Rishi Taparia - Issue #22
This week had an in-depth look at the decline of rural lending in small town USA, retailers getting an unexpected bump thanks to the holidays, China’s lending problem, a look at how technology truly owns your day and more. Enjoy, thank you for reading and have a wonderful and happy New Year!
Commerce
Goodbye, George Bailey: Decline of Rural Lending Crimps Small-Town Business
The lack of access to capital is creating a vicious cycle, severely hampering the growth of SMBs in rural communities. Down 50% from 2004, better solutions need to be developed. Communities without the friendly faces of finance that once sustained them are worsening an already tough economic environment.
Retailers Feel Shoppers’ Christmas Cheer
Shoppers of all income levels spent more this holiday season, prompting some Yuletide joy among retailers that struggled through a difficult year.
FinTech
China’s New Lenders Collect Invasive Data and Offer Billions. Beijing Is Worried.
There is a real downside to all the new lending platforms. With over *8,600* of them, none feel it more than the Chinese. Government officials are moving to curb a new generation of businesses that make personal loans online, amid concerns about privacy and rising debt.
JPMorgan Chase powers up robo-adviser for fintech race
JPM is powering up a lower-cost computerized investment management tool this week and plans to offer the robo-adviser to some clients next March and on a wide scale in the middle of the year.
Technology
How Tech Companies Own Your Day
A fascinating (and terrifyingly revealing) look at how various tech giants own your every waking hour. A good read going into the New Year as you think about various resolutions…https://t.co/LIw3ux8Kfh
SoftBank has successfully acquired 15 percent of Uber in a major victory for both companies
A lot of people are now very rich.
Random Tidbits
Silicon Valley Is Turning Into Its Own Worst Fear
Ted Chiang on the dangers of unethical robots that seek to destroy anything in their paths. Only he’s not talking about AI powered robots