Cash for Everything

More Cash for Clunkers?
(click here for the complete article on WSJ)

Obama administration should extend this benefit for everything, like cash for junk food - buy junk food and go to the nearest wholefood for free exchange with organic food + cash that you paid for junk food. 

How about cash for marrying again ?, divorce your wife, for a brand new young wife and govt will pay half the divorce costs and marriage costs.

Superstition and finance: A total eclipse of the brain | The Economist

Superstition and finance: A total eclipse of the brain | The Economist(click here)

MODERN stockmarkets, with their lightning trades and endless reams of data, sometimes seem to be run by automatons, not people. But lift the curtain and the wizards pushing the buttons turn out to be as susceptible to fear and irrationality as any of their abacus-wielding ancestors. That, at least, is the conclusion of Gabriele Lepori of the Copenhagen Business School, whose work on solar and lunar eclipses suggests that modern-day man, even of the steely-eyed, stockbroking variety, is still prey to ancient superstition.

Great Moment in Entrepreneurship - Last 30 years

Great Moment in Entrepreneurship - Last 30 years(click the link here)

Superb Ad ... just love it

Superb Ad ... just love it

China's recovery: A fine balancing act | The Economist

China's recovery: A fine balancing act | The Economist

"The 19th century belonged to the British, the 20th century to the Americans and the 21st to the Chinese, Invest accordingly." Warren Buffett

Remittance Flows to Developing Countries to Decline By 7.3% in 2009, Predicts World Bank

Remittance Flows to Developing Countries to Decline By 7.3% in 2009, Predicts World Bank(click the link)

I was reading another article which says that American universities are going to get hit big time as more and more good schools open up in India and China and also protectionism of American Govt makes students from developing nation think twice to spend $150k on a MBA and to go back home without a job.

100 Most Creative People

There are no rules about creativity. Which made constructing our list of the 100 Most Creative People in Business a tricky task. We looked for dazzling new thinkers, rising stars, and boldface names who couldn't be ignored. We avoided people we've profiled in the recent past. We emphasized those whose creativity addresses a larger issue -- from the future of our energy infrastructure to the evolution of philanthropy to next-generation media. So read on. Enjoy. Quibble. Complain.

mba-channel.com - IIPM: For a handful of dollars

IIPM: For a handful of dollars

The Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM) boasts being India’s best business school and has been saying it cooperates with several renowned schools in Europe and the US for years – which is often false information. But although its unserious business practices are known, some renowned business schools nonetheless cooperate with the controversial Indian school.

"IIPM – Best only in Claims" was the recent article headline from the Indian career magazine Careers360 that illuminated the strange business practices of the IIPM in detail, including the false information about partner schools. (Source: Careers360)

In contrast, the largest Indian newspapers have been holding back on critiquing the business school for years. With its entire-page ads, the IIPM is ultimately one of their largest advertising customers. Some renowned publications even get carried away with puff pieces sometimes, which the IIPM proudly displays on its website. It isn’t always recognizable whether the presented articles aren’t really just editorially-constructed advertisement texts.

The IIPM has also been praised by Della Bradshaw, editor for MBA topics and the MBA ranking at the Financial Times (FT). In her "The Maverick Management Guru" article (published in 2006), Bradshaw notably wrote uncritically about the founder “Honorary Dean” Arindam Chaudhuri and his, according to him, largest business school in the world.    

It would’ve already been logical to scrutinize the supposed success story. Indian IIPM grads receive their MBA degree, for example, from the International Management Institute (IMI) in Brussels, which is unknown and not accredited in Belgium. (Source: www.timi.edu) 
   
The IIPM still uses its coup cleverly today. “IIPM in Financial Times, UK. Feature of the Week. Must read" flashes on the website. The link to the three year-old FT articles follow.
   
The trick with the partner schools is also old. The Stanford Graduate School of Business significantly distanced itself back in 2007 from the IIPM’s statements that Stanford would offer a certified executive education program with the IIPM. “This claim is false,” wrote Gale Bitter, Associate Dean and Director. “Neither the Stanford Graduate School of Business nor the office of Stanford Executive Education has ties of any kind with the IIPM.” Read statement

Before, in december 2006 the Deputy Director at the Stanford Center for Professional Development, Paul Marca, had already written a letter to the Director of Global Strategy at IIPM, Siddharth Nambiar, in which he has complaint about the misleading advertising und has asked him immediately to cease "any and all uses of Stanford`s name and logo". After Gale Bitter`s statement Siddharth Nambiar complaint to her about the defamation of the good name of the IIPM and referred to some Stanford professors who had taught at IIPM.

