PARITY: HEADS OF THE STATES VS ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE

Comparisons of national GDPs with respective salaries of heads of state reveals some interesting facts

Singapore is quite an aberration though. It pays a whopping $3.14 million (nearly 8 times that of the US President) to its President and $2.47 million to its Prime Minister; while the size of its economy is just $182 billion. Though there are debates over the high salary among Singaporeans, the Government defends it vehemently, on the logic that Singapore compensates its heads of state on the basis of parity with corporate leaders! Perhaps the most striking example would be that of India. The President of democratic republic of India gets a mere Rs.18 lakh annually. The basic salary of the President was a pitiable Rs.120,000 annually prior to 1998 while India emerged as the 6th largest economy in the world with GDP in PPP worth International $1,702.7 billion. This was revised to Rs.6,00,000 ($12,000) in 1998. Later in late 2008, the salary was raised to its current level, while the country witnessed rapid growth and the GDP crossed the trillion dollar mark. That was when India became the 4th largest in terms of GDP in PPP terms and the 12th largest economy in terms of nominal GDP. The PM of India, who is the actual functional head, has an even lower salary of Rs.15,00,000 per year ($31,250).

In UK, the Prime Minister gets about $2,79,000 annually, while its economy is the 6th largest in the world with a nominal GDP of $2.68 trillion. Tiny Hong Kong pays $516,000 (more than the US President and 13 times that of the Indian President!) to its Prime Minister annually, while it has nominal GDP of $215.35 billion, 1/65th of the US economy and 1/5th of the Indian economy. Japan, the 2nd largest economy in the world with a GDP of $4.91 trillion pays $243,000 to its PM annually. Similarly, Australia pays $2,29,000 annually to its PM while it is the 14th largest economy of the world with GDP of $1.013 trillion. In addition, Canada, Germany and France with nominal GDP of $1.499 trillion, $3.673 trillion and $2.867 trillion respectively pay their PMs $2,46,000; $3,03,000 and $3,18,000.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
2012 : DNA National B-School Survey 2012
Ranked 1st in International Exposure (ahead of all the IIMs)
Ranked 6th Overall
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IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
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If Ho Chi can, can’t Kim II?

No one ever thought that Vietnam could be unified; Nixon least of all

Can you ever, in your weirdest dreams, imagine the merger of North and South Korea? It’s easy to spin examples of Germany and draw similes, but then, Germany is in the developed west and not at all comparable to South Asian realities. Really, if the same question were to have been asked in early 60s about Vietnam – the closest mirror image then – the answer would have been a unanimous no. Today, there is one Vietnam. And truly so, if Ho Chi Minh could, why can’t Kim Jong II do the same now?

From 1954 to 1975, communism dominated North Vietnam while the US-backed South Vietnam was in a perennial state of conflict, with a primary aim to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, yet wanting to adopt the concept of being socialist state.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri

and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

2012 : DNA National B-School Survey 2012
Ranked 1st in International Exposure (ahead of all the IIMs)
Ranked 6th Overall
Zee Business Best B-School Survey 2012
Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Session at IMA Indore
IIPM IN FINANCIAL TIMES, UK. FEATURE OF THE WEEK
IIPM strong hold on Placement : 10000 Students Placed in last 5 year
IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri – A Man For The Society….
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM B-School Facebook Page
IIPM Global Exposure
IIPM Best B School India
IIPM B-School Detail
IIPM Links
IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
IIPM - FLP (Flexi Learning Program)

North by west... to the killing fields

A billion dollar firm with a billion reasons to be called inglorious

The last one among the world’s largest defence contractors that deserves to be in our inglorious list is Northrop Grumman. It is more famous for its designing, system integrating, and manufacturing of defence electronics and many other military and commercial weapons. Among various kinds of military products that the company produces are aircraft, aircraft carriers, military vessels, missile satellite systems, electronic censors and information systems. Northrop is one more truant company witnessing growth in employment and sales revenue. During 2007, there were about 122,600 people employed in the firm globally; by the end of 2008, the figure reached 1,33,570 – an 8.9% increase in employment in 2008 during the current global economic mess. And one doesn’t need to wonder about the reasons. Similarly, its sales revenue has also gone up from $30.11 billion in 2006 to $32 billion in 2007 and finally to $33.9 billion in 2008. Northrop is one of the firms filing the highest number of patents – in 2007 alone, the company filed over 8,511 patents. Northrop acquired companies like Integic Corporation in 2005, Essex Corporation in 2007 and 3001 International in 2008.

