Focus On

  • Business leaders remain cautious but are hopeful and open to change in the post-crisis economy reveals APEC-PricewaterhouseCoopers survey

    The worst of the economic crisis may be over, but the longer term challenge is the creation of balanced and sustainable global economic growth when government fiscal support is withdrawn. This message of cautious optimism resonates from over 350 business leaders in the APEC region, based on a joint survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the APEC CEO Summit 2009 organising committee.

  • Emerging market city economies set to rise rapidly in global GDP rankings

    Emerging market city economies are projected to rise significantly up the global GDP rankings between 2008 and 2025 according to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP research. The figures provide an insight into how the global economic landscape looks set to change and which cities may provide the most compelling draw for capital and labour in the future.

  • The Day After Tomorrow

    While the unprecedented crisis of late 2008 revealed clear flaws in the banking system, the asset management sector was shown to be considerably more robust. Assets under management did shrink, of course, and individual cases of malpractice arose, but the reputation of many firms did not suffer unduly. Nevertheless, the consequences of the crisis on the sector are likely to be felt at a profound level and for a long time. Changes in regulations, investor preferences and within the industry itself will provide a range of opportunities and threats that no asset management firm can afford to ignore.

  • The future of banking: Point of View

    This paper looks at the future of the banking industry, the challenges the industry faces and the actions needed to address these in the short, medium and long term. We present a series of perspectives on the immediate ways banks can begin to build a sustainable and profitable future, concentrating on four distinct areas that will determine the shape of the new banks:

    Strategy;
    Business model;
    Capital, risk and governance; and
    People and rewards.

  • Asia Pacific Tax Notes - Redefining success: managing tax through turbulent times

    This issue begins with our lead article on managing tax controversies in turbulent times. With the global economic meltdown, tax authorities around the world are doing their best to protect their tax revenues and are becoming more vigilant in cracking down on abusive tax practices. There are also increasing calls by the international tax community for greater transparency and more international cooperation to curb harmful tax practices. All of these have made managing the potential exposure to tax controversies more pertinent than ever. The article looks at some of the recent developments in this area and discusses how multinational corporations could respond to meet these challenges.

  • Asia Pacific Private Equity Tax

    We released the first issue of Asia Pacific Private Equity Tax, which is designed as an annual review of taxation issues affecting private equity firms and their investors in the Asia Pacific region.
    A broad range of specialist authors have provided insights into some of the many tax issues and opportunities that private equity firms and their investors will consider over the coming year; as well as an update on key tax developments for the industry in the region.

  • Paying Taxes 2009 - The global picture

    The third edition of Paying taxes, a joint publication from PricewaterhouseCoopers and the World Bank, has been released. The study seeks to compare the ease of paying taxes in 181 economies around the world. Along with the ranking data, some of the key findings from this year's report are related to key reforms, corporate income taxes, employment taxes, consumption taxes and underlying data.

  • Transfer pricing perspectives: The emerging perfect storm of transfer pricing audits and disputes

    This publication focuses on several important global dispute resolution topics, including:

    • recent developments involving the taxation of PEs;
    • recommended improvements to APAs and Mutual Agreement Procedures (MAPs) around the world; and
    • best practices in the global dispute resolution arena.

    This new era of global tax audits and disputes raises numerous challenges for companies and their advisors—are you prepared for the storm?

  • Paying Taxes 2008 - The global picture

    The second edition of Paying taxes, a joint publication from PricewaterhouseCoopers and the World Bank looks at the relative ease of paying taxes in 178 countries worldwide.
    The report offers a unique opportunity to look at and compare tax regimes and can help governments and industry to ensure that fiscal systems are not only effective tools for tax collection but are also efficient for business.

  • Emerging Trend in Real Estate 2008 (US)

    More than 600 of the nation’s leading real estate experts expects the sizzling commercial real estate market in the U.S. to slow in 2008, with a healthy correction that will likely bypass long-term investors but penalize late-to-the-game speculators and overleveraged buyers, according to the 29th report. Real estate investors and developers believe uncertainty will characterize 2008. They expect capitalization rates to rise and risk to be repriced.
    Respondents believe the correction in the commercial market will not be as severe as in the residential real estate market. Commercial real estate supply and demand is relatively strong, development is in check and the fundamentals are still healthy.
    The reports covers real estate capital flow, markets to watch, property types in perspective, emerging trends in Canada.

  • Global Automotive Financial Review 2007

    "Global light vehicle assembly will grow by over 19%, from 65.2 mil units in 2006 to 77.6 million units by 2014." This is just one of the findings of the night annual report. The report includes a summary financial data, trend and practices reported by leading global vehicle manufactures and suppliers and industry analysis by global PwC Automotive Practice, which involves over 1500 Professionals. The report also includes articles on, Supply chain challenges, Maintaining a tax –efficient and compliant operating models, and the new sow-called Japanese “J-Sox” regulations and their effects on automotive companies.

  • Economic Crime Survey 2007: People, culture and controls

    Global Economic Crime Survey is the largest study of its kind now available worldwide. Based on months of interviews conducted with over 5,400 companies in 40 countries, the survey offers an in-depth look at the root causes of economic crime.
    According to the report 27% of companies in Japan suffered serious fraud between 2005 and 2007, which is 10% down from the 2005 survey. The average loss from fraud reported by Japanese companies was JPY 665 million.
    The report presents statistical trends and findings on economic crime, insights on the complex interrelationship between internal controls and corporate culture, and risk of fraud in the emerging markets.

  • Emerging Trend in Real Estate Asia Pacific 2008 （Second edition）

    The report is the second edition for Asia Pacific region and reflects interviews with and surveys of more than 190 real estate professionals. The report provides an outlook on Asia Pacific real estate investment and development trends, real estate finance and capital markets, property sectors, and metropolitan areas and other real estate issues pertinent to the countries in Asia. Tokyo ranks as the third most promising Asia Pacific city in terms of real estate investment prospects. Only Shanghai, in first place, and Singapore, in the second rated higher. In addition to its high investment rating, Tokyo also received a high rating for development prospects and the city was cited as offering the second lowest (or safest) rating in terms of overall risk. Tokyo is a market that is starting to draw more institutional money, in addition to the opportunistic funds that have been invested over the past five years.

  • A Guide to VAT/GST in Asia Pacific

    This publication provides information on VAT/GST in 14 countries in the Asia Pacific Region. Consumption tax is lowest in Japan and Singpore（5% respectively）, highest in China(17.5%) followed by India(12.5%).
    In the future, indirect taxes may replace direct taxes as the most important source of tax revenue.　Understanding the impact of indirect taxes on business plans, especially in the Asia Pacific region, is often far from easy but it is important for businesses to have a clear strategy in place. (Inquiry about this publication)

  • Global (E-)Invoicing and (E-)Archiving - Increasing Efficiency and Reducing Costs

    The majority of companies today still rely on paper invoices due to the lack of knowledge about the specific legislative requirements, and the strategic considerations.
    This publication provides companies with practical advice and guidance on the rules and on how to go about implementing such a system.

  • US Presidential Panel Urges Sweeping Tax Changes for Businesses, Individuals

    Overview by PwC Washington

  • PwC 9th Annual global CEO Survey, "Globalisation and Complexity"

    The survey - featuring the perspectives of 1,410 CEOs in 45 countries - takes a close look at globalisation and complexity, two inevitable forces in today's changing economy.
    The survey report also features one-on-one interviews with five global business leaders. They bring in-depth, personal perspectives on how they and their organisations are meeting the challenges of globalisation and complexity.