And Stanford is hardly an isolated case. The Chicago Booth School of Business recently emerged as a partner as IIPM students were to take part in the Advanced Global Management Program in Chicago. So IIPM announced: "The World´s No.1 Ranked B-School. What makes the program perhaps most unique and distinct from any other similar program in India is the compulsory International Residency Program on Advanced Global Management that the students will undergo at the Graduate School of Business, University Chicago."

Following demand, Chicago reacted immediately and wrote the IIPM on June 23rd: "We kindly ask that all mention of Chicago GSB being a part of this Advanced Global Management program be immediately removed from all pages of IIPM’s sites." "We are really sorry for this," answered Chanda Mehra, Senior Manager of the Global Outreach Program at the IIPM. 

The document was changed and now "The World´s No.1 Ranked B-School" practically hangs in an empty space. The following sentence is all that remains: "What makes the program perhaps most unique and distinct from any other similar program in India is the compulsory International Residency Program on Advanced Global Management that the students will undergo." Where the participants will take the program however remains a mystery.

But not every business school is anxious about its reputation. The behavior of the Haas School of Business at the University of California Berkeley is noteworthy. In February the Californian school told the Indian magazine Careers360 that Berkeley doesn’t have anything to do with the IIPM and has already heard that the school is known for announcing false connections with top schools.

But then the press department corrected the answer and explained that there is a new customer relationship between the IIPM and the Center for Executive Education. The first program took place in June. And in May Berkeley answered that the IIPM, as a customer, could call itself a "business school ‘participating’ with the Haas School of Business."  

Clearly business schools are looking for cooperation with Indian schools so frantically that they yield their good name, Careers360 commented on the behavior. They put aside their ethical principles and forfeit their professionalism in order to earn a few more dollars.
   
The document even creates the impression that Berkeley gives credits for the program. Responding to a query by MBA Channel, Berkeley explained on July 2nd: "The Haas School has asked IIPM to take the Haas/UC Berkeley logo off its web site and marketing materials and to correct its language regarding the certificate of completion and the credits. The Center for Executive Education does not offer credits, only a certificate of completion with respect to the segment of the program that it has taught."

The Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge is also mentioned as a “partner B-School.” Clearly it has no qualms about having its logo next to the questionable school. The school offers IIPM participants a five-day executive education program in Cambridge, writes the press office. "IIPM have engaged us to deliver and the first group will commence in July 2009. There are no university qualifications awarded from Cambridge University or Judge Business School. The only certificate is a certificate of attendance which is what we provide to participants on all our programmes."

www.iipm.edu

Limiting migration: People protectionism | The Economist

Limiting migration: People protectionism | The Economist

People protectionism

Jul 1st 2009
From Economist.com

Rich countries respond to the economic downturn by trying to limit the flow of migrants

AFP

IN THE boom years, migrants picked fruit in southern California's orange groves, worked on construction sites in Spain and Ireland, designed software in Silicon Valley and toiled in factories all over the rich world. Many will continue to do so, despite the economic downturn. But as unemployment rises in most rich countries, attitudes towards migrants are hardening.

Attacks on Romanians in Northern Ireland and on Indian students in Australia are the most visible and disturbing manifestations of growing xenophobia. In response, many governments are also tightening their migration policies, according to a report published by the OECD on Tuesday June 30th. Governments are reducing quotas for foreign workers and imposing tougher entry requirements on them in an effort to control the flow. Some are even paying existing migrants to go home.

Several countries have cut the numbers of people allowed to enter through official programmes. Spain let in 15,731 foreign recruits under its “contingente” scheme in 2008, but slashed the quota to a tiny 901 this year. The Italian government has announced that no non-seasonal workers will be admitted in 2009, whereas 70,000 were officially admitted in 2008. South Korea welcomed 72,000 migrants under its Employment Permit Scheme last year, but this year's limit is set at 17,000. And Australia, which had earlier said that 133,500 skilled migrants could enter the country this year, has now lowered the limit to 108,100.

