The Topics:

In this show we covered the first 10 of Harvard Business Reviews "Breakthrough Ideas for 2009:"

• Just Because I'm Nice, Don't Think I'm Dumb

  Researchers have developed a scale of warmth and competence. We tend to want to reach out to people who are warm and interact with people who are competent. This model explains why the elderly get disrespected, even though we like them -- we tend to think they're warm but incompetent. Not mutually exclusive, but an excess of one is taken for a lack of the other. This article talks about the importance of separating these two dimensions to deal with people more effectively.

• Beware Global Cooling

  According to the author of this article, global cooling is real, but most likely a blip within a larger warming trend. A temporary cooling period may lead us to a false sense of security. We still need to cut greenhouse gas levels.

  Phil and Stephen agreed that more information is needed.

• Institutional Memory Goes Digital

  Technology to record every word spoken and every facial expression at every meeting and saved by the company in perpetuity. It could be used to affix responsibility for decisions or used to defend (or condemn) a business in court. Next step -- recording technology that captures facial expressions -- ultimately a lie detector?

  Your hosts were concerned about privacy implications and a stripping away the opportunity for creativity. We would become more conservative in our proposals - perhaps to the company's detriment.

• Stumbling to a Longer Life

  Architects Arakawa and Madeline Gins declare that they have no intention of dying -- so they are designing living spaces intended to extend human lifespan. Uneven floors, unexpected colors, difficult-to-navigate stairs and walkways. The idea is that people use their bodies in unexpected ways and this strengthens the immune system
  Reducing comfort and eliminating tedium forces alertness -- and, they hope, helps people keep their mental faculties?

  Stephen didn't care for it. He wonders how a broken hip from falling down "difficult-to-navigate" steps would extend human lifespan. Phil likes the creativity of it, but thinks working out might serve the same purpose.

• Launching a Better Brain

  Schools and workplaces reinforce small areas of domain expertise. To be successful, we have to operate within one of these -- almost exclusively. This is why Jurvetson shoots model rockets with his son. By taking on a completely new field of endeavor, he is encouraging neuroplasticity:

  -- the forming of new neurons
  --making his brain grow

  "Cognitive exercise will keep you agile, adaptive, and fit for life, in business and beyond."

• The Rise of Forensic Economics

  Forensic Economics is a new science that will help uncover fraud on a massive scale. Looking for the economic fingerprints of corruption. This science can be used to find out who was dealing armss to Angola under the table?
  (after a ceasfire was announced, look at whose stock price went down)

• The IKEA Factor

  The concept of "the IKEA Factor" teaches that labor enhances affection for its results. That is, we tend to overvalue things we have put work into. This can be exploited in marketing (as IKEA has), AND it should be guarded against in an organization. This is part of why an organization brings in outside consultants.

• Consumer Safety for Consumer Credit

  For sale of goods, the principle of "caveat emptor" was replaced with consumer protection. This article argues that consumer protection should also be put in place for consumer debt. Individuals and trillion-dollar banks are not on an equal footing.

  Phil stated that productivity has -- to date -- ensured that there would be more wealth later than there is now and that fears of impending financial collapse are *probably* overstated. BUT a profligate citizenry, profligate businesses, and a profligate government may be more than even increases in productivity can cover. Protecting consumers from debt abuse is a good start. Getting consumers off the debt machine altogether would probably be better.

  Stephen argued that a profligate government will force the private sector out of the debt market and grind the economy to a halt.

• State Capitalism Makes a Comeback

  Even fairly recently, state capitalism was considered to be dead. Governments once again manage large entities and huge flows of capital. China and Russia are leading the way. State ownwership of businesses can put states in a compromised foreign policy position--especially when authoritarian partners choose to leverage the business dependency into their own license for bad behavior.

  Your hosts argue that, eventually, we may need throrough decentralization in order to break this grip.

• Now's the Time to Invest in Africa

  "Real opportunity" in sub-Saharan Africa -- economies growing at 6.3%. The region is stabilizing and developing trade-friendly policies. Studies showing return on capital at 65%-70% hihger than similar businesses in India, China, SE Asia.

  Stephen is not willing to bet his 401K, but is willing to consider some diversification into those markets. Both guys agree that it will be a great thing for the world when Africa fully develops economically.

The guys will hit the final 10 "breakthrough ideas" next week.

The Music:

Our front bumper is a sample of Marginal Prophets' "The Difficult Song."

Our exit music this week is from Sherry. The song is "Sunday."

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