Champion of better capitalism
On Friday 23 September the Chancellor of the Exchequer made his ‘Growth Plan’ speech. While the news has been full of the market reaction to unfunded tax cuts, boards, investors and stakeholders might want to pay more attention to the ‘plan’ itself. Let’s look at … Continue readingThe Chancellor’s growth plan: a 20th century response to 21st Century challenges
On holiday in Italy recently, I got talking to Mario, a wine enthusiast. We discussed an outstanding white wine which came from a small vineyard nearby. The vineyard had been winning awards for several years. Until this year when it won nothing. One of its … Continue readingCan ESG be saved? Only if it radically changes its definition of governance
‘In Stoke-on-Trent last month, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak traded blows over everything from credit card economics to Channel migrants…The list of issues …was dizzyingly long. There was one glaring omission, however…In the hour-long debate there was not a single mention of the NHS.’ Andrew … Continue readingA little less wishful thinking, a little more listening please
The UK is to have a new Prime Minister. Tax has dominated the debate between the leading candidates. True Conservatives, it appears, are committed to cutting taxes. How are these to be paid for? The conversation has turned to that long neglected question: how does … Continue readingA new prime minister and wealth creation
As I arrived at last Wednesday’s gathering, the (UK) government was collapsing. Over 50 ministers had resigned. Political journalists were having the time of their lives. This at a time of war and spiralling prices — consumers are bracing for an annual energy bill of … Continue readingChaos, crisis, and hope
Don’t invest in something you don’t understand. That’s one of the most enduring – and soundest – investment principles. Incomprehension has kept me sceptical of crypto currencies. So has a concern for energy conservation: The Economist tells us Bitcoin uses more energy than Chile. DAOs … Continue readingWhat DAOs Teach Us
June 2022 Not a good month for those who worry about climate. We learned that the warming of the Northern Barents Sea corresponds to 2 to 2.5 times the Arctic warming averages and 5 to 7 times the global warming averages. The bodies of Bruno … Continue readingClimate gloom – from chair action to share action
Talking recently to a small group of senior leaders, I realised that most of them were still at school when we launched the 1995 Tomorrow’s Company report. So I asked them what they thought had changed since 1995. Fear of Causing Offence In our … Continue readingLazy labels about business purpose fuel the indignation industry
‘Who cares if Miami is going to be 6 foot under water. Amsterdam has been for centuries and it is a very nice place.’ Perhaps you missed the continuing controversy that raged following the speech by Stuart Kirk, HSBC’s Head of Responsible Investing. Perhaps you were … Continue readingStuart Kirk – an investment intermediary handicapped by his education
Sad as it may sound, some of the funniest conversations I’ve had recently have been about car parking at our local station in Suffolk ‘Have you found a way of paying yet ?’ we ask each other. One man has sent a ‘see-you-in court’ letter … Continue readingThe Bewilderment Brew – how technology, privatisation and outsourcing combined can make life hard for customers