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Danone and P&G's (Procter & Gamble) innovative strategies for reaching low income customers in emerging markets.
12/12/2009
In 2004 Indonesian managers showed Franck Riboud, CEO of Danone, a pyramid of customers in Indonesia's population of 240 million people. It showed only 20 million customers at the top of the pyramid as the only ones who could afford Danone products. At that point Ribaud made up his mind to go after the large number of people at the lower end of the pyramid and come with strategies to do this profitably. By 2010 46% of Danone's sales were from emerging markets, up from 10% a decade earlier, showing the pace of the change. Unilever, P&G, Nestle, Colgate-Palmolive and other companies are following similiar strategies. P&G has used Mexico as a lab for experimenting with new products at low price points and Danone has done this in Indonesia.
Linked Articles
Danone Expands Its Pantry to Woo the World's Poor
Wall Street Journal 06/25/2010
P.& G. Sees the World as Its ClientNew York Times 12/12/2009
The slow and faltering progress on USAID and other rural development projects in Afghanistan
10/28/2009
This will rank as one of the great failures in this decade old war. Most of the progress is patchy and on-again and off-again as described here.
Linked Articles
Afghanistan Doesn't Need More Troops
Wall Street Journal 10/28/2009
U.S. military dismayed by delays in 3 key development projects in Afghanistan - The Washington PostWashington Post 04/29/2011
As the government sells $5 trillion in new debt by one estimate, the problem of an estimated $ 1 trillion in troubled assets on the banks books is being put off for another day.
06/04/2009
The FDIC's Legacy Loans Program's $1 billion pilot program attracts no interest. The Public Private Partnership Program of Secretary Geithner, like Secretary Paulson's TARP program before Geithner, is also unlikely to attract much interest as banks are not willing to take the prices that would require them to show large losses on their books. But this means that these problems are postponed for another day.
Linked Articles
Plan to Help Banks Clear Their Books Is Halted
New York Times 06/04/2009
Rising Interest on Nations’ Debts May Sap World GrowthNew York Times 06/04/2009
Two scenes-one of Gates and the other of Sgt. Hyland- and the knot that ties them together.
05/15/2009
Scenes of a rainy night at an airforce base in Delaware, as Defense Sec. Gates prays in a 747 with draped coffins of dead soldiers. And the scene of a maimed soldier, Sgt Hyland, weeping in front of a picture of Specialist Jonathan at a battalion hall in Diyala province. near Baghdad. And the relevance to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Linked Articles
Wounded Soldiers Return to Iraq, Seeking Solace
New York Times 10/15/2009
Pentagon's Gates Keeps Single-Minded Focus on Dual Wars in Iraq and AfghanistanWashington Post 05/15/2009
In the two areas that government can make aserious difference, foreclosure prevention and bank lending it is failing.
04/15/2009
The government has only indirect influence over the other important variables in the equation for economic recovery, consumption and employment. Through foreclosure prevention and bank lending it can influence consumption and employment. Obama's program while admirable may simply fall short of what is required. Through asimple takeover of insolvent banks the administrationcan implement its own programs for goreclosure prevention and aggressive bank lending at attractive rates, but this has to be done early before business go into permanent retrenchment mode and consumers simply revert to a frugal lifestyle of an earlier generation.
Linked Articles
Lending By Bailout Recipients Falls Again
Washington Post 04/16/2009
Banks Ramp Up ForeclosuresWall Street Journal 04/15/2009
Astra Zeneca suppresses information about the link between best selling psychiatric drug Seroquel and diabetes.
02/27/2009
Now disclosed court documents show that AstraZeneca carefully suppressed information about the links between Seroquel and diabetes from a 2000 study from one of its drug safety experts.
Linked Articles
AstraZeneca Papers Raise Seroquel Issues
Wall Street Journal 02/27/2009
AstraZeneca Drug's Effectiveness QuestionedWall Street Journal 02/28/2009
Politicians who deride "mere spending programs" may have not got it right.
02/15/2009
Republicans in the House, with every single one voting against the Stimulus bill, have derided government spending as wasteful and unnecessary. The impact on the deficit makes it look sensible. However on closer examination Robert Frank, a Cornell economist, points out that in some situtations like this government spending can be not wasteful but productive and efficient, and necessary.
Linked Articles
Go Ahead and Save. Let the Government Spend.
New York Times 02/15/2009
In Gingrich Mold, a New Voice for Solid Resistance in G.O.P.New York Times 02/15/2009
Robert Khuzami and the S.E.C.'s ambivalent enforcement mindset 2010-2012
02/10/2009
The lack of corrective acton that changes the leadership and culture at financial companies in the U.S. following the 2008 financial crisis. Where the action by enforcement agencies has required admitting wrongdoing as part of the settlement, the changes in leadership and culture have put the companies on a new path to renewal. Barclays under one of the respected names in British finance, David Walker, is a recent example.
