United Kingdom

"A central measure to stimulate exports and thus also growth was to follow the example of the United Kingdom and devalue the krona by 30.5 percent in 1949. The export industry rejoiced, and its competitiveness in the international market was significantly strengthened overnight. Shortly after the devaluation, the krona exchange rate was locked at a very low level by Sweden joining the Bretton Woods system, the international exchange rate mechanism with fixed exchange rates created by the other Western countries to establish a stable foundation for free trade and international growth."

"In a small city like Ube, information is quite isolated. To get the latest fashion information, I often buy and read fashion and jewelry magazines. I travel overseas once a year, especially to see stores in Western countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. I was particularly inspired by the advanced retail businesses at the time, such as ESPRIT, BENETTON, GAP, LIMITED, NEXT, and other chain store brands. Initially, I participated in business study groups organized by the industry associations and went overseas with my peers. Later, I would go alone to the United States to purchase items like t-shirts and jeans; I also went to London, England to purchase t-shirts, jewelry, and antique watches."

"Nutella contributes to the unstoppable growth of Ferrero in Europe. Other factories and commercial offices open in the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland. There's an anecdote that alone could tell the success of the new product, without resorting to what we now call market research: the 'spalloni', smugglers who come from Switzerland to Italy loaded with American cigarettes and with some watches, on the return carry in their robust backpacks loads of Nutella and other Ferrero products. Especially in Switzerland, one of the historical homelands of chocolate."

"The United Kingdom is a very tax-friendly place to live if one only has wealth and does not conduct business in the country. All income and gains one has in other countries are tax-free as long as the money is not brought into the United Kingdom. This applies to foreign nationals living in the United Kingdom who do not intend to stay there forever. This odd and very flexible rule has made London a very attractive place to live for the wealthy, from shipowners to tennis players. However, the tax law is under review and everyone expects that the loophole for those "temporarily" residing will be closed."

"In England they turned to Richard Parker, arguably the greatest jet engineer in the United Kingdom, who had worked for Vosper Thornycroft, a warship maker, and who had designed several jet-propelled boats for the navy. He set to work on all the variables — the angles and width of the entry and exit points, the number and pitch of the blades on the impeller — to find the combination that worked best in the space available. When it was tested pulling against a bollard, Parker’s design generated a remarkable 840 kilos of thrust."