Future of Europe, well behind the rest of the world

The EIU has just issued its last revision of the EIU Global Outlook.
No big surprises, but their projections struck in the eye, when put together in one graph

Never expected these Social Networking worldwide results

The latest results on who in the world is using Social networkshave come out a few days ago, with some surprises on who in the world is really engaged and in what are users engaged…

You want a house?… why not at USA

If you follow the trend … you should not think it twice, or should you?

CEOs and Managing Directors believe much more in Social Networks than CTOs

A recent study by MIT Sloan School and Deloitte on Social Business: “What companies are really doing?” shows some of the (surprising?) reasons why companies are getting slow on Social Media rewards

brick and mortar investment…. maybe not yet

Many countries and many people do still believe that investing in a house, the so-called brick and mortarinvestment, is nearly risk-free. There are some ones, especially at the US and UK, that they have learnt this is not abusiness risk free but an investment business as any other with is up-and-downs.

At the graph I include in this blog today, it is easy to see how many “traditional investment thinkig” on brick and mortar is totally wrong

People that bought their houses in 1970, would have got a 50% valuation increase (inflation corrected) by 1980. However, today, the same home (only 40 years older) is valued at 15% less than in 1979.

Median home price variations

“Advanced investors” looking at what was happening with the housing demand and price afte 1990, started to invest. Those that invested midways towards the pick, like 2002, got valuation increases of 30% in just three years. However, today their some houses are valued at 20% less than what they paid in 2002. Those unlucky families or investors inverting in 2005 have houses that have lost over 30% of the original value.

Will the sell of houses continue in the nerar future, or are we seeion the bottom of the hosing market?

Is this coming to an end?. Giving the numbers in the chart provided by chartoftheday, it could be. However, there are some areas around the states with too many Sale signs. And if you move to England, Australia or Spain, the first 2011 quarter was negative.

So, wait and see

the end of hose price slow down? maybe not

Many countries and many people do still believe that investing in a house, the so-called brick and mortar investment, is nearly risk-free. There are some ones, especially at the US and UK, that they have learnt this is not a business risk free but an investment business as any other with is up-and-downs.

At the graph I include in this blog today, it is easy to see how many “traditional investment thinkig” on brick and mortar is totally wrong

Grandparents spend more time on-line than teenagers!

If you think that having your grandchildren to spend more time with their grandparents will reduce their time in front of the computer/mobile/tablet, …. you may have to think it twice.

What may happen is that they will not spend their on-line time alone or with peers, but it turns out they may increase their on-line time spending!.

As a recent study shows,….

Debt relationship between Spain and Portugal… not good data!

A few days ago I was talking with an entrepreneur that has some interesting business in Portugal. Of course, we talked about the recent political and economic situation after the country had to ask for help to the European Union.

Then we talked about Spain. And my friend mentioned a scary data: the main creditor of Portugal is Spain.

Look at the figure below, courtesy of The New York Times and let me know what you think

Do Libyan rebels care about the conomy?… you bet!!

If you read the different newspapers, follow the Libyan action and hear what the Libyan rebels say, you may think the first priority is the freedom at Libya.

Well, it may be the ultimate objective, but as history has taught us, wars are always about economy (or at least economy plays a key role).

Do you remember the most frequent cities you hear about the rebels andGaddafi wars? Maybe Ras Lanuf, Brega and Tobruk (Masra el-Hariga)

Look at the map below and judge by yourself

Which countries support or condemn the attack to Libya?

A question that has arisen many times these days when reading about the attack that is taking place against Muamar al Gadafi. Wondering about this question, I found two things:

1. Countries I would have assured are against the attack, they are eagerly supporting it. And the contrary is also true.
2. An interactive map by The Economist allows the reader to learn about the position of each country and the reasons behind that position

See by yourself reading the whole post