BizResearch

Survey of Mining Companies: 2011/2012

Source: Fraser Institute

From publication web page

Since 1997, the Fraser Institute has conducted an annual survey of metal mining and exploration companies to assess how mineral endowments and public policy factors such as taxation and regulation affect exploration investment. Survey results represent the opinions of executives and exploration managers in mining and mining consulting companies operating around the world.

The survey now includes data on 93 jurisdictions around the world, on every continent except Antarctica, including sub-national jurisdictions in Canada, Australia, the United States, and Argentina. This year, Missouri, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Guyana, Laos, Mauritania, Morocco, Po land, Suriname, and the following sub-national jurisdictions from Argentina: Catamarca, Chubut, Jujuy, Mendoza, Rio Negro, Salta, San Juan, and Santa Cruz were added to the survey. South Dakota and Wisconsin were dropped.

Click here to read the full report

Photo from Creative Commons: Flickr: Susanne Anette

Trade, Competition, and the Pricing of Commodities

Source: CEPR

Editors: Simon J Evenett, Frédéric Jenny

Summary:

After several decades of quiescence, global commodity prices almost doubled in 2008 and, after a brief fall, rose again in 2011. Over the longer term, the impact of population growth on demand, and of climate change on supply, makes it likely that commodity prices will continue to be an important issue on the global policy agenda.

The purpose of this volume, composed of papers presented at a conference co-organised by CEPR and CUTS in Geneva in September 2011, is to identify and assess the importance of the factors responsible for the recent increases in the levels and volatility of commodity prices

Click here to read the full report

Photo from Creative Commons: Flickr: by Nick Saltmarsh

The State of Renewable Energies in Europe

Source: EurObserv'ER

Extract from Foreword by Willian Gillett:

As the renewable energy sector shows promising signs of growth, we acknowledge the growing accuracy of EurObserv'ER's estimates. According to the official data published in November 2011 by Eurostat, the share of renewables in the EU in 2009 was 11.7%; EurObserv'ER’s estimation of the same figure published in last year's report was 11.6%. Such a good approximation confirms the accuracy of the EurObserv'ER methodology and its ability to provide policy makers and market actors with timely and reliable information on the evolution of the renewable energy sector.

This year’s edition presents the main statistics on the renewable energy market in the EU for the year 2010, for which official data will only be available next year. Its last chapter focuses on seven EU regions which have particularly high amounts of RES investments during the last year, and highlights how these regions have managed to create a favourable climate for new investments. Their experiences can hopefully inspire and help actors across Europe to make their regions more sustainable and create new jobs in the renewables sector.

Click here to read the full report

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Green and Ethical Consumer 2012

Source: Key Note

Extract from executive summary

The green and ethical consumerism market has changed significantly over the last decade, as have attitudes regarding the environment and ethical sourcing of products. As a result, a number of new products, ranging from items used in the home to transport, have been launched on the market to appeal to consumers who value the green and ethical qualities of the products that they purchase.

This report specifically examines the ethical food and drink, home, transport and holiday travel, fashion and beauty and finance markets. Overall, Key Note has estimated that total sales of ethically-sourced products in the UK reached £50.76bn in 2011. Furthermore, the market observed year-on-year increases between 2007 and 2011, with market value rising by 39.2% during the 5-year period. Despite this growth, however, factors such as the recession are believed to have dampened the market’s potential in recent years. This is principally because the price of ethical goods and services are often much higher than alternative products and, as a result, consumers were forced to put their ethical values on hold during the recession in order to save money.

Currently, new products, notably in the food and drink and beauty sectors, have helped to boost sales for the industry, as organic alternatives continue to become more mainstream. Retailers themselves have also implemented a number of changes, for example, by reducing their carbon emissions and waste output, in response to consumer’s opinion regarding the importance of the environment and sustainability. Furthermore, the purchase of second-hand clothing has become much more popular in recent years and has served to boost sales at clothing swapping events and charity shops. The fashion trend towards vintage clothing has gone some way in reducing the stigma previously attached to shopping at such outlets, and the purchase of second-hand garments and accessories is currently viewed as a much more ‘fashionable’ way to shop.

