Category Archives: Economics

To get a job, write your story instead of a resume

by Brooke Allen  I am 61 years old and I have been doing paid work since I was 16. I’ve been a grocery clerk, camp counselor, film projectionist, sound man, light man, cameraman, freight loader, computer programmer, teacher, operations research analyst, manager, salesman, writer, consultant, and for the last 30 years I’ve been a securitiesContinue reading “To get a job, write your story instead of a resume”

Do Traders and B-School Grads Play Fair?

I am a securities trader with a business degree, and I wonder if we are like normal people. Let’s find out. Imagine $10 has to be split between two people who will never meet each other. The first person can propose how the money will be split and if the second person accepts the proposalContinue reading “Do Traders and B-School Grads Play Fair?”

Karma – The only currency the IRS cannot tax and the FED cannot devalue.

by: Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.com The InterContinental Hotel Group (NYSE Ticker: IHG) is the largest hotel group in the world with seven brands (Intercontinental Hotels, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge, and Candlewood Suites). They claim more than 645,000 rooms in over 100 countries. If I take the time to joinContinue reading “Karma – The only currency the IRS cannot tax and the FED cannot devalue.”

Bad Owners

© 2010 Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.com Originally published in International Family Magazine Shareholders have a problem – themselves. My friend asked me when his mutual funds would rebound, and I asked him why he cares. He said, “Because if they are not going to rebound, I am going to sell.” I asked him what heContinue reading “Bad Owners”

Can You Afford It?

© 2009 Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.com Originally published in International Family Magazine It is important not to buy stuff you cannot afford. I attended a presentation by a professor who talked about how, as a child, his Dad drove their cars into the ground even though their less successful neighbors purchased new ones every fewContinue reading “Can You Afford It?”

When Pigs Fly

© 2008 Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.com Originally published in International Family Magazine In 1977, American Airlines offered me a job in Manhattan in their Operations Research group and I took it. One of our projects was to build a mathematical model to determine how much we should overbook each flight so as to maximize profit.Continue reading “When Pigs Fly”

Great Grandfather, Great Grandmother, Great Depression

© 2008 Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.com Originally published in International Family Magazine As I detailed in the story How Grandmother Won Granddad in a Beauty Contest my grandparents met on a blind date in New York City in the 1920’s and decided to marry within a week. Granddad Tom was sent to Havana to openContinue reading “Great Grandfather, Great Grandmother, Great Depression”

College Thinking

© 2007 Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.com Originally published in International Family Magazine Colleges have become marketing experts. They work very hard at convincing you to send them your child and your money. You have to do the work yourself to find out why you shouldn’t send them either. “Admissions.” “Hello, is this (name of aContinue reading “College Thinking”