Dr. Vikas Shah MBE DL Interviews the world's leading thinkers, and the people shaping the century.

In this exclusive series of interviews, we speak to Martha Thorne (Executive Director of the Pritzker Prize), Richard Rogers (architect of the Pompidou Centre in Paris, the Lloyds building and Millennium Dome in London and founder of Rogers, Stirk, Harbour + Partners) and Mohsen Mostafavi (Dean of the Harvard Graduate…

 

Guest article written for AllAboutAlpha.com – the official publication of the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Association Originally posted at: http://allaboutalpha.com/blog/2012/06/07/alpha-hunters-looking-at-alternative-investments-from-the-inside-out/ While referred to as “alternative investments“, hedge funds, private equity, commodities, structured products and other real assets account for a significant proportion of global investment and trade activity. One…

 

In this exclusive interview, we speak to Raymond Baker (Director of the Task Force on Financial Integrity and Economic Development). We discuss the true scale of the global illicit economy and understand how issues such as government theft, drug trafficking, global wealth, money laundering and the shadow financial system contribute…

 

Guest article written for AllAboutAlpha.com – the official publication of the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Association Originally posted at: http://allaboutalpha.com/blog/2012/05/31/the-secrets-of-the-worlds-greatest-traders/ Traders and investors have made (and lost) some of the world’s most significant pools of wealth. It’s no coincidence that many of the wealthiest individuals in the world today…

 

An Interview with Chris Guillebeau, author of the $100 Entrepreneur As the FT reported in January 2012, “…in the United States and other developed markets, SMEs commonly account for half or more of gross domestic product…. A recent study from the European Commission indicates that SMEs generated 85 per cent…

 

Guest article written for AllAboutAlpha.com – the official publication of the  Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Association Originally posted at: http://allaboutalpha.com/blog/2012/04/30/a-life-changing-600-million/ Impact Investments are a maturing asset class.  These are investments that go beyond financial return to deliver a measurable positive social or environmental impacts for the beneficiaries they affect.  JP…

 

In this exclusive interview, we speak to Ingrid Newkirk (Co-Founder and President of PETA - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). We discuss the relationship of our species with the animal kingdom. We look at issues ranging from animal rights, to the use of animals for food, clothing, entertainment…

 

Guest article written for AllAboutAlpha.com – the official publication of the  Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Association Originally posted at: http://allaboutalpha.com/blog/2012/04/26/the-brand-of-hedge-funds/ With almost US$2 Trillion under management, the hedge fund industry is a significant component of the global financial market.  To put their size in context however, it is important to…

 

Guest article written for AllAboutAlpha.com – the official publication of the  Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Association Originally posted at: http://allaboutalpha.com/blog/2012/04/19/finding-alpha-in-israels-emerging-market/ Since the nation’s establishment in 1948, Israel has existed in a perpetual state of conflict.  There is little doubt that these conflicts have had a negative impact on the country’s…

 

It’s Time to Get Business Spending In March 2012, The Economist reported that UK corporate surpluses reached more than £700 billion last year, amounting to almost 6% of GDP. The United States told a similar story with the 1,100 non-financial corporations rated by Moody’s showing cash balances of over £1.24…

 

In 1919, a man started a small business selling surplus groceries from a market stall in East London.  His first day’s sales were £4, giving a profit of £1 (around £178.00 in sales and £44.00 profit in today’s money).  Fast-forward around 90 years and this business now generates over £50…

 

Explore an archive of more than 3,000 quotes.

It's absolutely true that a lot of the time the market is indistinguishable from a coin toss- and we all know that… However, when the system is under some stress, when the market is undergoing changes, the coin toss model just doesn't work.

— Professor Neil Johnson
Physics professor studying complex systems, crowd behavior, and social networks.

Our lives have a first and second curve. The first curve is your me curve. The second curve is your wisdom curve. Your teaching curve. It requires you to serve others. You need to find ways of shifting your life from me to we as you transition in age.

— Arthur C. Brooks
Social Scientist & Author on Happiness, Meaning, and Conservative Values

The endurance of games like backgammon or chess lies in their continual presentation of an interesting problem. These strategy and decision-making games are like a well from which we draw insights. As a game designer, I can attest that while creating games, most rule combinations aren't inherently fascinating. Often, a game concept might initially seem uninteresting or static, and despite efforts to invigorate it, it remains lifeless.

— Frank Lantz
Game designer and NYU professor known for game theory and interactive entertainment

The more dots you give your brain, the more of them it will connect!

The neo-liberal capitalist mindset has been a huge contributor to loneliness. Since the 1980s, a new form of economics came to the fore which enshrined the pursuit of self-interest over the pursuit of collective good. That generated the mindset we see today- me first, dog-eat-dog, greed is good.

— Noreena Hertz
Economist & Author on Globalization, Corporate Power & Digital Society

Browse all quotes →

Long-form Interviews with the World's Leading Thinkers — Thought Economics


The Wisdom Series

Ten in-depth articles distilling insights from over 550 interviews with the world's leading thinkers, creators, and changemakers.

The Wisdom of Leadership The Wisdom of Entrepreneurship The Wisdom of Creativity The Wisdom of Technology The Wisdom of Meaning The Wisdom of the Mind The Wisdom of Justice The Wisdom of Science The Wisdom of Geopolitics The Wisdom of Health
Explore the Wisdom Series →