This report is available to current London Business School staff, students and faculty from Key Note Online which can be found on the A-Z list of library databases via Portal.

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The Sky Is Rising: A Detailed Look at the Entertainment Industry

Source: Computer & Communications Industry Association

From Press Release

Concurrent with the MIDEM music business conference in France today, the Computer & Communications Industry Association released a study it commissioned, “The Sky is Rising,” by Mike Masnick, who writes about technology policy for Techdirt and is founder and CEO of Floor 64. The economic report on entertainment over the past decade found that the entertainment industry grew 50 percent while consumer spending on entertainment also increased.
 
Some findings:

• Using numbers from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the study charts how consumer spending on entertainment as a percentage of their household income rose 15 percent from 2000 to 2008.


• BLS data also show entertainment sector employment also grew 20 percent during that last decade and 43 percent for those identified as independent artists.


• According to MPAA, box office revenues grew 25 percent from 2006 to 2010 from $25.5 billion to $31.8 billion.


• Data from PricewaterhouseCoopers and iDATE show that from 1998-2010 the value of the worldwide entertainment industry grew from $449 billion to $745 billion.


• From 1999 to 2009 music concert sales in the US tripled from $1.5 billion to $4.6 billion


• Consumers’ choices growing as more movies are produced jumping from 5,635 films produced globally in 2005 to 7,193 in 2009.

Click here to read the full report

Photo from Creative Commons: Flick: By ScypaxPictures

Do SMEs create more and better jobs?

Source: European Commission Directorate General Enterprise and Industry

The European Commission (has) published a study analyzing the important role small and medium sized enterprises play in creating more and better jobs. According to the analysis, 85% of net new jobs in the EU between 2002 and 2010 were created by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). This figure is considerably higher than the 67%-share of SMEs in total employment. During this period, net employment in the EU's business economy rose substantially, by an average of 1.1 million new jobs each year.

With 1% annually, the employment growth for SMEs was higher than for large enterprises with 0.5%. A clear exception is the trade sector, in which employment in SMEs increased by 0.7% annually, compared to 2.2% in large enterprises. This is due to the strong increase of large trade enterprises, in particular in sales, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles.

Within the SME size-class, micro firms (less than 10 employees) are responsible with 58% for the highest proportion of total net employment growth in the business economy.

Secondly, the study has shown that new firms (younger than five years) are responsible for an overwhelming majority of the new jobs. New enterprises operating in business services create more than a quarter (27%) of the new jobs, while the new firms in transport and communication contribute least (6%).

Click here to read the full report

Photo from Creative Commons: Flickr: By photologue_np

World Press Freedom Index 2011-2012

Source: Reporters Without Borders

Extract taken from publication web page

“This year’s index sees many changes in the rankings, changes that reflect a year that was incredibly rich in developments, especially in the Arab world,” Reporters Without Borders said today as it released its 10th annual press freedom index. “Many media paid dearly for their coverage of democratic aspirations or opposition movements. Control of news and information continued to tempt governments and to be a question of survival for totalitarian and repressive regimes. The past year also highlighted the leading role played by netizens in producing and disseminating news.

“Crackdown was the word of the year in 2011. Never has freedom of information been so closely associated with democracy. Never have journalists, through their reporting, vexed the enemies of freedom so much. Never have acts of censorship and physical attacks on journalists seemed so numerous. The equation is simple: the absence or suppression of civil liberties leads necessarily to the suppression of media freedom. Dictatorships fear and ban information, especially when it may undermine them…….

Within the European Union, the index reflects a continuation of the very marked distinction between countries such as Finland and Netherlands that have always had a good evaluation and countries such as Bulgaria (80th), Greece (70th) and Italy (61st) that fail to address the issue of their media freedom violations, above all because of a lack of political will. There was little progress from France, which went from 44th to 38th, or from Spain (39th) and Romania (47th). Media freedom is a challenge that needs addressing more than ever in the Balkans, which want to join the European Union but are suffering the negative effects of the economic crisis.

