Africa is a continent with the 2nd largest population but only 3% of the global air traffic. The region’s economies are growing robustly and by all indications will continue to do so in the coming years. With a rise in GDP, a corresponding rise in demand for aviation services is to be expected. Questions: 1…. Read more »
Posts Categorized: Cost Accounting
Is it better to look good than have money?
Here’s a quirky little story. American money has been consolidated into a single system of currency since the late 1800s. As part of this, U.S. dollars have been printed on a unique cotton blend paper, supplied by only one company (Crane) for more than a century. The chief cotton ingredient has been denim. However, since… Read more »
It Takes Money to Make Money
How much would you like to make per hour at your job or your next job? Legendary investor Warren Buffett makes about $1.54 million per hour (even when he is sleeping)! This article documents the 10 richest investors and entrepreneurs and their wealth gains during 2013. Questions: 1. Who is the wealthiest of those ten… Read more »
Target hit by credit-card breach
On December 19, 2013, Target admitted that it was hit by an extensive theft of its customers’ credit-card and debit-card data over the Black Friday weekend. The theft was national in scope and happened in stores, not online. Questions: 1. When and what happened with respect to a card breach at T.J. Maxx and Marshalls… Read more »
Do you really have a 2nd job?
This is an interesting fraud that took place at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). John Beale, a retired, former EPA employee, collected paychecks from approximately the year 2000 through 2013 even though he had absence totaling about 2 1/2 years. What was his alibi? He claimed falsely that he was simultaneously working undercover in special… Read more »
Fraud is quicker than the law?
Without regulation of Bitcoin, consumers have no protection in a Bitcoin economy. The virtual currency continues to result in swindles, with little prospect of a crackdown. Questions: 1. What is a pump-and-dump scheme? 2. What event(s) sent Bitcoin’s price tumbling? 3. In the U.S., the SEC has not ruled that Bitcoin is a security. However,… Read more »
Plain English: It’s all about influence!
In June, GSO Capital Partners LP, a unit of the Blackstone Group LP provided a loan to Codere SA, a Spanish gaming operator who owns betting parlors and race tracks in Europe and South America. Interestingly, the terms of the loan provided a guaranteed return on credit default swaps, which outmaneuvered sellers of the protection…. Read more »
A Back Door or Bribery?
JP Morgan’s “Sons and Daughters” hiring program is under scrutiny by federal regulators. Confidential documents obtained from the company are being explored to shed light on whether the program indicates wrongdoing by the bank to hire children of China’s ruling elite, in order to secure existing and future business from Chinese-government-run companies. Questions: 1. Based… Read more »
How do Nonprofit Organizations Deal with Fraud?
Nonprofit organization, all too often take a common approach of foregoing legal action against fraudsters rather than prosecuting them. This article covers a recent fraud and explains why many nonprofits bypass legal action in exchange for cash. Questions: 1. Summarize the case of fraud at the Progressive Policy Institute and include red flags of fraud… Read more »
Just Buy an EZ Pass and save your money next time!
Watch out for bad information from your “expert” friends! That is what Jason Bourcier wishes that he would have done. Bad information tip #1: A friend told him that when the toll booths were unmanned after 11:30 p.m., you could use the road without paying on the Dulles Toll Road. Bad information tip # 2:… Read more »