14
Feb
2016
Two kinds of crazy
Currently the newspapers are full of headlines like “Markets in Turmoil” and “Stockmarket Rout”. I find it rather odd, that economists still seem to believe that markets are rational, perhaps economics professors don’t read the newspapers or invest their own money. Instead, I wonder if the confusion comes about because there are two types of... Read More
30
Jan
2016
Capitals and corporations
Influence in the world is a capital that must be carefully guarded if it is not to disappear. – Leo Tolstoy Something I think that is remarkable is how few people foresaw the massive increase in value in living in a capital city. Even people who bought a house in Central London 20 years ago... Read More
5
Jan
2016
Thinking styles: words and numbers
Financial Statements contain words and numbers. And most people focus on the numbers, because that is where they think the information is and the certainty lies. I once went to a “milk round” presentation at a large accountancy firm, and they gave everyone an example of a company’s Annual Report & Accounts. We were told... Read More
22
Nov
2015
3 clergymen plan a murder in the Alps
Below is a speech I gave to The Alpine Ski Club at the Annual Dinner, 20th Nov 2015. I enjoyed doing the research into Arthur Conan Doyle’s associations with skiing. But I found it more surprising the attitudes towards different sources of wealth a hundred years ago. With a clear separation of aristocratic, land owning,... Read More