Quants are the math wizards and computer programmers in the engine room of our global financial system who designed the financial products that almost crashed Wall st. The credit crunch has shown how the global financial system has become increasingly dependent on mathematical models trying to quantify human (economic) behavior. Now the quants are at the heart of yet another technological revolu
As countries like Greece and Spain struggle under huge debts that are impoverishing its people, the elites around the world are getting richer and richer. This documentary looks at the ever widening gap.There are customers that have up to 100 vehicles in their garage, Torsten Muller-Otvos from Rolls Royce tells us. A Rolls Royce is worth about half a million dollars and last year Rolls Royce s
This Dutch documentary examines the silent revolution that is taking place in the United Arab Emirates (and the Gulf region in general) where Bedouin tents have been replaced by luxury and indulgence. While most of the world media’s Middle East focus has been portraying the region as a source of conflict, an incredible process of modernisation is taking place in the UAE, a process rarely seen befo
Alex Riley thinks he's immune to brands. When it comes to fashion, technology and food brands he just goes for the cheapest and what works for him. He's convinced he's not seduced by the advertising, celebrity endorsements and hype which surrounds the big global brands. So how did that pair of Adidas trainers get in his wardrobe? And how did that can of Heinz Baked Beans make it into his shopping
A 2-year old, who became a global YouTube sensation in the summer of 2010, has unwittingly become the poster child and symptom of a Big Tobacco-sponsored battle being waged in developing markets. Vanguard correspondent Christof Putzel heads to Indonesia, where he exposes Big Tobacco’s successful and deadly expansion into that country, and observes the stage being set for a David vs. Goliath battle
From ancient phrases etched in stone, to todays cutting edge multimedia commercials, selling has always meant grabbing attention. Attention from people with chickens to trade or money to spend, the point of which is to move the product, it means tapping into peoples desire and creating need.This is a story of explanation, exaggeration and even exploitation, a story that extends from Roman highwa
China may soon be the birthplace to half the world's billionaires but Singapore - the world's richest city - is where they go to play. Some of the rich and famous who have moved to the tiny Southeast Asian island republic include Indian telecom tycoon Bhupendra Kumar Modi, Chinese movie superstars Gong Li and Jet Li, New Zealand billionaire Richard Chandler, and famed US investor Jim Rogers. One i
Back in 1994, a man by the name of James Jebbia opened the first location for the brand known as Supreme, this initial small storefront was located on Lafayette Street in New York. Back then Supreme was known to be a brand for skaters but also run by skaters. The layout for the shop itself had even been designed to be wider, allowing for skaters to walk off the street into the store with
Apple. Intel. Genentech. Atari. Google. Cisco. Stratospheric successes with high stakes all around. Behind some of the world's most revolutionary companies are a handful of men who (through timing, foresight, a keen ability to size up other people, and a lot of luck) saw opportunity where others did not: these are the original venture capitalists. All were backing and building companies before the