Everyday Money

You may think that in these straitened times philanthropy is the first thing we should reduce or cut out as we attempt to make ends meet. But, in an article featured in Portfolio, it was demonstrated that “... people grow wealthier when they give more.” The study from the Social Capital Benchmark Survey examined philanthropic behaviours and household income plus other factors such as age, religion education and more. It found that higher income related...

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Why?

Why don’t we spare a thought for those collectors of contemporary art who are now inhabiting a classic investment bubble. Forget about the share market, the sub prime crisis, the tottering financial system and the world economy.A recent article by Ben Lewis claims the bubble is about to pop. He cites the example of British house prices which took six years to double at the start of this century, contemporary art managed it in one, 2006-2007. Over...

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Musings and Amusings

Following in the footsteps of Grecian courtesans that notorious woman Catherine d’Medici introduced Italian style by wearing high heels (she was rather short). Since then women have been crippling themselves in the search for the advantage kick-arse shoes give the wearer.Latterly nine inch heels with four inch platforms have been gracing the feet of the ultra thin models we are supposed to emulate. What is it about our shoe fetish? Many of the most...

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Womenomics

There have been many studies demonstrating the earnings gap between men and women; however a recent study by the Department of Sociology at Queens College in New York showed that full time female employees in their 20s were earning more than males same age, in large cities like Chicago, Boston, Minneapolis and New York. In Dallas 20% more than men, in New York 17% more.But, and you knew there was a but, after age 30 women were no longer ahead.The...

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Who's Counting

I am pretty sure it was Winston Churchill who, when confronted with statistical proof growled; “There are lies, damned lies, and statistics.” His assertion is still pretty valid many decades later. Statistics are supposed to define what is true, false or merely anecdotal but; statistics can fool us. In fact as Nassim Taleb, author of The Black Swan points out, it is probably fooling governments right now.When he talks about the limits of statistics...

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