Currency competition and consumer-driven unification.
What is meant by "currency competition?" In Northern Ireland today, most of the paper currency is privately issued. The banknote currency issued by the Ulster Bank competes against the currencies of three other commercial banks (the Northern Bank, the Bank of Ireland, and the First Trust Bank) and against...

Challenging times impact the financial services industry in a slowing economy.
Prior to the destruction of the World, Trade Center, the financial services industry was already experiencing a slowdown. The bust of numerous Internet start-ups in late 2000 and early 2001 led to less interest in the industry from venture capitalists, which in turn, dried up the lucrative business of...

Alleviating women's poverty through asset development: promising directions.
INTRODUCTION Despite increases in rates of income in the 1990s, U.S. women continue to lag behind U.S. men economically. (1) American women in the 1990s made just 73% the earnings of their male counterparts. (2) A recent Census Bureau study found that despite "record highs" in earnings...

BORROWING SPREE BOOSTS INDIAN HIGH-END PURCHASES.
A sharp rise in Indian consumer lending should open the door for double- digit gains in high-end consumption in the upcoming year. Big winners will be the residential real estate sector and producers of major household appliances. The value of retail loans has grown over 27 percent...

College education funding: maximizing family tax savings and financial aid.
ABSTRACT With the average cost of a college education at public and private institutions estimated to rise to $60,000 and $200,000, respectively, by the year 2007, the need for financial planning for college is more critical than ever. While changes and additions to the Internal Revenue Code...

Fast White, Pounds Off Patch maintain innocence in FTC investigation.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed complaints against Conversion Marketing Inc., doing business as National Health Support Center, Natural Bright and Pounds Off Patch as well as Adam Tyler MacDonald doing business as Fast White, tooth-whitening product. The Commission alleges that the companies falsely promoted free...

A simple solution to China's pension crisis.
The reform of China's social security system is a critical component of China's overall economic reform. There are many problems and challenges in the current Chinese pension system. China is experiencing a rapidly aging population. The one-child policy and significant improvement in living standards make China's aging problem more...

Planned Giving.
Planned Giving -- What do you mean? She was a feisty retiree. She had been a widow for 10 years, still drove around town in her mid-sized car, and sang in the church choir. She was active and in reasonably good health. "What on earth...

ARGENTINA: GOVERNMENT MEETS TWO MORE DEMANDS OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND.
The Argentine government has partially lifted the freeze on bank deposits, in place since last December. In addition, lawmakers have dropped a drive to impeach Corte Supremo de Justicia (CSJ) judges, clearing two major obstacles to the elusive agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The bank...

WEB PICKS.
Lynda Clemmens is president of Element Re, a Stamford, Conn.-based XL Capital Ltd, company specializing in weather risk management, insurance, reinsurance, and financial products. Her favorite sites are: Artemis -- The Alternative Risk Transfer Portal www.artemis.bm This is a great site for news...