16 Sunday Nov 2008
Posted in Uncategorized
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Cathleen Benko is the Vice Chairwoman & Chief Talent Officer for Deloitte L.L.P. She writes in the New York Times about how the old order is changing for the new in corporate America. Only about 15 % of families there now have the traditional pattern (which many of us grew up in) where Dad went to work and Mom stayed at home to bring up the kids. Career mean different things to different people. The days when moving up the organizational hierarchy was equated with career progress are over.
23 Tuesday Oct 2007
Posted in Indian Economy
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The World Bank recently reported that India has displaced China and Mexico to be the country to receive the highest remittances in the world. Indians working abroad sent back over $ 25.7 billion (Rs.128,500 crores) in 2006 followed by Mexico with $24.7 billion, China with $ 22.5 and The Philippines with $ 14.9 billion. Interestingly, the money received by India through this route is roughly the same as the country’s total estimated annual expenditure on defence, or about five times the estimated expenditure on education in 2007-08. Total income tax and wealth tax collections in the country are less than the remittances received. And they are over three times the foreign direct investment in the country in 2006. Sheer numbers and relatively higher skill levels appear to be driving the growth in Indian remittances. The World Bank study estimates that the number of Indian immigrants is about 10 million. Mexico and Russia are the top immigrant sending countries with an estimated 11.5 immigrants each. The bulk of remittances are being sent not by highly skilled professionals like doctors or software engineers, but by more humdrum workers, wage employees and service providers. A study conducted by the Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, showed over 25% of households in Kerala have at least one person working abroad. With the rapid appreciation of the Indian rupee, immigrant workers abroad will have to earn and send much more in the coming years to maintain their families in India with the same standards of living.
21 Sunday Oct 2007
Posted in Trends
Most of us have got used to the convenience of e-tickets for air travel. It surprised me to know that India was actually a late entrant to the world of e-tickets.
Under pressure from the global trade body, International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) to move to e-tickets by March 31, 2008, the industry has quickly moved from a low 65% compliance earlier this year to a high of 82.5% as of last month.
IATA is an international trade body, created some 60 years ago by a group of airlines. Today, IATA represents over 240 airlines comprising 94% of the international scheduled air traffic. The organisation also represents, leads and serves the airline industry in general.
A paper ticket costs $7-8 for an international transaction and $3-4 for a domestic transaction. Implementing 100% e-ticketing will help the aviation industry globally in saving $3 billion annually.
People at Work & Play 