All is Money

An explainer on why Chinese imports were blocked at Indian ports

Our world is home to over 190 countries using 180 currencies to trade, invest, and collect taxes. The global economy is complex at the best of times and the foreign exchange, or forex market only looks to add an additional layer of confusion and complexity.

So this begs the question could the world adopt a single universal currency?

This is Adam Smith. Adam Smith was a Scottish philosopher and author who is probably best known for writing a book titled “An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of … The Wealth of Nations!”

This book effectively marked the beginning of economics as an academic discipline as Adam Amith, (now heralded as the father of economics) laid the foundation for economic rules and principles that guide decision making the world over.

There are all manner of factors that make poor countries poor and rich countries rich. Many of these factors we have explored in depth when we have looked at economies like the democratic republic of the Congo all the way up to places like Switzerland and Norway.

Political Stability, industry, natural resource wealth are all incredibly important variables but there is something extra here that just doesn’t seem to make sense.

In two short decades, Amazon has grown from a modest online bookstore to an international conglomerate. A conglomerate that seems hellbent on moving into every growing industry out there.

Amazon will only be the second company this channel has ever explored but it is extremely important to understand for a few reasons. most curiously, why amazon is pushing for reform in key areas that wouldn't really be expected...

The 2008 Global Financial crisis was kicked off by major structural issues in the global banking system and exacerbated by record levels of household debt.

Today the world is on the brink of yet another major financial downturn, and yet again household debts are at record levels.

So is banking really to blame?

Australia is a major world economy, with highly developed industries and close to 25 million of the wealthiest citizens in the world.

But Australia is harboring a deep, dark secret ... it is an American company!

Game Theory is supposed to show how businesses (and prisoners) can outdo each other to win out over their competition. While this is great in theory Game Theory actually shows us much more about how to get along with our partners, friends, and allies.

Hong Kong has done very well for itself as a global-middle-man. And the meteoric rise of its neighboring economy, China, has only strengthened the city’s already-prosperous position.

But, of course, if you follow the news, you probably already know that Hong Kong has seen better days. Global trade tensions, prolonged protests, and good-old-fashioned competition have dramatically impacted its economy in recent years.

Taxes are an unfortunate reality for most people living and working in the modern world, we pay them every year, we complain about them, and then we forget them until next year.

Taxes are one of the most important elements of any economy around the world. Entire societies can grow from effective taxation and crumble without it.