Abstract
This paper uses secondary data to analyze the credit card industry along five constructs: (1) Competitive analysis: Porter's Five Forces and PEST analysis, (2) monopoly vs. perfect competition, (3) standardization vs. localization, (4) competition vs. collaboration and (5) revolutionary vs. evolutionary change. The author points out that the existing credit card industry is a mature market, but it still has room to grow as more people become familiar with the allied financial services their credit and debit cards can provide. The paper relates that VISA enjoys the most powerful credit/debit card position in consumer cards especially in business credit cards, with it has extensive and integrated work in payments processing; however, the founders of First Data/Concord EFS were particularly aggressive business people. Many tables and charts.

Table of Contents
Introduction
In Brief
Background
Flies in the First Data Ointment
Objective
Methodology
Structure of the Dissertation
Literature Review
Competitive analysis
Porter's Five Forces
Porter's Five Forces Example
PEST Analysis
Economic Factors
Socio-Cultural Factors
Technological Factors
Literature Review
Monopoly vs. Perfect Competition
Standardization vs. Localization
National Initiatives
Competition vs. Collaboration
Revolutionary vs. Evolutionary Change
Opportunities
Overview of Credit and Debit Card Industries
Top Ten Card Issuers Compared
Bank Card Profitability
Differences between Credit and Debit Cards
U.S. Payment Cards-in-Force (in millions)
Off-Line Debit History
Top 10 U.S. Issuers by Card Loans
Developed vs. Less Developed Nations' Credit Card Use
VISA Volume
2003 Top 10 Countries
Global Financial Cards in Circulation - 2003
Corporate /Commercial vs. Consumer Use
Analysis of VISA's Strategy
VISA's Strengths
VISA's Weaknesses
VISA's Opportunities
VISA's Threats
STP Strategy (Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning)
Conclusion
Conclusions and Recommendations

From the Paper
"From the merchant's point of view, the merger was seen as one that would give them an alternative to VISA and MasterCard. Shortly after the merger, major STAR network contracts with high-profile banks such as Wells Fargo, Wachovia and BankOne were set to expire; this opened the field to some turmoil, in all likelihood, because VISA was already making a play to sign the same institutions for its processing and acceptance capabilities. FirstData/Concord was assumed to have the upper hand, however because analysts thought those two institutions, despite their disparate original sizes, understood contracts of that sort and banks themselves better then VISA. As it turns out, STAR did lose some of its bank contracts, reducing the value of the merger somewhat from the First Data standpoint."

Tags:billpay, constructs, star, debit, aggressive

From the Paper
"BRITISH CREDIT CARD SYSTEM

Industry Development
The British credit card system developed largely in the wake of the American credit card system. Credit cards began in the United States with the issuance of department store and gasoline cards. What is known as the credit card industry, however, really began to develop with the introduction of travel and entertainment cards Diners Club, American Express, and Carte Blanche in the late-1940s and early-1950s. American travel and entertainment cards were introduced into Britain in the 1950s.

General purpose credit cards, the backbone of the credit card industry, were introduced in the United States in the early-1960s. General purpose credit cards are those which, as their name implies, may be used to pay for a wide variety of goods and services ..."

Abstract
This paper provides an analysis of the ten policy components of the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) structural adjustment program (SAP) and evaluates their impact on Zambia's agricultural sector, specifically, on agricultural credit and inputs. The project concludes with a brief discussion of the lessons learned from Zambia's case and their applicability to other developing countries.

Outline:
Introduction
Ten Policy Components of the IMF's High Conditionality SAP
Impacts of the SAP on Zambia's Agricultural Sector: Credit and Inputs Conclusion: What Does This Case Tell About Prospects for Structural Adjustment in Other Developing Countries?

From the Paper
"The International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) was introduced in Zambia in 1984 in order to foster sustainable economic development. The IMF help became necessary after the dramatic copper price decline on the international market in mid-1970s, which drastically reduced Zambia's primary source of income, creating a severe economic crisis (Sandberg 2). By 1985, after having spent several low conditionality loans from the IMF, Zambia had no choice but to negotiate a high conditionality IMF loan to obtain the desperately needed funds. The price Zambia had to pay was a thorough restructuring of its economy as the IMF experts believed that liberal monetary and fiscal policies and the introduction of internationally determined market prices would allow Zambia to solve its current account problems, to repay external debts, and would also assist in developing globally competitive private sector."

