Corruption

Anticorruption for a better economy from the World Bank:

The Bank has identified corruption as among the greatest obstacles to economic and social development. It undermines development by distorting the rule of law and weakening the institutional foundation on which economic growth depends.

The harmful effects of corruption are especially severe on the poor, who are hardest hit by economic decline, are most reliant on the provision of public services, and are least capable of paying the extra costs associated with bribery, fraud, and the misappropriation of economic privileges.

Economics related articles

Net Neutrality: This is serious

Net Neutrality: This is serious by Tim Berners Lee the inventor of the internet:

I blogged on net neutrality before, and so did a lot of other people. (see e.g. Danny Weitzner, SaveTheInternet.com, etc.) Since then, some telecommunications companies spent a lot of money on public relations and TV ads, and the US House seems to have wavered from the path of preserving net neutrality. There has been some misinformation spread about. So here are some clarifications.

Hopefully some politicians will listen to those that innovate and not just those that donate (huge amounts of money to the politician).

8.7 Million millionaires

Global millionaires grow to 8.7M

To be counted as a millionaire in this study, one needed $1,000,000 in net assets not including their primary residence.

Those with financial assets of more than $30 million -- known as ultra high net worth individuals -- grew 10.2 percent to 85,400.

South Korea saw the biggest rise in millionaires last year, with their ranks swelling by 21.3 percent.

It was followed by India, up 19.3 percent, and Russia, up 17.4 percent.

South Africa, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Brazil all posted double-digit increases. Numbers in China grew 6.8 percent

The USA has 2.67 million millionaires.

Bear Napping in Hammock

A week after a bear was cased up a tree by a tabby cat here is a video of a bear climbing into a hammock for a short nap, and then falling out of it.

Rocketboom Interviews George Soros

Rocketboom interview of George Soros.

Investment articles

Leta: Month Twenty-eight

Month Twenty-eight:

One of our favorite parts of the day with you is bath time if only because you are never more excited. Each time I mention that it’s time for your bath you take off running, and when I catch up with you in the bathroom you’re trying to throw your leg over the side of the bathtub even though I haven’t started running the water or taken your clothes off.