Vitalik Buterin reviews Balaji’s new book “The Network State.” Balaji: “A network state is a highly aligned online community with a capacity for collective action that crowdfunds territory around the world and eventually gains diplomatic recognition from pre-existing states.” Vitalik’s conclusion: “Network states, with some modifications that push for more democratic governance and positive relationships with the communities that surround them, plus some other way to help everyone else? That is a vision that I can get behind.”
Lant Pritchett: “The question of how best to mitigate the worst consequences of the lack of development in places where it has yet to emerge is a charity question. As people engaged in development (particularly–but not exclusively–those of us born in richer countries) we should however, never assume that “effective anti-poverty programs” circumscribes the wishes, wants, and goals of developing countries and their populations or that these programs should be at the center of the development research–or action–agenda. As development scholars like Bill Easterly and Angus Deaton point out, “we” should not confuse the limited things that “we” can pragmatically do with what “they” need and want.”
Abhisek Mukherjee: “Management consulting is expensive. The median billing range for India-bred consulting firms and the Big Four is 0.7-1 million per consultant-month. For international firms like Accenture, this range can be 1.5-2 million. For MBB (McKinsey, BCG, Bain,) the range is 2.5 million plus, and can cross 5 million per consultant-month (Indian arms of MNCs often pay global rates.) This translates to gross margins of more than 50%. Given this increasing need for consulting services and the high costs, many companies attempt to build consulting teams in-house. At its core, management consulting requires three things: One, top talent. Two, access to information sources such as research reports and expert networks (e.g., GLG—Gerson Lehrman Group.) Three, institutional knowledge on domains and problem-solving methods.”
