The Spymaster and the Economist
on Nov 5, 2009 in advisors John le Carre David Cornwell spy econometrics Tailor of Panama Intelligence failure spy novel Associated consultants Consulting Jan Kmenta Jan Kmenta, Professor of EconometricsThe work of the best novelists and scholars burrow into the psyche. Peculiarly in my own mind the British intelligence officer and novelist David Cornwell (aka John le Carré), and Czech-born Jan Kmenta, the wry...

Timeline of Financial Bailout of 2008
on Aug 10, 2009 in Henry Paulson Economic Stabilization Ben Bernanke Financial Bailout Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 HR1424 Day Date Action Q3-Q4: 2007 Subprime mortgage meltdown begins Fri. 30-May-08 JP Morgan completes acquisition of Bear Stearns Sun. 7-Sep-08 U.S. Treasury s...

Health Care Reform Takes Shape
on Aug 3, 2009 in Political Economy HR 3200 JP Farrell Affordable Health Choices Act Economics HR3200 H.R.3200 James P Farrell health insurance health care bill Health Care image from http://www.PiperReport.comWith the final markups of the Affordable Health Choices Act now clearing committees in the U.S. House of Representatives, the potential scope of the legislation is becoming clear. And, while the American Medical...

Businesses Going Shopping
on Jul 15, 2009 in Management investment JP Farrell Liquidity planning James P Farrell consultant Mr. MonopolyEconomic crises beget struggle and restructuring and renewal.When the housing market collapsed and the banking system all but failed, our present became divorced from our future. Corporate planning has been replaced by cash control; inve...

Architecting the Retail Enterprise
on Jul 12, 2009 in Refabricating Architecture James Timberlake JP Farrell Enterprise Architecture Economics Consulting Stephen Kieran Retail Lifecycle Management James P Farrell Restaurant Development Architects Stephen Kieran (left) and James Timberlake (right)In their path breaking work, Refabricating Architecture: How Manufacturing Methodologies are Poised to Transform Building Construction, Stephen Kieran and James Timberlake argue that the ar...

An Explanation of the Health Care Bill
on Jul 8, 2009 in Policy fee-for-service JP Farrell Affordable Health Choices Act medical insurance Economics preexisting condition James P Farrell health insurance Health Care HELP Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT, left) and Mike Enzi (R-WY, right)The system of U.S. Health Care is now so thoroughly inefficient and inadequate that virtually no serious participant in the debate argues that reform is unnecessary. Partisans disagree abou...

Shotgun Economics: The Merrill Lynch Deal
on Jun 13, 2009 in Economic Stabilization Political Economy Financial Bailout NewsHour Merrill Lynch Economics PBS Frontline Bank of America The upcoming Frontline story on Bank of America's acquisition of Merrill Lynch promises to be a fascinating look behind the scenes at what one of the more controversial government interventions into the banking system. This excerpt was produced by N...

May I Have a Scone with my Coffee?
on May 9, 2009 in Supply chain Food and Beverage Caribou Starbucks JP Farrell Retail Lifecycle Management Stores James P Farrell RLM Restaurant Development Fresh Pastry at Panera BreadHow much information passes among how many people when a restaurant chain rolls out a new capability? If the chain is well organized and the change is not too great, such a campaign may well be handled through normal chan...

Prof. Courant on the Stimulus Package
on Apr 30, 2009 in Stimulus package Political Economy JP Farrell Paul Courant Economics University of Michigan James P Farrell Paul N. Courant Paul N. Courant, EconomistIt was a pleasant surprise to find my erstwhile thesis adviser, Professor Paul Courant, blogging on matters related to economics, libraries and electronic publishing among other things (see Au Courant).HIs post on the Stimul...

General Motors Surrenders
on Apr 14, 2009 in Steven Rattner Paul Volcker Economic Stabilization Obama JP Farrell Economics Task Force on Auto Industry James P Farrell Peter Orszag Financial Automotive Steven Rattner (left) and Ron Bloom (right) - Time MagazineThere is an element of politics whenever a chief executive departs, just as there must be in the timing of Rick Wagoner's departure from General Motors. In this case the White House has made...