In 2019, the global crowdfunding market generated $13.93 billion. It is estimated that this figure will almost triple to $39 billion by 2026. It is no surprise that many entrepreneurs and startups are trying to utilize it for their business…
All posts filed under “Finances”
How to Develop a Successful Business Model: 5 Tips
Over the past 3 decades, strategy has been the primary block of competitiveness. In the future, a sustainable advantage may be associated with the business model. The convergence of information and communication technologies in the 1990s triggered short-lived fascination with…
The Rise of Divestment (Part II)
In December 2021, the Center for American Progress and the Sierra Club reported that “8 major US banks and 10 major US asset managers financed the equivalent of nearly 2 billion tons of carbon dioxide in 2020”. This is more…
The Rise of Divestment (Part I)
Paradoxically, despite claiming responsible business conduct, the world’s top 60 banks have invested 3.8 trillion in fossil fuel firms since the 2015 Paris climate agreement, thus exacerbating the climate crisis. To counteract its negative impact, an increasing number of banks…
Some Facts About Startup Finance in Japan
Despite having high tech competence, Japan has not yet managed to create a thriving startup ecosystem. One of the main factors holding back new ventures is poor access to finance. It is estimated that on average a Japanese startup can…
Key Takeaways from the Nobel-winning Research on Contract Theory
The Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences 2016 has been awarded to two professors of economics – Oliver Hart of Harvard University and Bengt Holmström of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – for their contribution to contract theory. Announcing its decision, the…
In Search of the Next London
London risks losing its position as Europe’s financial centre if Britain does not secure EU passporting rights for its financial services after the Brexit vote. “I don’t see how anyone can say with any certainty that passporting will continue. Switzerland…
Why a Universal Basic Income (UBI) Is a Risky Idea
On June 5, 2016, 77% of Swiss voters rejected a citizen initiative to introduce a universal basic income (UBI) in a national referendum. The proposed sums were 2,500 Swiss francs (about $2,600) per month for every adult citizen and 625…
If Not GDP, Then What?
In 1937, the US Congress commissioned economist Simon Kuznets to measure economic activity during the Great Depression. He developed Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which has become the main economic indicator despite its limitations. Kuznets noted that national income is not…
3 New Ways to Predict Financial Crises
Albert Edwards, an economist at Société Générale, a banking and financial services firm, forecasts a new financial crisis by the end of 2016. In his opinion, it will be as bad as the one in 2008–2009. “Sell everything except high-quality…