Expectably, Northrop Grumman has equal contributions in war crimes. Although 90% of its products go to the US government, most of its weapons go to US aided undemocratic countries who are accused time and again of breaking international laws. Its sophisticated deadly weaponry also goes to countries like Korea, Taiwan, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Saudi Arabia and UAE apart from Australia, India, Japan, UK, US, NATO, Italy, Germany etc. An example to their reach is that Israel’s reserved A-4 attack aircraft, TA-4 training aircraft and even the AH-64 attack helicopter are made by Northrop Grumman.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri

and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

2012 : DNA National B-School Survey 2012
Ranked 1st in International Exposure (ahead of all the IIMs)
Ranked 6th Overall
Zee Business Best B-School Survey 2012
Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Session at IMA Indore
IIPM IN FINANCIAL TIMES, UK. FEATURE OF THE WEEK
IIPM strong hold on Placement : 10000 Students Placed in last 5 year
IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri – A Man For The Society….
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM B-School Facebook Page
IIPM Global Exposure
IIPM Best B School India
IIPM B-School Detail
IIPM Links
IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
IIPM - FLP (Flexi Learning Program)

A Ball by the Baltic

“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree”, said Emily Bronte; and autumn in Jurmala is one time when this spa resort turns ‘golden.’ In this blissful golden forest, one could unwind and recuperate at will. Jurmala, quietly nestled near the Baltic Sea and amidst the famous continental European nations like Germany and Finland, is amongst the most fascinating Baltic destinations. Jurmala boasts of its National parks, awe-inspiring art and architecture, white sand beaches and beautiful boulevards perfectly suitable for soothing romantic walks.

Once in Jurmala, pamper yourself by visiting the wide range of spas available, and indulge in tempting curative massages. ‘Paradise city’, as Jurmala is also known, is well known for its hydrogen springs and a certain kind of mud, which has medicinal properties, very useful for massages and mud- treatments. If your idea of recuperation is some breathtaking adventure, then drive down to Sigulda and experience some skydiving simulation without the parachute. One doesn’t need to get on a plane and jump out of it; simply float in the air above gigantic ventilators in a vertical wind tunnel. But if your idea of a good day spent is exploring new places, then a visit to the city of Tukums is a must. It is a very short drive away from Jurmala and is better known as Latvian Hollywood! One could take props and don the army gear and pretend to fight the war in a battlefield, while making funny videos and taking hilarious pictures. Jurmala also offers its guests a glimpse of the late 19th century. In the vicinity are some wonderful old wooden homes and other buildings that display many decorative Art Nouveau details.

Read more......

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
 

Zee Business Best B-School Survey 2012
Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Session at IMA Indore
IIPM IN FINANCIAL TIMES, UK. FEATURE OF THE WEEK
IIPM strong hold on Placement : 10000 Students Placed in last 5 year
IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri – A Man For The Society….
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM B-School Facebook Page
IIPM Global Exposure
IIPM Best B School India
IIPM B-School Detail
IIPM Links

IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face

“How can Presidents deny the Holocaust?”

Mark Sofer, Ambassador of Israel to India, in an exclusive conversation with B&E talks about Iran, terrorism, Palestine, and a solution in West Asia

B&E: How does the present generation of Israelis look at the Holocaust? Do they still get impacted by that?
MS: Well, undoubtedly, throughout history, the persecution of Jews had a profound influence on the nature of Jewish people. The most recent manifestation of the same has been the persecution of Jewish people in the last century or what you call the Holocaust; and perhaps that is also the worst manifestation. While the Holocaust survivors are still there, it is the age of the second generation. Yet, even for the third generation of Jews in Israel, the trauma of Holocaust is very much part of the national psyche. And especially with the kind of denial of the Holocaust emanating from the likes of Ahmadinejad in Iran, it only aggravates our collective pain as a nation. We get hurt and wonder that even today there are presidents of nations who can still stand and claim that the Holocaust never happened.

B&E: How does Israel perceive the changing geopolitical paradigm of the world?
MS: I think the 20th century was one of the least stable centuries of the last many hundreds of years. But clearly, there is something new abounding. The world has been witnessing the rise of religious extremism, which is attempting to throw-back human civilization to middle ages – where logic, ideology, politics would mean nothing – and there is blatant misuse or abuse in the name of religion. To a large extent, half of the world is being partitioned into moderation and extremism rather than on political or territorial issues, which is also visible in south Asia. Clearly what happened in Pune a few weeks back or what happened in Mumbai a year or what has been happening in several other parts of the world vindicate this very thing. Even among the seemingly homogeneous societies like Palestinians, you have the pragmatic moderate Palestinians on one hand, like the Fatah, and on the other hand the extremist sects, which have overtaken Gaza and state that they are drawing inspiration from God; or they tend to create that perception.

When you reach that level, then you start wondering how are we going to get all these moderate forces to act together against extremism.

B&E: Can the issues of Middle East ever be settled?
MS: Clearly, we have to solve the political dispute in West Asia not just because ‘we have to solve the political dispute of West Asia’, but because it can work as a spin-off in forging an alliance between the moderate Arab world, Israel, civilized nations in Asia and Europe against extremists, especially the Islamist extremism. And I use the word Islamist and not Islamic as there’s a lot of difference between the two. Countries like India, Israel – even the civilized Arab world including countries like Egypt – are frightened by the rise of the extremist Islam.

