In this data-driven age, companies across the economy are actively seeking ways to collect and use consumer data. For example, the car-hailing app Uber has been accused of monitoring their users’ mobile phone battery and then charging them more if their battery is low (see Note 1). The travel website Orbitz has also faced questions […]

In recent years, companies across various industries in Hong Kong, particularly SME, have been cautious about the local business environment and export outlook. Geopolitical factors have led to significant challenges in the business landscape, changes in Mainland Chinese tourists’ spending patterns, and intensifying competition from surrounding regions.

With the rapidly changing economic structure nowadays, investing in higher education is no longer a guaranteed way to achieve high returns. This raises the question: is it still worth attending university? Due to the on-going economic restructuring in China, university graduates not only face difficulty in finding jobs, but a more unusual phenomenon is that the graduates with higher education qualifications encounter even more difficulties in securing employment. The author opined that it is because the education industry has expanded excessively in the past 20 years, coupled with uneven economic development and reduced social mobility, which has diminished educational returns.

Extreme weather incidents are becoming more frequent, bringing unprecedented challenges to various industries. In addition to the increasing costs of equipment maintenance and emergency measures, the enterprises’ production plans may be affected by equipment damages and supply chain interruptions. Investors are also concerned about the impact of extreme weather on businesses, resulting in fluctuations in stock prices and increased financing costs.

Traditional public procurement policies mainly consider cost, quality, and user needs. In order to effectively support sustainable development and promote environmental protection in the public sector, the concept of “sustainable public procurement” has gradually become mainstream internationally. This concept emphasizes a balance of environmental, social, and economic benefits, and aims to promote sustainable development through government procurement activities.

In this study, the researchers explored how firms determine whether to disclose their costs by analysing the impact of various costs on competitive dynamics connected to their suppliers. Using a duopoly model, the study reveals that disclosure strategies depend on the type of competition and market structure, challenging conventional wisdom in the field. The findings highlight the importance of considering market context and supplier relationships when making cost-disclosure decisions.

Decentralized finance (DeFi) and the virtual asset market are important sectors of the Web 3.0 ecosystem and a must-win battle for global financial cities. They bring changes to traditional investment methods, but also give rise to concerns of network security and regulations. DeFi-related investment activities often involve market participants from multiple jurisdictions, resulting in varying regulatory standards. While operators and service providers can take advantage of regulatory loopholes, regulators also find it difficult to collect relevant information. There is also a lacking of unified definitions and classification standards for cryptocurrencies, making it challenging for financial regulators in different countries to

How can we leverage voluminous and critical data to gain insights into Hong Kong’s macro-economic landscape? In today’s data-driven world, diverse stakeholders often arrive at vastly different conclusions by examining various datasets through unique lenses and methodologies. However, Dr. Chi Pui Ho advocates that to truly comprehend the overall economic trends, we should employ economic time series analysis, leveraging clear visualisations as a starting point. This, when combined with consistent relevant theories, can paint a nuanced picture of the trends and upcoming challenges across different economic landscapes.