6 miles of the California Mother Lode Gold Belt in Amador County, California. The primary focus today is the Lincoln-Comet zone of the Lincoln Project that is at the heart of the Mother Lode region. …
Iron ore mining costs rise beyond control for Anglo American’s Minas-Rio Brazil project. Permit and licensing difficulties with the Brazilian government led the company to write down $4 billion in the project value this month. This may be the first of other write downs, as costs continue to rise over three times beyond the original…
The World Economic Forum recently released a study it conducted with Bain & Company and the World Bank on the relationship between supply chain barriers, tariffs and the world GDP. Combining case studies of individual companies and industries with empirical macroeconomic analysis, they conclude that “reducing supply chain barriers to trade could increase GDP up…
Using your classroom teams in their online Wiki sites, have students conduct the following studies: Choose two countries listed on the Big Mac index discussed in this month’s Tech Tips. Conduct a PESTEL analysis of the factors relevant to the fast food industry in each country. Does the Big Mac index provide any insight? Explain.…
Using your classroom teams in their online Wiki sites, have students conduct the following studies: Choose two of the countries listed in the WEF Global Competiveness Index 2012-13 and the Global Innovation Index 2012 studies presented in this month’s research section. Compare and contrast the data provided and conclusions made. What does this information suggest…
The INSEAD-World Intellectual Property Organization co-published study of 141 countries consists of 84 indicators that differentiate the countries regarding innovation. Keeping R&D investment steady across the years appears to result in higher innovation than does merely investing in innovation during crises. The study finds strong support for public-private partnerships driving innovation. It also supports the…
The World Economic Forum produces the Global Competitiveness Index which, since 2005, measures national competitiveness in terms of microeconomic and macroeconomic factors. Competitiveness is defined as “the set of institutions, policies and factors that determine the level of productivity of a country.” The more competitive the economy, the more likely it is to sustain growth. …
Will Beacham, Deputy Editor and London Bureau Chief for the weekly industry title ICIS Chemical Business, discusses AkzoNobel’s innovation strategy with CEO, Hans Wijers, and CIO, Graeme Armstrong. They evoke the three long term trends that underlie the AkzoNobel strategy: demographics, globalization, and sustainability. Looking to benefit both society in general and its customers in…
After five years of stiff competition for its Fresh & Easy brand in the US, Tesco Plc. announced in December that it is reviewing its commitment to staying in the US market. Returning to its roots in the UK, Tesco CEO, Phil Clarke is positioning the firm to service its home market first and then…