Technology Generation Skipping

The WSJ of 12 September has an article on Chinese telecoms in Africa. The real story is the rapid growth of smart phones in Africa. This is the telecoms 'generation skipping' I mention in the book. From May 2010 to May 2011, smartphone growth was 1280% in Nigeria, 189% in South Africa, 97% in Kenya, and 133% overall in Africa. Smart phones free them from the maze of bureaucracy and mismanagement in state owned land systems. They are incredibly innovative with their mobile phones.

currency gyrations

The Swiss are intervening to keep the franc from getting stronger. In my book, I have a graph of market rates (euro vs. US$) and ppp rates. The ppp stays steady, while the market rate gyrates. Pity the poor purchasing or sales manager who is trying to set prices. One's whole supply chain can be disrupted by the Greeks, even if one does no business with them.

Solar Industry

Solar power company Solyndra has filed for bankruptcy despite government help. As I mention in Chapter 8, the industry depends heavily upon government help, but help does not guarantee survival. And, government help means taxpayer dollars which are in short supply these days. First Solar still looks good, but their stock continues to go up and down like a yo-yo reflecting skepticism about the industry.