Many rich countries maintain lists of occupations for which there is a shortage of domestic workers, giving foreigners with the appropriate skills preferential treatment. Several countries have reduced the scope of such lists drastically. In Spain, for example, the list issued in October 2008 had nearly a third less professions listed than the previous version.

Some countries have made it harder for employers to hire foreigners by making them jump through more hoops than before. In Britain, for example, employers hoping to hire certain kinds of skilled foreigners face tougher rules about where job advertisements must be placed. In America, the “Employ American Workers Act” attached to the fiscal stimulus bill, puts stricter conditions than before on any company that receives government bail-out money and wants to hire skilled foreigners under the country's H-1B visa programme. As a result, some American banks and other financial-services firms have rescinded job offers to foreign-born graduates of American universities and postgraduate programmes. Some of those who have the paperwork allowing them to work are finding it harder than ever to renew their permits.

Some countries are getting creative in their attempts to reduce not just fresh flows of migrants, but also the stock of migrants already present, by encouraging people to go home. Some migrants to Spain from outside the EU, for example, became eligible in November last year for a portion of their Spanish benefits if they returned home and promised not to return for three years. The Czech government is promising to provide the air-fare and €500 ($704) to workers who have been laid off. About 1,100, mostly contract labourers from Mongolia, had accepted by the end of March.

Given that many more locals find themselves without jobs in the downturn, it may seem sensible to limit immigration. It is hardly surprising that Spain, where unemployment is 18%, is looking particularly hard for ways to stop migrant flows. But the OECD's analysis points to several problems with this. Lessons from the 1970s, when the recession that followed the oil-price spikes led Germany, France, and Belgium to clamp down on immigration, suggest that such anti-migrant rules can persist even when they have outlived their use.

In general, given the politics, it is much easier to tighten controls, as countries are doing now, than to loosen them when the economy starts growing again. There are also genuine shortages of workers in some professions, such as medicine and certain technical jobs such as engineering, which locals cannot easily and quickly retrain for. Clamping down on the total flow of migrants, therefore, risks making such shortages worse.

In addition, some measures to limit official migration, such as making it harder for temporary work-permit holders to renew their permission to stay, risk pushing people into staying on illegally. Paying someone to go back home for three years, for example, would be counterproductive if the economy rebounds by the end of 2010 and such workers are in demand once again. When the world economy emerges from the doldrums, some countries that have passed legislation restricting the ability of local companies to hire foreigners may find themselves lacking the flexibility that migrants bring. Migrant workers, for example, accounted for over two-fifths of employment growth between 2003 and 2007 in Austria, Denmark, Italy and Spain, and 71% in the same period in Britain.

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INC.com -The Best Industries for Starting a Business Right Now

How sweet it is. Even in a recession, candy has been a luxury that many people can still afford. "Chocolate is a comfort food," says Dan Johnson, owner of Choco-Logo in Buffalo, New York, which has seen retail sales rise 30 percent since last year. The confectionery industry, as a whole, grew 3.7 percent during the 52-week period ending April 19, according to the National Confectioners Association, which is pretty good considering so many industries are flat or declining. Historically, experts say, candy is one of the most recession-resistant industries and many of today’s classic brands, including Snickers, Tootsie Pops, and 3 Musketeers, all launched during the darkest days of the Great Depression, between 1930 and 1932.

iPhone Apps

Apple launched its App Store last summer, creating a whole new burgeoning industry in the process. Sales of apps in the first month topped $30 million, leading Steve Jobs to predict that the marketplace would be worth $1 billion some day. To date, companies have produced more than 30,000 applications, ranging from games such as Tap Tap Revenge to apartment-hunting help to tools for finding out the name of a song; in all, Apple has processed more than a billion downloads. To capitalize on the trend, venture-capital firms such as Kleiner Perkins have begun investing in app producers; the venerable Sand Hill Road firm has earmarked $100 million for the market.