Linked Articles
Top Enforcer at the S.E.C. Steps Down
New York Times 02/10/2009
SEC's Top Cop Oversaw Deutsche CDOsWall Street Journal 04/24/2010
The Economist's view that nationalizing the failed banks is the only serious option.
02/03/2009
With the banks in private hands it becomes almost impossible to value these toxic assets says the Economist. As the situation worsens between now and 2010 nationalization will become more acceptable. Its the only serious option, and one way ot or another the government will be guaranteeing these assets, as the banks are dependent on the government. It asks why pretend otherwise?
Linked Articles
Economist 02/03/2009
The spectre of nationalisationEconomist 02/03/2009
Detroit Automakers and the UAW vs the nonunionized plants- what went wrong?
12/09/2008
With job security gone at Detroit automakers amidst a series of bad decisions by unions and management unwilling to make a total break with the status quo to the point of reinventing themselves, and lacking the courage and the vision to do so, what good are these higher medical benefits? Isn't an employee who has his job and lesser medical benefits at anonunionized plant better off than one who has either lost his job or about to lose it at aDetroit automaker plant?
Linked Articles
Detroit Bailout: How It Can Work
BusinessWeek 12/09/2008
Toyota delays new Prius plantDetroit News 12/16/2008
The scene if one walked at the port in Savannah or Long Beach and Mr. Bailey wanting to be just debt-free and happy not rich and acquisitive.
11/30/2008
Mr Bailey's changing philosophy on life, happiness defined as debt free and able to enjoy life with his family. What this does to Savannah and Long Beach's port area.
Linked Articles
When the Downturn Sailed Into Savannah
New York Times 11/30/2008
Frugality Forged in Today's Recession Has Potential to Outlast ItWall Street Journal 04/06/2009
UAW opposes any consolidation or merger as it would mean loss of may more jobs.
10/14/2008
From UAW President Gettelfinger's view consolidation would only mean loss of even more jobs to a devastated Detroit. A better source of cash for GM would be more loans from the federal government as democratic candidate Obama has suggested a $50 billion loan package. At that point a Chrysler consolidation if it were to occur could be done through a rationall consolidation or merger as opposed to the large closures that the present situation might require.
Linked Articles
UAW chief opposes GM-Chrysler merger
Detroit News 10/14/2008
Howes: One of Big 3 may not surviveDetroit News 10/14/2008
Wall Street Journal editorial says the British Plan is the right way to go.
10/09/2008
Gordon Brown's rescue Plan goes directly to the problem of recapitalizing the banks and gets ownership stakes in return for taxpayer money and is a good one in the view of the WSJ.
Linked Articles
Britain Takes a Different Route to Rescue Its Banks
New York Times 10/09/2008
A Plan -- at LastWall Street Journal 10/09/2008
Why the Obama health care law gets an "F" grade from the Dean of Harvard Medical School
11/18/2009
The failure to replace the "fee-for-service" system in favor of capitated payments is cited as one of the main reasons. The other reasons are it does not resolve the issues of introducing competition in quality of care and cost, and continues the practices that disguise the true cost of care with a highly fragmented system of care. In a op-ed, Jeffrey Flier, Dean of the Harvard Medical School, gives a detailed account for the reason for his grading. A poorly drafted or incomplete law says Flier can make things worse, citing the example of the health care law in Massachusetts which is driving up costs, as it does not change the old dysfunctional system's key features such as "fee-for service," and instead tries to build a new system on broken foundations. Pearlstein in the Washington Post says the Obama health care law has addressed the "fee-for-service" problem, but this is really not the case, and Flier's reasoning may be the clue to the deeper problem for the Obama health care law.
Linked Articles
Steven Pearlstein: Eat your broccoli, Justice Scalia - The Washington Post
Washington Post 04/01/2012
Health 'Debate' Deserves a Failing GradeWall Street Journal 11/18/2009
With capacity utilization at 68%, too much slack in the economy for inflation to take root.
06/11/2009
Producer Price Index showed its steepest decline since 1949 for May 2009 over May 2008. And there are still 10 unsold homes for every one sold, with the typical being 6.
Linked Articles
Get Ready for Inflation and Higher Interest Rates
Wall Street Journal 06/11/2009
Housing Starts Jump in May for Third MonthWall Street Journal 06/16/2009
The huge downsizing in the auto industry creates the need for big government supported initatives in retraining.
05/21/2009
Vicotr Brown and the 60,000 former workers at GM's BUick City have worked at GM all their lives, and can't imagine anything else. How does one get them from joining the ranks of the permanently unemployed, is a challenge for the government. THe labor underutilization rate expected to reach 20% for 2010, could threaten the economic recovery, and put everything at risk.
