Philanthropists for years have used the “prize model” to spark societal innovations–from space (the X Prize) to the environment (Goldman Prize). The idea is to create a mercenary incentive to create broader social good.
Now a billionaire doctor has come up with what could arguably be the most unusual philanthropic prize of all. It is called [...]

It’s not just the middle class that has money worries. Even the affluent are worrying about running out of cash.
American Express Publishing and Harrison Group 
According to a new survey from American Express Publishing and the Harrison Group, nearly half of respondents with incomes of $250,000 or more agreed with the statement that “I worry that [...]

In a Smart Company article by James Thomson called MP renews calls for investigations into mistreatment of Bakers Delight franchisee, he quotes:
NSW parliamentarian Joanna Gash has renewed calls for the Australian Federal Police to launch an investigation into accusations Bakers Delight and ANZ bank colluded to put a franchisee out of business.
Quoting emails between the [...]

The luxury economy doesn’t rely on just a few investment banks. And even Manhattan has proven fairly resilient to the shocks on Wall Street in the past year.
But the fall of Lehman Brothers Holdings and the inevitable cuts at Merrill Lynch, which has agreed to be bought by Bank of America, could be the big [...]

Gentrification has no greater enemy than the gentry.

A Boston Globe Sunday Magazine article by Kris Frieswick describes the philanthropic efforts of Wendy Schmidt in Nantucket. Mrs. Schmidt, wife of Google CEO and billionaire Eric Schmidt, fell in love with Nantucket in 1998 and decided to spend their summers there. It was, she says, the island’s [...]

This is an interesting article by Nevil Gibson in The National Business Review: Franchisers face prospect of regulation.
Nevil Gibson starts of with:
The Green Acres franchising scam, in which dozens of new migrants from China and India were bilked of millions of dollars, has sparked a government clampdown on the sector.
Commerce Minister Dalziel [picture] is quoted [...]

Bob Purvin’s book is a must read.
Don’t listen to Richard Solomon’s rants against Purvin and the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers. Richard needs a distemper shot.
In a Blue MauMau posting, Bob tries to explain what he meant by fraud:
Purvin explained it was a much bigger problem which he addressed in a book he wrote, [...]

Neil Hickman, with wife Michelle and their children Lewis (6) Lauren (11) and Holly (10), moved here from the UK for a better life but have lost their life savings after investment company failures. Photo / Martin Sykes
Good job: Naturally, raise enough doubt to have the contracts set aside as unenforceable because they were based [...]

Many businesses in Beijing expected the Olympics to bring a boost to the local economy, but an article in The Economist has proved the opposite. Due to visa restrictions and the temporary shutdown of many bars, restaurants and street vendors, local shops have actually witnessed a downturn in business. Furthermore lower than expected visitor numbers [...]