B&E: But your relations with Germany? Have they improved over time?
MS: Well, I think it’s very much a personal issue. In other words, everybody remembers and everybody knows not just in Israel but in the Jewish world as a whole what happened there during World War II. Nonetheless, sixty five years on, we have very good relations with Germany – economically, politically and culturally. Germany, at least, has taken part of the blame of what happened in the Nazi era, while others haven’t. On a personal level, some people still find it very difficult to work with Germany. But on a State level, today, our relations with Germany are very strong.

B&E : Has with time the relation between Israel and Germany improved?
MS : Well I think it’s very much a personal issue. In other words, everybody remembers and everybody knows not just in Israel but in the Jewish world as a whole what happened there during the 2nd world war. Nonetheless, 65 years on, we have very good relation with Germany -economically, politically and culturally - Germany at least has taken part of the blame of what happened in the Nazi era while others haven’t. On a personal level some people still find it very difficult to work with Germany. But on a state level until today our relation with Germany has been very strong.

B&E : Does the declining law & order situation In Pakistan the chances of Pakistan's possible disintegration worry Israel?
MS : We are not a world player. We are a small country situated in west Asia. We have limited amount of resources; we can apply at different parts of the world. But what is happening in Pakistan is really worrying. The threat on India emanating from there and threat on Jews and Israelis in India emanating from there the way it happened in Mumbai showed and clearly, I think, any civilized place has to be worried. Any normal country has to be worried of what is going inside Pakistan. However I do think the response and possible responses to the development in Pakistan has to be worked out by Indian authorities themselves with no possible advice given by us, as no two situations are identical. We have the fullest trust in Indian authorities and we stand behind them 100 per cent

B&E : In spite of the common perception that Israel stand against the Arab states, the relation between Turkey and Israel has been pretty good.
MS : Firstly, Turkey is not an Arab state. Second of all I don’t want to portray Israel as the enemy of Arab world. I would try my hardest and may succeed to some extent in also stating that the Arab world is not the enemy of Israel. We are pleased with 2 countries – Egypt and Jordan- 2 most important countries. We have ongoing relationship, sometimes more and sometimes less, with number of other Arab countries. So, I think we should try to be a little bit more nuance in that approach. We have good relationship with Turkey, but they have been little bit undermined recently for 1 reason or the other, and we have to get back the way they were. But Turkey is a crucial country and is the bridge between Europe and Asia; between Middle East and Europe. It is one of the major player and a very important country. We used to have before the rise of regime in Iraq and their relationship with Iran. We look forward to the fact that Ahmadinejad would no longer be terer, and Iran can play and should play a major role in the international arena. Iranian people are great people who contributed most in the civilization of the modern world, almost as any other. And yet, they are being taken over by holocaust denying, terrorist supporting, Ahmedinejad who is killing his own people now because they didn’t vote for him. But if you look around the Middle East – not everyone is Arab or not every country is an Arab country. And even among the Arab countries themselves, there are differences in approach. You have number of pragmatic states in the North African Arab world – Morocco, Egypt- you have number of hardliners, like Syria for example or Gaddaffi’s Libya; and Palestinians themselves are divided between pragmatics and extremists.

Read more.....

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri 
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles. 

Prof. Rajita Chaudhuri's Website
domain-b.com : IIPM ranked ahead of IIMs
Arindam Chaudhuri's Portfolio - he is at his candid best by Society Magazine 
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IIPM's Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri - A Man For The Society.... 
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
IIPM B-School Detail

Alok Sheel, Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Government of India

B&E: Is there any probability that India might see recession by 2012?
AS: Recession technically means negative GDP growth in two consecutive quarters and nobody really envisages that would happen in India even in the worst case scenario. If there is another global recession, or a second dip, India cannot escape. However, while its growth rates might fall by a few percentage points, it is highly unlikely, given its domestic growth drivers and a well regulated financial system, that it will see negative growth.

B&E: If India faces a recession or dramatic slowdown, do you think that the Indian government is prepared enough to tackle that?
AS: As I said earlier, the trend in the reduction of the public debt ratio has been very encouraging. At the same time, interest rates have been repeatedly raised by RBI. Therefore, unlike advanced countries, India has both fiscal and monetary space to respond to another severe global downturn, although it would be more difficult this time. Also, monetary space is amore than the fiscal space, since the fiscal deficit is coming down more slowly.

B&E: What steps need to be taken globally to tackle such a crisis as it affects all nations?
AS: A discussion on global imbalances is going on in the G20. There are major seven systemically important economies in this premier global forum for international cooperation that individually comprise more than 5% of G20 GDP at either market exchange rates or at PPP. These countries are US, UK, Germany, France, China, Japan and India. All these countries have large imbalances. US and the UK have big current account deficits; and China, Germany and Japan have huge current account surpluses. India has only a 2-3% current account deficit though, a level that can be financed on a sustainable basis over the medium to long term, especially in view of our large hard currency reserves.

Read more....

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

IIPM Best B School India
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM's Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
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Arindam Chaudhuri: We need Hazare's leadership
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri - A Man For The Society....
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management