Economics/All

February 22, 2012

Economics/All

Indonesia pays for US bargains

Indonesia has the world's fastest deforestation rate, according to the World Wildlife Fund, thanks to Indonesian-based pulping firms that deliver low-price goods to shoppers in the United States while threatening the survival of communities and large wildlife back home.

- Charundi Panagoda (Feb 22, '12)

Greek knife to Wall Street

Calling a default something else shores up the US$32 trillion credit default swap market and the bankers behind it. But with the house so obviously rigged, as MF Global discovered and owners of Greek debt are finding out, players in the future may simply refuse to play.

- Ellen Brown (Feb 22, '12)

THE BEAR'S LAIR

Machines from hell

The global economy and finances are now replete with "machines from hell" that together threaten the collapse of the economic system, yet turning any of them off is extremely difficult and creates its own dire risks.

- Martin Hutchinson (Feb 22, '12)

Romney lays ground for China trade war

The most sane, pro-business candidate still viable in the Republican primaries claims not to want a trade war with China, but makes a strong case to an insecure electorate for how he would make one all but certain. Mitt Romney's latest push for votes is irresponsible fear mongering.

- Benjamin A Shobert (Feb 21, '12)

'Unfair' cudgels are out

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping wants an end to curbs on high-tech US exports to China and easier access for Chinese firms to America. Leaders of both nations apparently want a freer business climate, while proposing measures to the contrary.

- Nick Ottens (Feb 21, '12)

CREDIT BUBBLE BULLETIN

A new bull market?

A bull market is supposedly emerging, with bears pummeled into submission as central banks pump money into the system. But this is the type of manic marketplace that brought us the 2010 "flash crash" and the 2011 10-day market shellacking.

- Doug Noland (Feb 21, '12)

China shale-gas drive looks over-ambitious

China, an importer of natural gas for the past four years, is investing heavily in securing technology to develop the country's extensive shale gas reserves. Yet the geological and related technical challenges suggest the recovery target is far too ambitious.

- Robert M Cutler (Feb 17, '12)

Europe playing with fire

The nationalist sentiments raised by the confrontation between Greece and Germany over the former's debt may be symptomatic of worse to come if the eurozone's financial meltdown is not contained. Brussels is clearly intent on holding the feet of Greek politicians to the fire, and that is a more dangerous undertaking than it seems.

- Victor Kotsev (Feb 17, '12)

SOEs spur congress to grind old axe for China's Xi Jinping

Xi Jinping, expected to be China's next leader, may represent the new face of his country but he is being made aware during his visit to Washington that forces in the US Congress see little sign of change in Beijing's use of all-important state-owned enterprises to further China's economic interests.

- Benjamin A Shobert (Feb 16, '12)

Gilani shuffle targets tax boost

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has brought in two new faces as finance secretary and head of the Federal Board of Revenue in an attempt to boost tax collection following International Monetary Fund criticism of incorrect number crunching.

- Syed Fazl-e-Haider (Feb 16, '12)

China land deal upsets Tajiks

Tajikistan has little enough arable land, but a deal that lets the Chinese add to that through good management backed by US$2 million is angering Tajiks who recall clearly the loss of 1,000 square kilometers of territory barely a year ago.

- Mark Vinson (Feb 16, '12)

Kazakhs eye Europe as economy falters

Kazakhstan's economy is showing signs of faltering after a bumper harvest put a shine on last year's growth figures. President Nursultan Nazarbayev is already on the case with a raft of domestic measures and efforts to boost links with Europe, notably Germany.

- Robert M Cutler (Feb 15, '12)

KORUS threat a risk to Korea

A threat by Korean opposition legislators to terminate the Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement if elected to power this April is more than just handy domestic politicking. It is particularly dangerous, shortsighted and unrealistic, not least in regard to South Korea's future standing in the Pacific region.

- L Gordon Flake (Feb 15, '12)

EU closer to India trade deal

Europe hailed the latest discussions to secure a free trade agreement between the European Union and India as "a significant step forward". Opponents see the door closing on India's ability to manufacture cheap drugs that mean affordable treatment for the world's poor.

- Bari Bates (Feb 15, '12)

Aynak ore creates dilemma for treasure

The grounds of Mes Aynak in Afghanistan's Logar province are a 4,000-hectare trove of Buddhist monastery ruins, statues and tombs that sit largely preserved under layers of unexcavated earth. It is also the site of a massive Chinese-funded project to extract copper.

- Frud Bezhan (Feb 14, '12)

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Indonesia pays for US bargains

Greek knife to Wall Street

THE BEAR'S LAIR

Machines from hell

Romney lays ground for China trade war

'Unfair' cudgels are out

CREDIT BUBBLE BULLETIN

A new bull market?

China shale-gas drive looks over-ambitious

Europe playing with fire

SOEs spur congress to grind old axe for China's Xi Jinping

Gilani shuffle targets tax boost

China land deal upsets Tajiks

Kazakhs eye Europe as economy falters

KORUS threat a risk to Korea

EU closer to India trade deal

Aynak ore creates dilemma for treasure

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