The number of unemployed people in emerging and developing countries is set to rise by 4.8 million in the next two years, according to the UN’s International Labour Organisation. This reflects the slowing international economy. The advance of technology and artificial intelligence will increase job losses, too. And all that is predicated on the world’s…
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Reports of increasing suicides among the old make us pause to ask why this should be so and whether we should do anything to try to stop it. It may be mostly a consequence of people living longer, or of the old solutions to suffering like pneumonia being defeated by modern drugs. But when someone…
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When your first child reaches the age of 60 he or she – he, in my case – achieves several milestones the most important of which is, of course, his own. It’s a truism to say that it seems like no time at all since my wife gave birth to a squalling brat in suburban…
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Most interviews of job applicants have less chance of choosing the right person than sticking a pin in a telephone directory. That is partly because they focus on facts already known, some of which are probably invented. They also rely on experience as a criterion of success. I was taught a definition of experience when…
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There has been much written and said about whether we are seeing the end of ‘Banker Bashing” as though it was a sport akin to culling excess numbers of rapacious Arctic deer. Those seeking to curtail this activity or to turn ‘Banker Bashing’ into something disreputable or unfashionable have, of course, a clear agenda. “Let’s…
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Towards the end of last year I said fasten your seatbelts. I hope you did so. In which case you will be saying “Where to now?” The rocky start to the year has left us with all the signs of an impending world recession or even a depression. Oil is at an all-time low. Riyadh…
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I did not judge Sepp Blatter. At least, not until I saw his press conference after the announcement of his suspension and fine. What a lesson in how not to do it. The rule is simple: IF YOU WANT PEOPLE TO BELIEVE YOU ARE INNOCENT, DON’T BLATTER ON. The KIS advice is Keep It Simple.…
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The themes of the last year for our clients and mentors have been the same as those for everyone else – where is all this terrorism leading us? When shall we see financial stability and a return to prudent financial behaviour being suitably rewarded? What are the implications of the recent climate agreement in Paris…
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It is good to hear a voice of common-sense among the clamour of pro- and anti-regulation piffle that is being spouted. The Head of the Monetary Department of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), Claudio Borio, has put his finger on the issue. Dependence on Central Banks “every word” by the financial markets is disrupting…
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Three cargo Boeing 747 aircraft, TF-ARN, TF-ARH and TF-ARM, apparently owned, or formerly owned, by Air Atlanta Icelandic are sitting on the tarmac at Kuala Lumpur Airport awaiting collection. Or even recognition. Like abandoned dogs, they wait patiently, believing that each dawn will produce a claimant, any claimant really. It not starvation because aircraft don’t…
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