Posts Tagged ‘emerging market’

Bulls Start to Sniff Around African Economy

Friday, June 17th, 2011

south-african-money.jpeg
(photo credit: ヘザー heza)

A company named Helios just unveiled its second big fund composed of equity investments in African securities. The entirely private-equity fund is the largest ever created in Africa, and it seems to show that investors are becoming more and more interested in the emerging markets there.

The idea behind investing in “emerging markets” is kind of the same as the idea behind buying low and selling high. Sure, there’s always the risk that a low-priced stock means it’s a bad company and you’ll lose money on your investment. But if the stock does well, you make money. Lots of money. Same deal with emerging markets.

Since investors are basically amateur fortune-tellers, constantly trying to predict how companies and markets will perform in the future, this new investment in Africa means that someone, somewhere, thinks that things are about to go really well in those emerging markets.

Stay tuned…

An Emerging Market is…

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

An emerging market is a financial sector or economy that isn’t quite as developed as that of, say, the United States or Western Europe, but that is experiencing rapid growth. Some emerging markets, especially Brazil, Russia, India, and China (collectively known as BRIC), are quickly becoming major world economic players.

Changing Bathroom Routines Abroad – A Sign Of Development?

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

Economic development affects quality of life in a truly tangible way – here are some fun facts to impress your friends.

  • Toilet paper did not become a staple in American homes until the popularization of indoor plumbing in the early 1900′s, when industrialization brought modern infrastructure to most of the country. Today, it would be hard to imagine living without toilet paper.
  • Because of rising standards of living and the availability of disposable income that has come with economic development, the use of toilet paper is quickly growing in emerging markets.
  • As energy and other production costs rise and people become more concerned with the environmental cost of producing toilet paper, the price you pay per roll is increasing. However, Americans don’t seem to be buying any less toilet paper, and it’s doubtful they will any time soon.

Facts & Figures

  • The United States spends over $6 billion dollars on toilet paper a year.
  • Toilet paper revenues have doubled in Brazil since 2004.
  • The average American uses 57 squares of toilet paper a day, which translates into 50 pounds a year!

Best Quote

“The spread of globalization can kind of be measured by the spread of Western bathroom practices.” – David Praeger, Author of Poop Culture: How America Is Shaped by Its Grossest National Product