Health-Care Technology

The challenge of streamlining patient care through digitized medical records, e-prescription programs, and online hospital communication, is just now gaining momentum, giving younger companies a chance to make inroads. The federal stimulus bill pledged $19 billion to the development of a health-information tracking system. Based on that level of funding, employment in the field is expected to grow by 18 percent between now and 2016, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. One up-and-comer: Phreesia, a New York City business that makes electronic patient check-in tablets for doctors offices, recently closed $11.5 million in Series C funding, and has secured $25 million in funding to date.

Beer, Wine, and Liquor Wholesale

Even as consumers cut back on their consumption of premium alcoholic beverages, sales of booze at lower price points have risen significantly over the last year. As a result, beer, wine, and liquor wholesaler profits have grown 18 percent and sales have grown 5 percent over the past year, according to Sageworks. And the Distilled Spirits Council estimates exports of U.S. distilled spirits grew by 8 percent last year, to $1.1 billion, led by robust demand for American whiskeys.

Software as a Service

Although software spending is expected to increase just 5 percent through 2013, the software-as-a-service niche is forecast to expand by nearly 20 percent annually over the same period, as companies continue to see the benefits of on-demand, flexible applications, according to Gartner, a market-research firm. The industry is expected to produce $8 billion in sales by the end of this year and $16 billion by the end of 2013. The office suites categories will lead the pack this year, increasing 376 percent to $512 million.

Home Health Care

Perhaps the sector likely to benefit the most from the aging baby boomer generation is the home health-care industry. An increasingly popular alternative to nursing homes, home health-care services tend to offer patients lower costs while affording them the dignity of being able to remain in their homes. Industry employment is expected to increase 4.5 percent annually through 2016, the third-highest rate of growth recorded by any industry, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The industry has spawned dozens of promising niches, including companies that specialize in cognitive-fitness computer programs, which help exercise the mind. Total revenue for companies in the cognitive-fitness market topped $265 million in revenue in 2008, up from $100 million in 2005, according to the market research firm SharpBrains. Total sales are expected to hit $2 billion by 2015, the firm estimates.

Yoga Products and Services

Amid a recession, are we getting more in tune with our inner spirit? Perhaps. Americans spent $5.7 billion on yoga products, equipment, and clothing in 2008--87 percent more than they did in 2004, according to a study from Yoga Journal. Nearly 14 million Americans say a doctor or therapist has recommended yoga to them. And as the industry continues to expand, there is ample room for new products. One promising opportunity: creating appealing men's yoga apparel.

Technical and Trade Schools

With unemployment numbers up to 8.9 percent, it's no surprise that technical and trade schools are experiencing a surge in business. Revenue at these for-profit schools rose an average of nearly 8 percent over the 12-month period ending in May, according to Sageworks, a financial analysis company. While thousands of Americans are trying to set themselves apart from other job applicants, others are switching careers as the realization hits that their former industries may have permanently contracted.

Fast-Casual Dining

This year might be the worst ever for the food-service industry as a whole, but the emerging fast-casual segment -- which falls between fast food and full-serve restaurants -- continues to shine. Sales for the top 100 fast-casual restaurant chains grew by nearly 11 percent in 2008, to $16.7 billion, according to Technomic, a Chicago-based restaurant industry research and consulting firm. Panera Bread led the segment with $2.6 billion in sales in 2008, representing 16 percent growth, while Chipotle Mexican Grill totaled $1.3 billion in revenue, good for a nearly 21 percent growth. For those without the capital to start a restaurant, food industry watchers are seeing a growing trend in food trucks, with those that offer one type of food -- tacos, waffles, and even Korean barbecue -- all the rage on the streets of major cities.

Green Construction

The construction industry may be in a slump, but companies that specialize in green building are bucking the trend. The overall green building market is expected to more than double from $49 billion today to approximately $140 billion by 2013, according to a report from McGraw-Hill. A growing consumer awareness of the advantages of sustainable homes and buildings, along with the increased government focus on environmental initiatives, will only bring more opportunities in this arena. Businesses that position themselves as both eco-friendly and affordable stand to benefit even more.

Niche Consulting

In terms of overall job growth, the nation's fastest-growing industry is niche business consulting; it’s workforce is expected to increase by 5.9 percent through 2016. Corporate layoffs have spawned a wave of professionals who are trying to repurpose their skills in the consulting realm. While the competition is fierce in this space, the barriers to entry are low, and the industry as a whole is seeing a shift as clients drop big corporate consultancies in favor of smaller, more specialized firms. Particularly in demand right now: consultants who can help companies to save money, minimize financial losses, and do public relations damage control.

