O.M.W. Sprague (the man who “wrote the book” on financial crises) and the founding of the Federal Reserve

O.M.W. Sprague was America's leading expert on financial crises when America was debating establishing the Federal Reserve. His History of Crises under the National Banking System is the most enduring intellectual legacy of the National Monetary Commission; a still frequently cited classic. Since the Commission recommended a central bank, and its recommendation after some modifications became the Federal Reserve System, it might be assumed that Sprague was a strong supporter of establishing a central bank. But he was not. Initially, Sprague favored far more limited reforms, a position that he did not abandon until the Federal Reserve became a fait accompli. Here I discuss the sources of Sprague's opposition to a central bank and the relationship of that opposition to his understanding of the history and structure of the American banking system at the turn of the nineteenth century.     

Experiences in C.D.T. testing

The value of carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) as the most direct and most accurate indicator of alcohol abuse has been amply demonstrated in the scientific literature. The CDT assay used by GIB Laboratories to assess serum samples for significant levels of alcohol abuse was validated using 184 clinically defined positive and 203 clinically defined negative specimens. Using a defined cutoff of significance and a special testing algorithm, GIB Laboratories has determined, in this study, that the sensitivity of the commercial CDT enzyme immunoassay (CDT EIA) is 88 percent, the specificity is greater than 99 percent, and the intra- and inter-run reproducibility is less than seven percent, about three times more precise than most confirmatory tests for CDT. Given the very low expected frequency of true physiological causes of non-specificity (less than one percent), the excellent specificity of the assay (in GIB Laboratories' experience), and the technical problems, time delays, and costs associated with all "confirmatory" technologies, it cannot be recommended that CDT confirmatory testing be performed, unless an individual laboratory experiences unacceptable specificity in its screening tests. It would appear that, performing CDT "confirmatory" testing when the specificity of the screening test is as high as this study has found it to be, can result in three probabilities: 1) an increase in the number of false negative results; 2) few corrections in the very small number of false positive results; and 3) in greater cost and delay for the laboratory's clients.     

T. J. Huang, the superior in VC inclustry

A saying like that, investment is buying with low price and selling with high price. It is easy to say. but difficult to control in practice; the investor has to grasp the economic transition and industry＇s undulation accurately. T. J. Huang, the trailblazer of Taiwan financial reformation, he is the founder and managing partner of the AsiaVest Partners, TCW/YFY Lid, Huaug is the person who is aware of the trend of industry＇s startap and decline in advance, and make decision at right time. Someone said that T. J.     

The post-capitalist executive. Interview by T George Harris

For half a century, Peter F. Drucker has influenced senior executives across the globe with his rare insight into socioeconomic forces and practical advice for navigating often turbulent managerial waters. In his latest contribution to HBR, Drucker discusses the impact of the ideas in his latest work, Post-Capitalist Society, on the day-to-day lives and careers of managers. Drucker argues that managers must learn to negotiate a new environment with a different set of work rules and career expectations. Companies currently face downsizing and turmoil with increasing regularity. Once built to last like pyramids, corporations are now more like tents. In addition, businesses in the post-capitalist society grow through many and varied complicated alliances often baffling to the traditional manager. Confronted by these changes, managers must relearn how to manage. In the new world of business, information is replacing authority as the primary tool of the executive. And, Drucker advises, one embarks on the road toward information literacy not by buying the latest technological gadget but by identifying gaps in knowledge. As companies increasingly become temporary institutions, the manager also must begin to take individual responsibility for himself or herself. To that end, the executive must explore what Drucker calls competencies: a person's abilities, likes, dislikes, and goals, both professional and personal. If executives rise to these challenges, a new organizational foundation will be built. While a combination of rank and power supported the traditional organization, the internal structure of the emerging organization will be mutual understanding and trust.     

T. Coleman Andrews: crusader for accountability in government

T. Coleman Andrews was an exceptional accountant whose career during the second quarter of this century spanned professional accounting practice, public service, military service and business management. This paper documents his contributions to accounting and administrative reform through the public-service positions he held in government at local, state and national levels. Earlier work by Flesher and Flesher (1989) focused on his contributions to operational auditing during his years at the General Accounting Office, and these contributions are reviewed here. In addition, this paper describes his later work with the Hoover Commission and as commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service.     

我国科技保险存在的问题与对策

科技保险是针对企业在高新技术创新过程中的各种风险而设计的保险产品。它对促进企业高新技术创新、掌握核心技术以及提高核心竞争力有着非常重要的意义。但由于目前科技保险仍在试点阶段,发展情况并不乐观,存在对科技保险的认识不到位、保险产品缺乏及技术含量低等问题。应通过加大政府对科技保险的扶持力度,深入开展科技保险的理论研究,加强宣传引导,提高认知水平等措施,推进科技保险的发展。