Category: Economy

AI, Cybersecurity, Economy, Risk

John Law, the man who blew up the French economy

Colin Henderson

From Engelsbergideas. A rich and relevant commentary on John Law. In 1674 William was called on by the Scottish parliament to give a commentary on a report into the running of the Royal Mint. It was an outsider DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) moment The echoes from 400 years ago reverberate today and. add dimension to Risk development. Financial Markets look at risk for a single point of failure. Law is a classic example we can recognize today in the new US government. He infiltrated and invented fiat currency, global trade, cost reduction, country appropriation, real estate accumulation. Yet he … Continue reading John Law, the man who blew up the French economy

Economics, Economy, Geopolitics, US

US foreign trade barriers (linked 400 pages~)

Colin Henderson

US administration issued a rambling document with a multitude of ‘trade barriers’. “Where sufficient data exist, an approximate impact of tariffs on U.S. exports can be derived by obtaining estimates of supply and demand price elasticities in the importing country and in the United States. Typically, the U.S. share of imports is assumed constant. When no calculated price elasticities are available, reasonable postulated values are used. The resulting estimate of lost U.S. exports is approximate, depends on the assumed elasticities, and does not necessarily reflect changes in trade patterns with third countries. Similar procedures are followed to estimate the impact … Continue reading US foreign trade barriers (linked 400 pages~)

Canada, Economy, US

In response to today’s news, when United States imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian goods, CCI President Benjamin Bergen issued the following statement:

Colin Henderson

Council of Canadian Innovators In response to today’s news, CCI President Benjamin Bergen issued the following statement: “The latest tariffs imposed by the U.S. government are another stark reminder that Canada cannot take access to the American market for granted. Now is a moment for us to prove what we’re capable of; we can build a better and more resilient economy starting today. While we fully support the federal government’s decision to respond with countermeasures, retaliation alone is not a strategy. Canada needs a long-term plan that strengthens our domestic economy, reduces our dependence on unpredictable trading partners, and ensures Canadian firms have … Continue reading In response to today’s news, when United States imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian goods, CCI President Benjamin Bergen issued the following statement:

Economy, EU, Geopolitics

Germany’s Economy Was Once the Envy of Europe. Not Anymore

Colin Henderson

This from NY Times confirms we are collectively in a state of chaos in terms of ‘world order’. In this blog one of my primary focus is on business and banking risk. Canada is a classic forerunner to what we see in Germany in today’s election. There was a time where my primary focus was bad actors and criminal elements including bad actor governments. The notion of risk has moved inward and banks must take care of their own risk management and deploy their own mitigation factors. That means isolating and understanding risks to their bank and taking arbitrary actions … Continue reading Germany’s Economy Was Once the Envy of Europe. Not Anymore

Economy, Growth, US
Colin Henderson

Civilised societies depend on institutions. The more complex the society, the more vital those institutions. Institutions provide stability, predictability and security. Companies, schools, universities, and courts are all institutions. But the most important institutions are those of the state. This is why Donald Trump’s assault on what his supporters misleadingly call “the deep state” is so dangerous. Some of them think the state should be servile to the whims of the great leader. Others think it should be at the service of the wealthy. Both sides agree that its ability to meet the needs of the wider public is of … Continue reading

Canada, Economy

‘Breakdown Nation’: Ruchir Sharma on what went wrong with Canada and how to fix it

Colin Henderson

Veteran global investor on American exceptionalism, the future of globalization and how Canada became a breakdown nation Published Jan 30, 2025  •  Last updated 3 days ago  •  12 minute read As a veteran global investor, Ruchir Sharma has built a career out of identifying the next winners in emerging markets. But even superstar economies can crumble into “breakdown nations” — a label Sharma recently bestowed on Canada. Sharma is chairman of the investment firm Rockefeller International, founder and chief investment officer of Breakout Capital, a contributing editor to the Financial Times and the author of several books, including “What Went Wrong with Capitalism.” In this Q&A … Continue reading ‘Breakdown Nation’: Ruchir Sharma on what went wrong with Canada and how to fix it

Economy1 Comment

Jeff Bezos’ Space Ambitions Take Flight as New Rocket Blasts Off

Colin Henderson

After years of delays, the billionaire’s Blue Origin space company launched its New Glenn rocket early Thursday Micah MaidenbergJan. 16, 2025 at 2:17 am “All of the things we want to do in the future rely on New Glenn,” Bezos said in a recent interview.  New Glenn measures more than 320 feet tall. It is designed to conduct regular flights using reusable boosters, lofting commercial and national-security satellites into orbit. The rocket eventually is meant to launch astronaut crews. It is also years behind schedule. Blue Origin had intended to have New Glenn readyyears ago but struggled with technical and production … Continue reading Jeff Bezos’ Space Ambitions Take Flight as New Rocket Blasts Off

Economy

The Costs of Falling Fertility

Colin Henderson

John Authers Bloomberg Falling fertility is a problem across the developed world. Unlike many other risks, demographic changes can be predicted with some certainty; sliding birth rates translate directly into smaller populations ahead. That is a good thing in many ways. Two hundred years ago, the Malthusian fear was of population growth so rapid that it outstripped natural resources. But there are other ways in which it’s a serious problem, which could also create opportunities for those who offer solutions. And so the McKinsey Global Institute offers a new report on “confronting the consequences of a new demographic reality.” As it sounds, … Continue reading The Costs of Falling Fertility

Economy1 Comment

Two million people are expected to leave in Canada’s immigration reset

Colin Henderson

Two million people are expected to leave the country in Canada’s immigration reset. What if they don’t? Economists and lawyers warn that Ottawa’s goal to curb population growth in such a short time will create chaos and confusion in a system already on the edge Author of the article: Naimul Karim Published Dec 19, 2024  •  Last updated 4 days ago  •  10 minute read 167 Comments Article content Despite moving to Canada from India in 2018 as an international student and receiving a work permit upon graduating two years later, Dinesh* lives in Ontario today as a visitor even though that was obviously not … Continue reading Two million people are expected to leave in Canada’s immigration reset

Economy1 Comment

Election Live Updates: Trump Empowers Musk and Ramaswamy to Overhaul Federal Government

Colin Henderson

Among a blizzard of announcements on Tuesday, the president-elect said he had chosen Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, two of his most prominent wealthy backers, to lead what is being called the Department of Government Efficiency. Get notifications for updates on this story. Pinned Updated Nov. 12, 2024, 10:10 p.m. ET30 minutes ago Michael D. Shear and Eric Lipton Here are the latest developments. President-elect Donald J. Trump is turning to two of his most prominent wealthy backers, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, to overhaul the federal government, saying on Tuesday that they would lead what he called the Department of Government Efficiency. Calling … Continue reading Election Live Updates: Trump Empowers Musk and Ramaswamy to Overhaul Federal Government