The “gospel of anti-corruption” In the last few years the US government has become both more willing to tackle corruption by American companies abroad, and…
SOTI
People are searching less, and other things you didn’t know about the internet
The day after President Barack Obama gave the State of the Union, ComScore, a digital analytics firm, released what might be called a “State of…
As the G20 sanctions the “currency war,” Brazil is now holding its fire
The G20 seems to be deciding that the “currency war” is not a bad thing. Today, the international financial roundtable announced it wouldn’t censure Japan…
THAT'S SO GUCCI
The French who own Gucci, Puma, and a struggling electronics chain bet long on global luxury demand
The French retail company PPR’s business is split between a star-studded clothing and accessory portfolio—Gucci and Yves St. Laurent and Puma, for instance—and a struggling…
The billionaire Brazilians who think everything tastes better with Heinz
“They are not about beer, and they are not about hamburgers. They are about money. They know how to cut costs. They know how to…
Sputtering Latin America growth hits the world’s richest man, and his telecom empire
Carlos Slim, the richest man on the planet, lost almost $4 billion yesterday and the IPC index, a stand-in for the Mexican stock market, took…
$9 AN HOUR
Four reasons why a higher minimum wage for the US is a good idea
Whether minimum wages help or hurt economic growth remains a contentious topic, and Barack Obama’s promise last night during his State of the Union address…
American movie theaters did well last year, but not because more people went to the movies
With more entertainment choices than ever, from Netflix to smartphones to social media, Americans aren’t exactly expected to be flocking to movie theaters. But ticket…
TOOTHLESS BITE
On money laundering, the US Treasury’s new rules will bark, but not bite
In the US government’s fight against money laundering, 2012 was a good year. The crowning event was the largest money laundering-related settlement in US history,…
Hermès blew away forecasts by doing what it does best: selling leather bags to rich Chinese
Hermès, the luxury goods retailer, trounced sales expectations as unrelenting demand from rich Chinese shoppers clamoring for its expensive leather bags and silk scarves drove…
Venezuelans scramble to buy fridges and flat screen TVs before currency devaluation
It’s as if it were all a clever, nation-wide marketing scheme. Venezuelan shoppers were whipped into a frenzy by President Hugo Chavez’s announcement last week…
BEEF UP THE RULES
Horsemeat lasagna: The secret ingredient is regulatory incompetence
The ongoing trans-European scandal in which horse meat was passed off as beef in frozen meals sold across the continent is prompting retailers, suppliers and…
