What We’re Reading
September 2024 Edition
A monthly round-up of what the ICMR team is reading, watching, and listening to. Recommendations are based on what the team finds interesting or thought-provoking, and are not representative of ICMR’s views.
Who killed the ESG party?
Source: Financial Times (FT)
ESG investing was once the darling of the investment industry, but has seen a decline in favourability in more recent years. Between greenwashing and political resistance, the dialog on ESG investing has become more hushed. This video explores the who and why behind ESG investing’s fall from grace.
Digital wallets are the future, but is the ‘super app’ the best approach?
Source: The Banker
The article highlights the increasing reliance on digital wallets, particularly in Asia, amid rising concerns over cloud application dependency following a global IT outage. It explores the trend of consolidating financial transactions, digital identity, and personal data into “super apps” like Inrupt’s Data Wallet, questioning if this is the best approach as global regulations evolve, including the EU’s Digital Identity Regulation.
Oxfam’s Inequality Report 2024
Source: Oxfam
Released earlier this year, this report examines the role that corporates have played in fuelling inequality, from underpaying workers, dodging taxes, and also driving climate breakdown. It provides food for thought for the work that we do here in ICMR as we try to figure out solutions on how to make markets work better for everyone.
Is Islamic Banking Really Islamic? An Insider’s view with Harris Irfan
Source: The Thinking Muslim
In recent years, Islamic finance has been touted as an ethical alternative to escape the haram riba based economy. The rationale behind these products is to accommodate the detailed Shariah rulings on trade and many Islamic scholars have endorsed products that Western financial institutes and governments have embraced. This video examines whether the Islamic finance products we have today is truly Islamic, and whether it’s a viable alternative to the financial capitalism we have gotten used to.
Malaysia urges ASEAN unity for renewable energy growth –
Source: Portal Berita RTM
The article emphasises the importance of strengthening collaboration within ASEAN to accelerate the energy sector’s transition across the region.
The Changing World Order by Ray Dalio
This book delves deeply into the history of major empires, examining their rise and fall, and how these patterns resemble current political and social factors shaping today’s global power dynamics. I particularly loved the part where Ray discusses how the U.S. and China are in the midst of a significant power shift, mirroring the historical patterns of the Dutch and British empires from the 16th to the 19th centuries.
The book is available at bookstores but linking here the official video!
Demystifying Tokenisation: Embracing the Future
Source: World Federation of Exchanges
A paper by the World Federation of Exchanges that presents tokenisation in an easy to understand manner. The paper discusses the role of tokenisation in the evolution of financial markets and its potential benefits.
Common concerns, misconceptions about palliative care need to be addressed, rectified
Source: The Borneo Post
The article addresses common misconceptions about palliative care, emphasizing that it is not limited to end-of-life scenarios but should be integrated early in the treatment of life-limiting illnesses to improve quality of life. It highlights the need for education to dispel myths, such as palliative care meaning giving up hope, and to address concerns about opioid use, ultimately promoting better access to comprehensive and culturally sensitive care.