Neanderthals didn't send Christmas cards

The way risk is managed is one measure of a society and its reach. Modern man,with more extended kinship links, had a greater network than the Neanderthals, whose artefacts’ origin indicate a much smaller territorial range. In the event of adverse conditions a strong and widespread network remains a valuable protection against downside risk and ,on the principle of “it’s not what you textmessage it’s who you textmessage” it can be argued that networks provide opportunities for advancement, which is all around managing upside risk.


The City of London is a very advanced and venerable network, arguably the best in the world. It owes some of its success and many of its failings to the old boy element, but some of the newcomers are impressed by the way the physical proximity allows for ideas to be brought to the attention of many key players quickly and for them to be honed through discussion with many different interested parties. Market research is one of the ways to manage upside risk, to reduce the uncertainties in a proposition and the London Market and the network it represents have an edge in this area.

The fact that newcomers are quickly involved into the London Market network strengthens it. It is not a closed shop, it does not try to exclude foreigners, quite the contrary they are key to its purpose. It suffers like any long established network from unnecessary activities and some downright dubious ones. It is protean through constant renewal, not only by accepting new people, but by offering opportunities for people to recycle themselves. Having lived in Japan for 18 years I can say that it can offer far better opportunities than any Japanese network that I know of. It provides individuals with upside risk opportunities to find employment, promote services, create new businesses, solve problems and to take risks.