THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF BUSINESSES.
Economics · institutions · business decisions
Those who find out when the problem is already costing them money.
And those who learn to see it while there is still time to act.
Apps, research and workshops to understand what is happening and decide in time.
Neither Excel nor a notebook.
Made In Cuenca: intuitive business apps. Start with friendly-123, our flagship app.
Stock, sales, clients and commissions. One payment of $399 for 5 years.
The same, in Spanish and discounted for Latin America.
Finance, patients and appointments for doctors, dentists and vets. In beta.friendly-123 is ready in v1.0. You can also explore Amigable in Spanish and Consultorio in beta.
One question. A clearer decision.
A practical report for your shop, small business or medical office. Complete a questionnaire, talk with us for 10 minutes and receive your report within 72 hours. USD 100, online, worldwide.
USD 100 · Written report in up to 72 hours
For one agreed business question. The 72-hour delivery period starts after the interview and receipt of the agreed information.
Spot the mismatch before it costs you.
Sales, cash and stock leave clues. You can wait for a mismatch to become obvious or check while it is still easy to fix.
Sees earlierChecks sales, cash and stock before deciding.
Finds out laterRelies on memory and figures rebuilt after the fact.
That is where the apps come in: bring daily business activity together so you can see what is happening.
Does your team see the same thing?
When everyone interprets a problem differently, the same friction returns. Shared criteria help people discuss it clearly and act together.
Sees earlierShares criteria the team can use.
Finds out laterEveryone improvises; the same friction returns.
The workshops give your team exercises to work through these ideas and apply them to everyday decisions.
To strengthen teams
Two 2-hour workshops: one on money decisions and financial stress; the other on private enterprise. Each participant leaves with a number, a decision rule and a next action.
Help your team work through money decisions and understand private enterprise.
What needs attention today?
A falling margin, a changing trend or a risk signal can get lost in the data. Choose what to review before urgency takes over.
Sees earlierTracks the indicators that need attention.
Finds out laterFinds and sorts the data again for every question.
Dashboards bring those indicators together so you can track them and decide where to act.
Two viewers
Two free dashboards to review business performance and risk signals before a problem becomes urgent.
Articles
When public debate makes the basics confusing: capital, rules, entrepreneurship, inflation, history and economic freedom.
Economics explained with rigor and without jargon: essays, articles and books on Ecuador and the world.
10 Lessons of Economics(that governments would like to hide from you)
Articles published in different media, gathered as an intensive course in economics applied to reality: monopolies and the market, the role of government in constant economic problems, and concessions.
Author of "10 Lessons of Economics". Translation and dissemination in Spanish of continental European economics, with special attention to the Austrian school. Columnist in Ecuadorian press.
Publications
Explore the ideas, sources and research behind this site.
Books, columns and research papers to keep reading and test the ideas.
Does your plan still hold?
Prices, credit, competitors and regulations change. Testing your assumptions against evidence lets you decide before the change reaches sales or cash flow.
Sees earlierTests assumptions against evidence.
Finds out laterReacts once the change is affecting the business.
A report starts with your question and organizes the information you need to answer it.
Pacific Basin Intelligence Unit
Macroeconomic and sector research for investment decisions across Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Colombia. Reports, dashboards and bespoke studies.
Custom studies: a full refund if the study does not answer the agreed question. We accept 3–4 clients per quarter.
Ideas, markets and tools for better decisions
More than 25 years of research, teaching and consulting, now also put into business tools.
Juan Fernando Carpio
21st-century tools for independent professionals and SMEs
One catalog: two books, a report on critical minerals in Latin America, free guides and specialized services. Current scope and prices are on each page.
La Escuela del Dinero
Raising the level of financial awareness in Spanish-speaking families and individuals. Digital products and virtual workshops for people seeking financial security and independence.
Everything free, in one place
Start with the blog, guides and free tools for people building and running businesses.
Where do you need to start?
Sometimes you need to organize the business. Other times, you need to investigate a question or work with your team. Choose the resource that helps you see earlier in your situation.
Start with the apps, reports, workshops or dashboards. If your case needs a different scope, let us talk.
Sees earlierChooses resources that help with timely decisions.
Finds out laterWaits for urgency to dictate the next step.
If the case does not fit a tool
Tell us what you need to solve and where things stand. We will review your case based on scope and availability.
Corporate workshops, focused business reports, custom dashboards and launch reviews. We work online in English and Spanish.
General Torres #14, Cuenca, Ecuador