Click here to read the full report

Photo from Creative Commons: Flickr: Wesley Fryer

World Economic Situation and Prospects 2012

A joint product of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the five United Nations regional commissions

Extract from Publication Page

The world economy is on the brink of another major downturn. Global economic growth started to decelerate on a broad front in mid-2011 and is estimated to have averaged 2.8 per cent over the last year. This economic slowdown is expected to continue into 2012 and 2013. The United Nations baseline forecast for the growth of world gross product (WGP) is 2.6 per cent for 2012 and 3.2 per cent for 2013, which is below the pre-crisis pace of global growth.

Persistent high unemployment in the United States and low wage growth are holding back aggregate demand and, together with the prospect of prolonged depressed housing prices, this has heightened risks of a new wave of home foreclosures. Growth in the euro zone has slowed considerably since the beginning of 2011 and the ever-simmering sovereign debt crisis heavily weighs on consumer and business confidence across Europe. The failure of policymakers in developed countries to address unemployment and prevent sovereign debt distress and financial sector fragility from escalating has posed the most acute risk for the global economy in the outlook for 2012-2013, with renewed global recession being a distinct possibility.

Against this background, the report discusses several policy directions which could avoid a double-dip recession, including: optimal design of fiscal policies to stimulate more direct job creation and investment in infrastructure, energy efficiency and sustainable energy supply, and food security; stronger financial safety nets; better coordination between fiscal and monetary policies; and the provision of sufficient support to developing countries in addressing the fallout from the crisis and the coordination of policy measures at the international level.

Click here to read the full report

Click here for link to publications page (includes links to individual chapters)

Photo from Creative Commons: Flickr: Leo Reynolds

Digital Communication 2012

Source: Key Note

Extract from Executive Summary

The digital communications market is becoming increasingly vital to more and more people in the UK. The focus of the market is now predominantly portability and accessibility, and this is where any future growth in the industry will be attained. Traditional means such as landline phones are showing considerable long-term decline, while mobile Internet used on portable devices is becoming very popular in its infancy.

The market has quickly become a battle field between a handful of companies. Apple’s iPhone and iPad have become the market leaders in the premium category, while mobile phones and tablet computers running on the Google Android system have done very well in the mid-market, as have RIM’s BlackBerry phones and tablet computers. All of these devices have taken advantage of a good 3G network in the UK and many Wi-Fi hotspots across town and city centres.

Moving onto communications via the Internet, a large majority of residents in the UK use social networking sites as a means of communication. Consequently, this sector has recorded the largest growth in recent years. However, the only revenue generated from this sector comes from Internet advertising, and very little revenue is seen in the digital communications industry overall.

The future of the digital communications market will undoubtedly rely on more portable devices that are able to perform a greater variety of tasks. Video calls between mobiles could easily become commonplace when the new 4G Internet network is auctioned off by the Office of Communications (Ofcom) in the coming years, possibly late 2012. However, for now, consumers seem to be happy to invest in their digital communication usage despite a recent period of financial uncertainty which could continue well into the future.

This report is available to current London Business School staff, students and faculty from Key Note Online which can be found on the A-Z list of library databases via Portal.

Photo from Creative Commons: Flickr:  David Reber's Hammer Photography

Global Economic Prospects 2012: Uncertainties and Vulnerabilities

Source: World Bank

Extract from Press Release

Developing countries should prepare for further downside risks, as Euro Area debt problems and weakening growth in several big emerging economies are dimming global growth prospects, says the World Bank in the newly-released Global Economic Prospects (GEP) 2012.
 
The Bank has lowered its growth forecast for 2012 to 5.4 percent for developing countries and 1.4 percent for high-income countries (-0.3 percent for the Euro Area), down from its June estimates of 6.2 and 2.7 percent (1.8 percent for the Euro Area), respectively. Global growth is now projected at 2.5 and 3.1 percent for 2012 and 2013, respectively.
 
