Almost none of them are left now – the men and women who fought the First World War. Even those who lived through it are few. But the effects of what the French call La Grande Guerre – the “Great …
Until Commodore Peary’s visit in 1848, Japan was one of the world’s most isolated countries, and it still remains rather unique. But something in the Japanese character and society enabled it to turn its back on the past almost instantaneously, …
Service Providers at Risk As the United States, Europe, Japan and other developed countries turn from industrial-based to service-based economies, more and more people are engaged in providing services, and the more they provide, the more mistakes they make. Historically …
When Zurich Financial Services (ZFS) spun off its reinsurance operations into Converium in September 2001, the new company had a bright future. Initial capitalization exceeded $1.6 billion; ZFS had agreed to retain liabilities on business written in 1986 and prior …
This is the second in a series of articles on the Asia insurance marketplace. The next article in this series will focus on Japan and will appear in an October issue of Insurance Journal. An ancient Indian parable tells the …
The International Insurance Society’s (IIS) 40th annual conference opened in London with a reception on July 11 and concluded on July 14 with a final gathering at Swiss Re’s imposing new headquarters. The building, at 30 St. Mary Axe, a …
Samuel Beckett’s classic play “Waiting for Godot” involves two characters waiting for a third one who never shows up. Agents can’t be blamed for sometimes seeing themselves in the same situation when it comes to information technology (IT). This isn’t …
This is the first in a series of articles on the Asia insurance marketplace. Part two in this series will focus on India and will appear in a September issue of Insurance Journal. “Let China Sleep, for when she wakes, …
According to the U.S. Census Bureau there were more than 5.6 million firms actively doing business in the United States in 2001, the latest available total. This doesn’t count the millions of people who are self-employed. About 5 million of …
Making or Selling This Product May Be Hazardous to Your (Financial) Health The waffle iron in our kitchen comes complete with 21 distinct warnings in seven languages concerning its use, including one—”Only use the appliance for food which is supposed …