Tags:credit, inputs, currencies, devaluation, interest, rate, privatization, labor, policy, cost, efficiency

From the Paper
"This research provides an economic profile of Zambia. The profile is developed within the contexts of the current economic position of the country, the banking and credit structure in Zambia, the country's external debt position, Zambia's import-export structure, and the comparative economic position of the country in relation to other economies in the Southern African region."

Tags:AFRICA

Abstract
This paper explains that the goal of its thesis is to conceive a model to manage the global interest rate risk of the commercial portfolio in order to determine the optimal structure of the new production and to test the tool on the Credit Foncier de Monaco, private banking and subsidiary of Calyon, which is obviously the investment banking of Credit Agricole. The paper's thesis is divided into two main sections: the theoretical modeling and the empirical application.

Table of Contents:
Abstract
Abbreviations
Introduction
Theoretical Modeling
Identification
Interest Rate
Nominal vs. Real Rate
Fixed vs. Variable Interest Rate
Short-Term vs Long-Term Rates
Spot vs. Forward Rates
Term Structure of Interests
Theories
Methods
Deterministic and Stochastic Models
Sources of Interest Rate Risk
Repricing or Maturity Mismatch Risk
Basis or Bid-Ask Spread Risk
Yield Curve Risk
Options Risk
Interest Rate Exposure
Net and Gross Positions
Balance-Sheet & Gap
Profit and Loss Statement and Spread
Factors
Measurement
Volume
Instantaneous Gaps
Generalized Gaps
Indexed Gaps
Simulated Gaps
Value
Duration
Convexity
Market
Margin
Sensitivity
Modified Duration and Relative Convexity
Money Markets Rates
Management
Hedging And Speculation
Micro or Macro Hedging
Systematic or Selective Hedging
Partial and Total Speculation
Hedging Risk and Opportunity Cost
Passive and Active Hedging
Passive Hedging or Beta Management
Active Hedging or Alpha Management
Instruments
Spot
Forward And Future
Fra And Swaps
Options
Modeling
Utility
Structure
Utility Function
Constraints
Regulation
Commercial
Model
Objective Function
Efficient Portfolio
Optimal Portfolio
Empirical Application
Presentation
Cfm
Treasury
Asset-Liability Management (Alm) Committee
Adaptation
Structure
Constraints
Rates
Simulation
Leverage
Regulatory Constraints
Variance-Covariance Matrix
Utility
Variances
Conclusion
Glossary
Appendix: Balance-Sheet + Profit & Loss Statement
Appendix: Balance-Sheets by Currency, Maturity and Interest Rate
Appendix: Gaps
Appendix: Correlation and Variance-Covariance Matrix
Appendix: Weightings and Balance-Sheets in March 2008
Appendix: Coefficients of Variation
Appendix: Objective Function for Different Aversions to Risk

From the Paper
"Taking into account the stock and constraints, the model determines the optimal allocation of the production for different scenarios of rates level, rates volatility and risk aversion degrees. The bank hedges against the interest rate risk by optimally adjusting its production.
"The optimal portfolio is the tangent point between the efficient frontier and the indifferent curve. It is obtained by equalizing the marginal rate of transformation (MRT) to the risk to return, which is the slope of the efficient frontier, and the marginal rate of substitution (MRS) to the risk to return, which is the slope of the objective function."

Tags:tool transformation, tangent point, risk premium, asset management

Abstract
This paper looks at how commerce on the Internet is conducted almost entirely with credit cards or with Internet accounts established with credit cards and how, for many, particularly young people for whom cash has never been a necessity, it is easy to give in to the urge for instant gratification, even when there are no funds available to support this gratification. It shows how, in particular, college students may fall victim to this trap, since they may not see a credit card purchase as spending with real money, they have little or no experience with credit cards or loans, and they are new to living independently from parents who have advised them not to buy things in the past. It examines the how, increasingly, student debt upon graduation is a crippling burden upon the student. It explores how the potential solution is to educate college students how to use their credit cards wisely and how to structure student loans and career plans with an eye toward the future, both of which can be accomplished by attending personal finance classes and by beginning with smaller credit card lines.

