For decades, the franchise model has been one of the most popular pathways into entrepreneurship. Yet, even within one of the world’s most successful business models, deep-seated structural weaknesses, rigidities, and systemic risks can emerge—specifically when the chain of transparency is broken. At a time when small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are already grappling with …
Category: Corporates, Businesses & Industries
research and analysis for corporates, businesses and industries
The AI in the fields of economics, law, political science, and international relations
The term AI refers to a flexible set of technological and programming methods for designing computational systems capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence—such as learning, contextual understanding, drawing inferences, problem-solving, and decision-making. Economics and AI In economics, AI enhances empirical analysis and market forecasting. For instance, machine learning methods can help improve …
One in three companies is reducing entry-level hiring in marketing
For many years, marketing was considered a viable and attractive option for students seeking a successful career—one that did not necessarily require the development of deep technical skills. It was viewed as a career rooted in: It was a career largely free from programming, algorithms, and mathematics. However, this perception was never entirely accurate. A …
The Global financial system is fragmenting into regional and national systems, hitting Visa and MasterCard
Last month, Jamison Greer, a top U.S. trade official, complained that Pix, Brazil’s instant payments system, was putting American companies like Visa and Mastercard at a disadvantage. The United States has proposed a 25 percent tariff on Brazil in response. But Brazilians appear unfazed. “Pix is a Brazilian achievement and we are not going to …
Business Continuity: The preventive shield of businesses
Businesses today are called upon to operate in an environment characterized by constant upheaval and increasing uncertainty. Geopolitical conflicts, regional tensions, economic turmoil, cyberattacks and extreme natural phenomena have long ceased to be local events, but now affect organizations on a global scale. Instead, they operate like dominoes, causing powerful ripple effects with consequences that …
What makes a business truly strong today?
Until a few years ago, a strong business was one that grew quickly. Increasing turnover, expanding its customer base and expanding into new markets were the key indicators of success. Today, however, the business environment has changed radically and with it the criteria by which an organization’s potential is assessed have been redefined. The successive …
The 12 US companies with a market capitalization of $30 trln, or equal to US GDP, are driving up stock market indices
The sheer size of the numbers is simply mind-boggling: 12 American companies have a market value of $30 trillion? Note that the U.S. GDP is about $30.8 trillion in nominal terms for 2025, according to IMF forecasts. There are only so many trillions of dollars that can disappear from investors’ portfolios before a recession is …
The EU in Russia’s embrace for energy – Eurasia will unite
As Europe’s economies cannot withstand a wave of subsidies and aid, such as that during the Covid 19 pandemic, which amounted to approximately 1.2 trillion euros, due to the deterioration of the fiscal position of states threatened by over-indebtedness, the priority now is – as one will see below the lines of the International Monetary …
The energy premium on oil from the markets and how an energy catastrophe is imminent
Global financial markets fell on Sunday, April 12, as S&P 500 futures and Bitcoin fell, while oil prices rose, following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz (12/4) aimed at increasing pressure on Iran to reach an agreement. Trump said via Truth Social that the US Navy …
Pressure on costs and freight rates brings shocks to shipping from the war in the Middle East
The crisis in the Middle East is not only affecting tourism and air transport, but is also causing strong shocks in international shipping, with the additional cost of fuel reaching 5 billion dollars. At the same time, fuel shortages are beginning to be recorded at large refueling stations, while shortages are also observed on the …