Slower growth is already visible in weakening global trade and commodity prices. Global exports of goods and services expanded an estimated 6.6 percent in 2011 (down from 12.4 percent in 2010), and are projected to rise by only 4.7 percent in 2012. Meanwhile, global prices of energy, metals and minerals, and agricultural products are down 10, 25 and 19 percent respectively since peaks in early 2011. Declining commodity prices have contributed to an easing of headline inflation in most developing countries. Although international food prices eased in recent months, down 14 percent from their peak in February 2011, food security for the poorest, including in the Horn of Africa, remains a central concern.

Click here to read full report

Click here to go to publications pages (for topical appendices, regional appendices, and non-English materials

Photo from Creative Commons: Flickr: DFID

2012 Index of Economic Freedom

Source: Heritage Foundation

Extract from Press Release

Economic freedom declined worldwide in 2011 as many countries attempted -- without success -- to spend their way out of recession, according to the 18th annual Index of Economic Freedom, released today by The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal.  The average economic freedom score for the 2012 Index stands at 59.5 (on a scale in which 100 represents the ideal), down two-tenths of a point from 2011.

Hong Kong and Singapore finished first and second in the rankings for the 18th straight year. Australia and New Zealand ranked third and fourth, and Switzerland fifth. Canada finished sixth, slipping almost a full point and falling out of the group of “free” economies into the “mostly free” category.

Greece’s Index score declined the most, plunging nearly five points to 55.4. This put it in the middle of the pack of “mostly unfree” economies. Many of Greece’s European neighbors also suffered from exploding government budgets; 37 of the 43 European countries ranked in the Index lost ground in the spending category.

The Index also studies economic freedom on a regional basis. In 2011, only the Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia-Pacific regions advanced. The other regions -- South and Central America/Caribbean, Europe, Middle-East North Africa and North America -- all declined

The Index measures economic freedom in 10 specific categories: labor freedom, business freedom, trade freedom, fiscal freedom, government spending, monetary freedom, investment freedom, financial freedom, property rights and freedom from corruption. Scores in these categories are averaged to create an overall score

Click here to read full report (pre-registration required)

Click to here for country rankings, data, and interactive features

Photo from Creative Commons: Flickr: 4rank

Global Economic Crime Survey 2011

Source: PwC

PwC's sixth global economic crime survey examines the causes and effects of fraud worldwide, focusing on the growing threat of cybercrime. This year’s survey was completed by 3,877 respondents from 78 countries, making it one of the largest and most comprehensive studies of economic crime available to businesses.

The report is divided into two sections:

• Cybercrime: Its impact on organisations, their awareness of the crime and what they are doing to combat the risks.
• Fraud, the fraudster and the defrauded: The types of fraud committed, how they are detected, who is committing them and what the repercussions are

Key Findings from the report:

• 34% of respondents experienced economic crime in the last 12 months (13% increase from 2009
• Almost 1 in 10 who reported fraud suffered losses of more than US$5 million
• Cybercrime now ranks as one of the top four economic crimes
• Reputational damage resulting from cybercrime is the biggest fear for 40% of respondents
• 40% of respondents don’t have the capability to detect and prevent cybercrime
• 56% of respondents said the most serious fraud was an ‘inside job’
• Senior Executives made up almost half of the respondents who didn’t know if their organisation had suffered a fraud

Click here to read the full report

Photo from Creative Commons: Flickr: By AngusKingston

2011 China Luxury Market Study

Source: Bain & Company

Extract from Insights Article

According to findings from a new Bain study, sales of luxury goods in mainland China will grow overall by 25 to 30 percent in 2011, with more than 60 percent of purchases coming from new luxury customers. Strong sales in the first three quarters of this year in China are driving Bain’s luxury goods 2011 estimate, with a gradual softening seen for the fourth quarter, according to the study. Watches are the growth leader in the market, with a growth forecast of 40 percent for 2011, while shoes, cosmetics and fragrances will see growth rates near 20 percent. Growth rates in China continue to outperform globally; Bain finds that 2011 sales will be up by eight percent in the Americas, two percent in Japan, and seven percent in Europe.