From the Paper
"The problem of student debt is twofold, and therefore, managing student debt should employ a double-barreled approach. Credit card/consumer debt is only one facet of the student debt issue, but students need to be able to distinguish between their necessary federally-funded student loan debt and their self-imposed credit card debt. In recent years, it has become common practice for credit card vendors to set up shop on college and university campuses, usually near the school bookstore (Fisher). Once established on campus, credit card companies attempt to lure students into signing up for credit cards by offering free incentives such as tee shirts or water bottles (Fisher). It is all too easy for students to succumb to the temptation for and the ease of obtaining credit cards when these credit lines are pushed so forcefully toward the often nave college student cohort."

Tags:debt, ecommerce, internet, funding, money

Abstract
Argues against the credit card organization's policy. Discusses why it is wrong for VISA to prohibit banks and other financial institutions that are members of the VISA system from issuing and processing payment cards issued by competitors, except Master Card. The mutual structure of Visa and Master Card systems. Legality of policy.

From the Paper
"VISA S NO-COMPETITION POLICY FOR MEMBER BANKS: AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY AGAINST THE VISA ORGANIZATION S POLICY

This essay argues against the Visa organization s policy that prohibits banks and other financial institutions that are members of the Visa system from issuing and processing payment cards issued by competitors other than Master Card. The United States government charges that Visa and Master Card function, in effect, as a single competitor (Donovan A2).

Visa is the world s largest branded payment system. The Visa system, along with other credit card organizations, provides consumers and merchants with a relatively easy process to pay and be paid. The Visa system includes more than 14,000 affiliated banks and other financial institutions. More than 22 million merchant locations accept the more than 353 million Visa ..."

Abstract
Analysis of market structure of the specialty retail outlet. Competition from upscale retail stores and discount & department stores. Market share. Characteristics of Toys "R" Us as a buyer (credit, pricing). Key factors of price & availability in consumer purchases. Characteristics of Toys "R" Us as a seller.

From the Paper
"Market Structure


Industry Analysis
Although Toys "R" Us participates in the Specialty Retail industry (SIC 5945--Retail--Hobby, Toy & Game), it has identified its major competitors not as other specialty toy retailers, but as department and discount stores, including Wal-Mart, Kmart and Target ("Annual Report," 2001, p. 9). Within the specialty retail segment, Toys "R" Us competes against FAO Schwartz and K-B Toys ("Annual Report," 2001, p. 11).
The discount and department stores against which Toys "R" Us competes do not break down their revenue by product segment, so it is impossible to gauge the market share of toys that these stores generate. However, as the company moves into additional segments, including..."

Abstract
The paper analyzes the structure of the U.S. judicial system compared to the current situation in the European Union. The paper reaches the conclusion that if the European Union is not a true federation based on the American model, it could be described as a hybrid, mix jurisdiction, or alternatively, a 'confederation' as a system in between an international organisation and a federation.

Outline:
The American Judicial System
The European Union Judicial System
The European Union: A Hybrid, Mix Jurisdiction?

From the Paper
"'We must build a kind of United States of Europe'. These were the words pronounced by the famous wartime prime minister of Britain, Winston Churchill, in his speech at Zurich University on the 19th of September 1946. But as soon as June 1941, the Ventotene Manifesto was calling for a 'European Federation', and since, the debate has never lessened. Academics have spoken of a 'federation in the making' , 'an embryonic federal structure' , 'an association of sovereign States with a federal potential' , etc. For some others, any idea of federalism itself is to be banned from the European context. It seems like there is a kind of fear of federalism. From a comparatist perspective, it is interesting to analyse the European Union in parallel with the United States, which is a federal State par excellence, in order to assess whether the Union may be assimilated to such a federation. However, as everything cannot be possibly covered, it is necessary to limit the scope of the study."

Tags:hybrid, mix, jurisdiction, confederation, law, member, states

Abstract
This paper addresses a fictional business (credit card provider "Siva") that needs to alter its existing customer service requirements. This paper suggests integrating a new computer database for accounts information.