Education Technology

The education-technology industry has been gaining momentum for years and the $650 million allocated to it in the recently-passed federal stimulus bill should only accelerate the transformation inside U.S. schools and school districts. Companies such as Promethean USA, eInstruction, and Luidia have already capitalized on growing demand, carving out market share in the emergent interactive-whiteboard industry. Then there’s Schoolwires, a company in State College, Pennsylvania, that designs content management systems for school districts. The business plans to increase its workforce 60 percent this year. Don Knezek, CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education, says when it comes to technology in classrooms, the U.S. is still an "emerging market."

Temporary Staffing Firms

At a time when many companies are reducing their headcount, now might seem like a funny time to start a staffing firm. But some agencies, particularly those that specialize in filling part-time positions, are doing well. This sector -- the largest within employment services -- "should continue to generate the most new jobs in this industry," according to a government estimate. Those agencies that position themselves to take advantage of changes in the workforce by specializing in locating positions that offer flexible schedules, for example, are well-positioned to succeed.

Government Services

In the past year, government services has been gaining steam as a top category among the fastest-growing private companies on the Inc. 500 | 5000 list. From 2007 to 2008, the total revenue for companies in this category nearly doubled, from $678 million to $1.2 billion, and the median four-year growth rate for companies on the 2008 list came in at nearly 1,300 percent. President Obama's $787 billion Economic Recovery Act certainly won't hinder that growth. According to the administration's Recovery.gov website, by 2012, two-thirds of the approximately $23 billion allocated to individual states will reflect investments in local infrastructure, creating opportunities for start-ups to bid on projects that involve transportation, broadband technologies, and clean water, among others.

Accounting Services

It may not be considered a "sexy" industry, but small and independent firms that help companies manage cash flow by keeping on top of accounts receivables are increasingly in demand -- especially during a time when customers will do anything they can to avoid paying bills. Accounting work is a function that companies routinely outsource, especially when they are seeking to cut costs during a recession, which opens up opportunities for start-ups. Profit margins can be especially high for solo entrepreneurs or those who run their businesses from home. According to recent data from Sageworks, private accounting firms have seen a 20.9 percent growth in profit over the last 12 months.

Repair Services

Call it a sign of the times, but companies that provide repair services, ranging from the home-improvement sector to the auto industry, are seeing an uptick in revenue as more people opt to fix their existing possessions, rather than to buy new. Business is up 2.4 percent at auto repair shops and 4.6 for electricians and plumbers in the past year, according to statistics compiled by Sageworks. Other lucrative sectors include shoe repair shops, many of which have seen business more than double since the start of the recession, as well as personal electronics repair shops. The repair business is also hospitable for fledgling ventures: businesses can often be run from home and sustained on the founder’s knowhow and sweat equity.

Self Improvement

If ever there were a time in which people are searching for self-improvement, it's now. Americans spend more than $11 billion each year on self-improvement products and services, including motivational-speaker seminars, networking and wealth-building instructional DVDs, and spiritual guidance books, according to Marketdata Enterprises, a Tampa-based research firm. Over the next three years, while many industries contract, self-help is expected to grow 6.2 percent annually.

Energy

The energy industry is full of start-up opportunities, so it's no surprise that it was the fastest-growing category among privately-held companies on the 2008 Inc. 500 | 5000 list -- with a median four-year growth rate of 287.5 percent among 79 companies on the list. These companies run the gamut from dealing in solar energy to alternative fuels. Due to growing consumer demand to save on energy costs, companies that install efficient lighting systems or cut down on heating costs by installing solar panels are well positioned for future growth. In addition, economic stimulus funds for energy projects nationwide amount to $43 billion, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs with a scientific background to break into areas such as biofuel and wind power. -- Jason Del Rey and Tamara Schweitzer

© 2009 Mansueto Ventures LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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[2] http://www.inc.com/ss/7-businesses-watch-out

[3] http://www.inc.com/ss/america039s-weirdest-businesses

[4] http://www.inc.com/ss/iphone-business-apps

[5] http://www.inc.com/ss/11-businesses-you-can-start-your-pajamas-2009