Category: Essential posts

The biggest invisible stories of the decade: Part 1, the perpetual-motion credo

5 January, 2010 (11:44) | Capital markets, Decade, Essential posts, Global news, Innovations, Regulation, Theory, US News | No comments

 By: David A. Smith
 
When the naughty Aughties’ history is written, what will be its major financial and economic causes?
 

This is a major, seven-part post that is best read in order.  START HERE.

 
We all know its major effects – the stimulus bill, President Obama’s election, the GSE conservatorship, and the shotgun marriage of Bear Stearns, [...]

What makes a good consultant? Part 3b, attributes of character

1 December, 2009 (10:48) | AHI, Consulting, Essential posts, MEEs, Markets, Public-Private Partnerships, Theory, US News | No comments

By: David A. Smith

 
[Continued from yesterday’s Part 3a.]
 
[Continued from the previous Part 2b and Part 2a, which dealt with services and activities.]
[A previous trio, Part 1a, Part 1b, and Part 1c, covered the rules of engagement with clients.]

 
“What one man can invent another can discover,” said Holmes.
The Adventure of the Dancing Men
 
 
As we conclude this lengthy examination [...]

What makes a good consultant? Part 3a, attributes of character

30 November, 2009 (12:00) | AHI, Consulting, Essential posts, MEEs, Markets, Public-Private Partnerships, Theory, US News | No comments

By: David A. Smith
 
[Continued from the previous Part 2b and Part 2a, which dealt with services and activities.]
[A previous trio, Part 1a, Part 1b, and Part 1c, covered the rules of engagement with clients.]
 
Now we come to the most interesting part of my narrative.  Not all those who are clever are cut out to be [...]

Three key questions to give your ecosystem a physical: Part 3, follow the money

22 September, 2009 (10:02) | Ecosystems, Essential posts, Finance, Primer Posts, Theory, Titling | No comments

By: David Smith

 

[Continued from yesterday's Part 2 and the preceding Part 1.]
 
So far, in tracing the housing finance ecosystem by examining three value chain (connections by which transactions occur), we covered housing providers finding housing consumers (Part 1), and the baton pass of recognized ownership/ occupancy rights (Part 2).
 
Now for the third key question.
 

We [...]

Three key questions to give your ecosystem a physical: Part 2, follow the ownership

21 September, 2009 (10:34) | Ecosystems, Essential posts, Finance, Primer Posts, Theory, Titling | No comments

By: David A. Smith
 

[Continued from yesterday's Part 1.]
 
In yesterday’s exploration, we suggested that if you want to understand a housing finance ecosystem and lack the statistics or reference resources to compile a proper survey, you can do well by conducting a simpler ‘physical exam.’
 

Is that all I am to you, just a pretty johnny?
 
Any [...]