by Mawer Investment Management, via The Art of Boring Blog
Every month we like to share some of the more interesting articles, ideas, and case studies that caught our attention. Some are related to investing; others resonate with us for different reasons. This month we were inspired by the core principles of an organic/free range egg farmer; some fresh perspectives on economic policy and global growth; an elegant documentary; and what not to do from a spoiled caviar business.
Forbes 5 Lessons for building a sustainable company from the founder of Pete & Gerry’s
Tips from a ridiculously successful eco-friendly egg farmer. Jesse LaFlamme used these fundamentals to build his small family business into two of the top egg brands in the U.S., set to reach $200billion in combined sales this year.
NewCo Shift Stop pretending that an economy can be controlled
“We should seize the opportunity to develop a new understanding of the economy as a highly complex system that, like any complex system, is constantly reconfiguring itself in response to multiple inputs and influences, often with unforeseen or undesirable consequences. This has many implications. It suggests policymakers should be constantly vigilant and more humble about their policy prescriptions, act more like navigators than mechanics, and be open to systemic risks, spillovers, strengths, weaknesses, and human sensitivities.”
Project Syndicate Escaping the new normal of weak growth
A good piece on trying to find our way forward to higher global growth. It will take many actors and monetary policy should never have been expected to be able to accomplish the feat by itself.
“It is past time for political leaders to show more courage in implementing structural and social-security reforms that may impede growth for a time, but will stabilize their countries’ fiscal position. More generally, fiscal authorities need to do a much better job of cooperating with their monetary counterparts, domestically and internationally.”
New York Times ‘If I sleep for an hour, 30 people will die’
A short documentary that portrays courage during another not-so-distant era of anti-globalization, anti-immigration, and xenophobia.
“It’s 1944, in occupied Paris. Four friends spend their days in a narrow room atop a Left Bank apartment building. The neighbors think they’re painters — a cover story to explain the chemical smell. In fact, the friends are members of a Jewish resistance cell. They’re operating a clandestine laboratory to make false passports for children and families about to be deported to concentration camps.”
Macleans How a plan to sell New Brunswick caviar went so wrong
We found this to be a strong cautionary tale that highlights the risks of not conducting proper due diligence research when it comes to regulations and resources. Receivership, lawsuits, and other lessons from one company’s attempt to stimulate the sexual maturation of the shortnose sturgeon.
This post was originally published at Mawer Investment Management
