Wim Assink, editor of Banking review, wrote a great review of Profit Power Economics on his blog here.

Here is the English translation courtesy of Google Translate (original is in Dutch):

Finding a clear strategic direction is a growing challenge for companies. The traditional economic models still useful in a society growing and dynamic energy alliance? End of 2009 appeared “Private Power Economics” with the intriguing subtitle “A New Competitive Strategy for Creating Sustainable Wealth”. No sloppy book about sustainability, but a refreshing vision of the new economic force that creates opportunities for companies and their environment to achieve sustainable prosperity. Each driver would be inspirational book to read, if only because it challenges to the strategies to test. I agree with the author Dr. Mia de Kuijper following its presentation in the ING House and try to seduce her to translate her findings into Dutch financial institutions.

The central theme of the book is that companies are moving into an economy where more and more information becomes available. This makes markets more transparent so they can work more efficiently. Suitable clients are easier to find and price levels are transparent. People and businesses can easily inform and organize. For meetings we do not have to come together and communication is via internet and mobile phones easier. Making choices is thus considerably easier. On the other hand, there is so much information available that it becomes increasingly difficult to achieve genuine individual choices. You see that people their choices partly influenced by opinions of others. With the increased interconnectedness between people and this changes the decision changes ultimately the entire operation of the modern economic paradigm “powerlaw marketplaces” like De Kuijper calls. Examples include initiatives such as where people zoover.nl iens.nl or opinions of others into account in their decisions to a particular restaurant or holiday. The consequences can be dramatic turn out, as in the aftermath of Icesave and DSB.

Porter’s ideas are drawn to the modern society. The information-intensive financial sector are enormous implications. In the next edition of Banking Review published an interview with Mia de Kuijper. From mid-April this can be downloaded from the website. Join the strategic choices that Dutch financial institutions are confronted with.