Linked Articles
Stuck at Unemployed: When A Layoff Becomes a Lifestyle
Washington Post 06/06/2009
The Last Holdouts Cast Their Lot With G.M.New York Times 05/21/2009
Bank lending still in bad shape in April 2009.
04/16/2009
Not much of the bailout or recovery by banks is showing up in lending practices. Is it ashort lived recovery in bank stocks and one quarter earnings that will fizzle out, and meantime with credit still tight the economy deteriorates.
Linked Articles
Economists Seek Breakup of Big Banks
Wall Street Journal 04/21/2009
Lending By Bailout Recipients Falls AgainWashington Post 04/16/2009
"So am I", the President responds to special interests gearing up to thwart his plans to revamp the economy.
03/01/2009
My message to them, is this: "So am I", with that remark in his radio address Obama says he knows special interests are gearing up for a fight to prevent needed change in education oppportunities that otherwise would close the door on the middle class, on health care coverage that otherwise will leave in addition to the 46 million not covered an additional number of that magnitude uncovered as unemployment rises and insurance premiums become unaffordable, and on energy that leaves energy policy to oil and gas companies that have done little to promote conservation or new technologies to reduce demand amid mushrooming global demand.
Linked Articles
Obama Calls His Budget Needed Change
New York Times 03/01/2009
Liberal Groups Are Flexing New Muscle in Lobby WarsNew York Times 03/01/2009
The idea of one Europe and financial crisis in Eastern Europe.
02/26/2009
How leaders of Germany, France and Britain respond to calls for help from Eastern European countries will determine the future of the European community and the European Union. Will a differentiated approach develop that provides help to the newer members of the EU. Will the Swedish example with the Baltics lead to a supportive role by Germany?
Linked Articles
The bill that could break up Europe
Economist 02/26/2009
Growing Economic Crisis Threatens the Idea of One EuropeNew York Times 03/02/2009
Cornell's Frank points out that savings may be good for America once they are chanelled into investment.
02/15/2009
For this to happen some of the excess household debt from the number 96% of GDP, that household debt in the USA has reached, has to be shaved off. This is happening as Americans are shifting to becoming debt free in their finances. This affects consumption through the paradox of thrift. But says Prof. Frank this is OK, as the government steps in in the meantime to give the boost to the economy, till consumers recover from debt. Future savings can then be channelled into new productive investment for modernization's next phase, just as China and India are doing.
Linked Articles
Imbalance in Nations' Savings Clouds Forecasts for Recovery
Wall Street Journal 03/23/2009
Go Ahead and Save. Let the Government Spend.New York Times 02/15/2009
Are the old faces that got the US and Britain into the financial mess also the new faces trying to fix it?
02/09/2009
The new faces are also the ones that were around during the years went financial prudence was not exercized.
Linked Articles
SEC Expected to Name Khuzami Enforcement Director
Wall Street Journal 02/09/2009
British Regulator Quits as Accusations Mount in Banking CrisisNew York Times 02/12/2009
Vaccine Maker Pfizer and the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.
01/26/2009
The limits to litigation risk for vaccines is one reason for the attractiveness and growing investment in the vaccines development. Its also what Pfizer hopes to develop with the Wyeth acquisition for $68 billion.
Linked Articles
Wall Street Journal 02/23/2009
Pfizer Agrees to Pay $68 Billion for Rival WyethNew York Times 01/26/2009
GM's lead director Fisher reflecting the Board's lack of initiative and vision.
12/04/2008
The marked tendency to brush off any criticism to decisionmaking errors with the comment (that would not stand scrutiny) that one cannot imagine GM making all the right decisions all of the time because it was too big and complex.
Linked Articles
Lead Director Pins G.M.’s Hopes on Federal Rescue
New York Times 12/04/2008
Terms of a Rescue PlanBusinessWeek 12/11/2008
One of the Big Three may not survive.
10/14/2008
Talk of a possible merger between GM and Chrysler. Efforts by GM motivated by need for about $10 billion from external sources to make it through 2009. Chrysler has $11 billion in cash.
Linked Articles
Howes: One of Big 3 may not survive
Detroit News 10/14/2008
GM could use Chrysler's cashDetroit News 10/14/2008
Economist Paul Krugman who just won the Nobel prize says Gordon does good.
10/13/2008
Paul Krugman says Gordon Brown has done much good with his initative and proper direction of the rescue effort giving all countries good leadership in a global crisis.
Linked Articles
New York Times 10/13/2008
British Prime Minister’s Stock Rises as His Bank Plan Lifts Stocks WorldwideNew York Times 10/15/2008
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