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  • Sponsored Competition - Social Media

    To what extent, if at all, does the rise in social media affect the fundamental business model of financial services?

    Use of social media has exploded in recent years. Analysts, managers, and consumers are still thinking through what this latest development in the internet revolution means for corporations and their ability to serve customers. Here is your opportunity to assess the impact of social media's rise on the strategies of financial firms. Project Firefly will publish compelling analyses and their authors will be eligible for a 1000 CHF prize and could be invited by Credit Suisse to a thought leadership conference on the same subject on June 25th and 26th. For further hints and tips or to discuss a topic click Discuss. To submit an essay click Write.

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  • Open Question - Current Affairs

    Numerous interesting economic, business, policy, diplomatic, geo-strategic, and development-related events happen every month. The best analysts keep up with these events and frequently write short pieces to help others interpret recent developments. Should an event arise that you feel you can offer an interesting analysis of, then submit a 800-1500 word piece to Project Firefly. Upon approval of the Academic Review Board, your piece will be published on the Project Firefly website and you will become eligible for winning a 1000 CHF per submission. In any month you can submit as many distinct analyses of contemporary events as you like. Established Thought leaders routinely write several pieces a month--you can join them! For further hints and tips or to discuss a topic click Discuss. To submit an essay click Write.

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  • Facebook Fans Choice - Economic Crisis

    What, if any, are the significant consequences of the global economic crisis for national politics? Illustrate your answer with reference to major contemporary political events.

    The global economic crisis is now in its fifth year. Most countries electoral or governance cycles are five years long or shorter, raising the possibility that the wrenching economic pain and changes that have been felt in recent years might influence the behaviour of electorates and the strategies of political leaders and parties. This is your opportunity to identify, assess, and draw implications of linkages between the recent major economic setbacks and political dynamics. Subject to the approval of the Academic Board, insightful analyses will be published on the Project Firefly website and will be eligible to win a prize of 1000 Swiss Francs. For further hints and tips or to discuss a topic click Discuss. To submit an essay click Write.

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  • Future Topics

    Our Academic Board believes our community will also be a source of good ideas for Project Firefly initiatives. Project Firefly keenly awaits your ideas for challenging, interesting initiatives to promote thought leadership among tomorrow’s leaders. Although the essay has been the vehicle used to demonstrate brilliance in current and previous Project Firefly competitions, other formats (short video presentations, informative slide shows, compelling diagrams, etc) could be used. So feel free to suggest a topic for competition and a desired format for answers.

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  • Is local government debt a serious threat to the Chinese state?

    The word "default" was first used 2400 years ago when several towns outside Athens could not repay their debts. This aside reminds us that it is not just central governments that can risk public sector insolvency. In this question you are encouraged to think through contemporary Chinese experience, in particular since the global economic crisis began in 2007, and to relate it to other countries that have had difficulties with local government debts, such as Argentina and Brazil.

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  • Will the 2012 US presidential election affect US foreign policy?

    Every four years the US presidential election cycle receives plenty of worldwide news coverage. But just how important are the changes in the US federal administration for US foreign policy objectives? Whatever their differences, US presidential candidates may share certain values that are reflected in national foreign policy. At the same time, certain US allies may have different expectations on US foreign policy than others. The purpose of this question is to encourage analysts to think through the likely impact of the 2012 election, the timing of which alone may help pin down certain parameters.

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  • Will the renmimbi become the next reserve currency?

    In the past, substantial shifts in global trade and econonmic power have led to changes in reserve currencies. However, such turning points have not always been so easy to predict. This question encourages you to think through the circumstances under which governments, private companies and individuals may adopt the Renminbi.

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  • Is monetary policy alone enough to stimulate economic recovery?

    One of the central principals of central banks is to maintain stable and low inflation. However, in a national or global economic crisis, economic stimulus may become the main priority of governments and electorates. How effective or ineffective are changes of monetary policy by a central bank in the face of a financial crisis?

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