Articles 1 to 10 of 26
An economist's take on the opportunities and threats that lie ahead for Asia
Say you have the ability to foresee the ups and downs of the economy; what would you do with that power? Stephen Roach's answer: Become a celebrated economist, columnist and author! His latest book, The Next Asia, is a 2006 to 2009 greatest hits collection of essays on what, he believes, are the region's shortfalls and opportunities. There is plenty to chew upon – from what Roach believes are the factors that led to the recent financial crisis to the various issues that will plague the continent's rapidly developing economies.
Corporate governance in China: No quick fix, No fixed solution
China offers a multitude of business opportunities, but international investors often find themselves stumped with a range of issues, many of which boil down to the country's distinct system of corporate governance. Here, the lines between interests and relationships are less clear-cut, and links to the government seem to serve as a proxy to accountability. This is a system that exists for a reason, said TJ Wong at SMU's Ho Bee Professorship in Chinese Economy and Business lecture series. However, foreign investors, used to international norms of transparency, are calling this into question.
Monitoring state-owned versus state-controlled enterprises
What’s the best way to monitor listed Chinese companies effectively? Should the Chinese government introduce more stringent corporate governance regulations to keep managers on their toes? Forget it. According to a research study by SMU accounting professor Wang Jiwei, the government is better off ditching its little black book of corporate governance reform and focusing on other ways to get results.
Following the financial crisis: risk and opportunities for Singapore
Asian economies are showing signs of recovery, and the stock markets have rebounded, leading to optimism that the worst of the economic crisis is over. However, few are expecting a quick return to the boom years, for weakness still persists in major economies while uncertainties remain in others. Nevertheless, for those Singapore-based regional financial industry players speaking at a recent seminar organised by the Sim Kee Boon Institute of Financial Economics, they are picking up lessons learned, seeing beyond the near-term worries, and finding growth opportunities.
Leave some breathing room for optimal value creation in Asian family-owned firms
Corporate governance, via the active monitoring of a company’s management by its board of directors, is an accepted practice. For publicly-listed companies controlled by families, the general perception is independent directors should actively take up the mantle of watching out for the interests and rights of minority shareholders. But, is there a possibility whereby over-zealous monitoring might crimp the growth of these family-run companies, thus, doing more harm than good? According to a new study: Yes, it does!
An elusive search for the Holy Grail via Japan’s Lost Decade
Why did the Wall Street crash of October 1929 cause the global economy to decline and stagnate over a long time? Till today, macroeconomists are still trying to answer what Ben Bernanke describes as the “Holy Grail” – an enlightened understanding of what went wrong. Richard Koo, author of “The Holy Grail of Macroeconomics: Lessons from Japan’s Great Recession”, attempts an explanation with the “balance sheet recession” concept, based on his observations in Japan, where companies try to pay down their debt on time, if not earlier.
Financial Risk Management: Lessons from the Current Crisis ... So Far
The current economic recovery looks long and difficult, and makes providing for an ageing population an even greater challenge. Will economies rebound to provide for the health care needs of retirees? At a conference organised in November 2008 by the Sim Kee Boon Institute’s newly launched Center for Silver Security at the Singapore Management University, Todd Groome of the International Monetary Fund spoke on how the ongoing financial crisis could shape retirement risk.
Retail Investors and Structured Products: A Case of 'Buyer Beware'!
Across the globe, buyers of structured products linked to Lehman Brothers have seen their investments wiped out. In Singapore, the MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore) has appointed an independent committee to oversee the review and resolution of customer complaints. Tan Chong Hui, professor of quantitative finance at Singapore Management University, has this advice especially for retail investors of structured products: caveat emptor or ‘buyer beware’.
Thierry Apoteker on the Threat of Global Stagflation
Managing director Thierry Apoteker and his team at French company T-A-C (Thierry Apoteker Consulting) have correctly predicted many of the economic shocks that the world has seen in the past three months. In a recent presentation hosted by the International Trading Institute, Singapore Management University, Apoteker made a convincing case for worldwide inflation and recession, known as stagflation.
Fair-value Accounting Provides Much Needed Transparency in Dislocated Markets
In the current global financial turmoil, more transparency is needed, not less, say Singapore Management University professor of accounting Andrew Lee and accounting lecturer Lim Chu Yeong. While some critics argue that fair-value accounting is partly to blame and should be suspended, in a recent commentary Lee and Lim made the case for fair-value accounting as having an important role to play in providing timely and relevant information to investors.
