3-2 Save the City

3-2 ESG Review season3 

Save the City [Jan 7th, 2012]

Kanda 15th Jan 2012 10:00-12:00

Ogawa, Ono, Yamagata, Mizutani, Shimada, Sugawara, Murakami and Miyabe

 http://www.economist.com/printedition/2012-01-07

We discussed:

[Briefing] Death by a thousand cuts

[Finance & Economics][Schumpeter] The dangers of demonology

[Asia][Damming the Mekong] In suspension

[Finance & Economics][The world economy] Self-induced sluggishness

[Finance & Economics][Spain’s banks] Horn of a dilemma

[Science & Technology][China’s space programme] Rockets galore

Second discussion in 2012 was also held in Kanda. The number of people of the week was eight and we discussed based on 6 articles. This amount was tough to discuss in 2 hours but it was happy to share various opinions at one time. We already changed all the discussion held in English so I spent enough time to make output. I would like to change my documentation or record in a simpler way. The most valuable thing of our discussion is what we think are the points of the articles we have chosen. I would like to share the points of each article below.

[Briefing] Death by a thousand cuts

(1)   Can financial industry get back its glory?

(2)   What is the main obstacle which prevents Tokyo from being competitive financial center like the City?

(3)   Financial industry plays a key role in job creation. Should we foster the financial center(cluster) in Tokyo? and how?

(4)   Is it better to focus on real engineering rather than the illusory financial services in this country?

[Finance & Economics][Schumpeter] The dangers of demonology

(1)   Ono-san said the prosperity of investment banking business has gone but is it right understanding?

[Asia][Damming the Mekong] In suspension

(1)   Who are stakeholders of this issue? Fishers, constructers and enegy suppliers etc.

(2)   To what extent does the environment really matter?

(3)   What is the interest of China and US in the lower Mekong region?

[Finance & Economics][The world economy] Self-induced sluggishness

(1)    Many troubles should be attributed to the politicians. What makes politicians so bad at trouble-shooting? Is it due to their talent or ability?

(2)    Any other causes other than “politicians”?

(3)    What kind of measures should be taken to realize the world economy?

[Finance & Economics][Spain’s banks] Horn of a dilemma

(1)   Which methodology is effective and efficient for bailout on the banks?

(2)   What caused the series of crisis in PIIGS countries? Will the same things occur in Japan?

[Science & Technology][China’s space programme] Rockets galore

(1) What’s real purpose for China to be an earthly space power? Is it good reason?