While the majority of sales growth in 2011 is coming from new luxury shoppers, the share of growth from existing customers will improve to reach approximately 40%, according to the shopping intentions of the 2,000 Chinese luxury shoppers surveyed across Tier One to Tier Three cities in China including Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou. The study finds that China’s domestic market growth is still driven by new store openings. Bain saw a continued expansion into Tier Two and Tier Three cities, although the pace of store openings in China has cooled down in 2011. For a select group of luxury brands, the new store openings declined from 150 in 2009 and 160 in 2010 to an estimated 90 store openings in 2011.

A detailed recap of the study’s key findings is freely available from the Bain & Co website (pre-registation required)

Photo from Creative Commons: Flickr: dmoola

London's Digital Economy

Source: GLA Intelligence Unit (Greater London Authority)

This report draws together a variety of data sources to highlight London’s position in the digital arena. The report looks at uptake and use of digital technologies by businesses and households. Amongst the findings are:

• There are over 23,000 ICT and software companies in London – the highest number of any European city. London specializes in the technology industry hosting a quarter of all British jobs in computer and related activities employment and 22 per cent of British jobs in Telecommunications. London has the highest level of private equity and venture capitalists investments into technology companies of the UK regions. In 2010 they invested £453 million into 60 companies in the city.


• London adults are more likely than those in the rest of the country to access the internet by mobile phone.


• The Broadband Quality Survey 2010 shows that UK broadband services enable users to “comfortably enjoy” the latest web applications but still lag someway behind the best in the world, such as those in South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan. The Survey scores London at 30, the same as Glasgow and one point higher than Birmingham. This compares to the winning city of Seoul that has an overall score of 73. Both Virgin and BT are in the process of updating their networks to offer their customers superfast broadband and the Government recently announced that they are creating a new £100 million urban broadband fund part of which will benefit London.

Click here to read the full report

Photo from Creative Commons: Flickr: By petahopkins

Applying a Gender Lens to Science, Technology, and Innovation

Source: UNCTAD

Extract from Press Release

This report was prepared as a contribution to the fifty-fifth session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

Based on an examination of women´s roles in a number of sectors such as agriculture, water, energy, and transport, the report argues that science, technology, and innovation - known by the acronym STI - will not have the broadly positive effects sought in less-wealthy regions of the world if STI policies do not specifically take into account the needs and talents of half the global population. Further gains in development depend on fully appreciating women´s engagement in economic life and in society, the report contends; policy should be attentive not only to the differing impacts STI can have on men´s and women´s lives, but also to the significant part women play in economic growth. This approach should be followed throughout the process of STI policymaking: from policy analysis and design to implementation, monitoring and follow-up. Recognizing this is what the report calls applying a "gender lens".

The report identifies three areas for policy action:

• Science for women: developing science and technology that support women´s development and livelihood activities, especially in areas such as agriculture, water, energy and transport;
• Women in science: promoting gender equality in science, technology and engineering education, careers and leadership;
• Women in innovation: encouraging and supporting the role of women in innovation, enterprise and entrepreneurship at the national and grassroots levels.

Among the report´s recommendations for national governments:

• Conduct impact assessments of policies related to STI for development to ensure that they benefit men and women equally;
• Take into account when developing STI policies the extensive work done by women in areas such as agriculture, water and energy use;
• Expand the education of women in scientific and technological fields, and in entrepreneurship, so that this reservoir of talent can boost economic growth and raise living standards;
• Ensure that women have equal access to financing, land and markets so that businesses they found and the science and research they perform can have their full developmental impacts;
• Support the participation of women in STI decision-making at all levels.

Click here to read the full report

Photo from Creative Commons: Flickr: USAID Images