In The News

The Growth of European Venture Philanthropy

Leonora Buckland, Lisa Hehenberger, Michael Hay August 12, 2013
Nonprofits and NGOs are growing in scale, creating banks and financing mechanisms that in turn review proposals and fund smaller efforts in target areas whether education, housing or health care. Venture philanthropy support, as explained by an article in Stanford Social Innovation Review, includes financing, mentoring, networking, performance measurements and more. The authors suggest that...

Greening Financial Reform

Simon Zadek August 2, 2013
Government budgets already must tackle flooding, wildfires, rising seas, eroding coastlines and other effects of climate change and should prepare to invest even more. “Trillions of dollars in ‘green finance’ – that is, low-carbon, resource-efficient investment – are needed annually to prevent climate change and natural constraints from stalling the global economy and threatening the livelihoods...

Climate Change and Financial Instability Seen as Top Global Threats

June 28, 2013
The Pew Research Center survey assessed global attitudes in 39 nations and identified climate change seen as a threat by 54 percent, financial stability by 52 percent, Islamic extremism by 49 percent and nuclear programs in North Korea and Iran by less than 40 percent of more than 37,000 respondents. Concern about climate change was highest in Latin America at 65 percent. Top concerns of...

Global Sell-off Shows Fed Reach Beyond the US

Nathaniel Popper June 21, 2013
The activities of world’s central banks are intertwined in complex ways that are more apparent. The Federal Reserve, the US central bank, reviews international variables before setting policy and recognizes that its actions affect growth and inflation in foreign economies. Overseeing the largest economy while actively intervening on economic matters, the Federal Reserve is in the position that...

Latin America Reacts to Changes in Fed Spending

Krista Hughes June 20, 2013
Latin America has outperformed other emerging markets in attracting foreign investment. However, the significant liquidity of Latin American currencies means that Latin America is the “high beta,” abruptly reacting to what is happening in the US economy, suggests Krista Hughes for Reuters. The mere hint of reduced spending from the US Federal Reserve, signaling a potential rise in interest rates...

Bermuda Refuses to Sign Up to Cameron's Tax Evasion Deal

Patrick Wintour June 18, 2013
Tax evasion threatens government budget and programs. As the G8 meets in Ireland, UK Prime Minister David Cameron hopes to persuade G8 and other countries to sign agreements against tax evasion. The pressure may have been counterproductive. Craig Cannonier, Bermuda’s prime minister, is refusing to sign the OECD international agreement on tax information exchange. Crannoir argues that Bermuda is...

Bitcoin Will Continue to Function Beyond the Reach of Government and Law

James Ball June 5, 2013
Bitcoin is a novel currency that lacks government backing and is instead defined by mathematical rules, thus putting it largely out of the reach of law enforcement. According to James Ball of the Guardian, Bitcoin’s potential was recently exposed by an investigation into Liberty Reserve out of Costa Rica. Liberty Reserve is accused of a $6 billion money laundering scheme as “a popular hub for...