Thank Goodness We Don’t Have Turkey In The EU!!
As the financial crisis continues and sovereign debt becomes a household phrase to the entire planet, we must be grateful that EU expansion hasn’t reached Turkey just yet. Why? The name calling has...
View ArticleFrom The Weak To The Strong
I have been a believer for some years that the balance of financial power in the world has been shifting from the weak to the strong. When I say weak, I mean central banks and western politicians. When...
View ArticleThe Mess Of European Finances Continues
Information just published by Eurostat (discussed here) suggests what we all already know. The government finances of the EU are in a right old mess (that is a technical term used in financial circles...
View ArticleIrish Banking Bailout Insanity
The news this morning is of Irish banks edging closer to a bailout from the EU / IMF. But it seems as though the money is about to be wasted as history repeats itself. The phrase most often used is a...
View ArticleIs The Economic Recovery Already Over?
Politicians and economists have been discussing the ‘green shoots of recovery’ for months. Will there be a double-dip recession? Etc etc. It seems to me that the few bright sparks that have been...
View ArticlePublic Spending Cuts: How Fast Is Too Fast?
Oh dear. The financial problems in Portugal now look set to need a rescue package from the EU and IMF. With the resignation of Prime Minister Socrates after the latest round of austerity measures were...
View ArticleWho Will Benefit The Most When Greece Exits The Eurozone?
At the end of April I wrote a post titled “Going, Going, Gone? How Low Can Confidence In Greek Debt Get?” in which I suggested – in a humorous but mean-spirited way – that an announcement by Zippy and...
View ArticleIs Greece Hiding The World’s Greatest Ever Business Mind?
At the end of October 2010, your author attended an event in Brussels held by the Lisbon Council. The star turn at the event was Commissioner Rehn. During his presentation and Q&A, he did what he...
View ArticleDoes Europe Want Increased Fiscal Integration Or Civil War?
As someone with a more than passing interest and knowledge in politics, policy, finance and markets, I am less than convinced about the idea of greater fiscal integration amongst EU or eurozone...
View ArticleFinancial History Repeats Itself Too
Recently I have been dipping into The Great Crash 1929 by J.K Galbraith. It is a wonderful book that I cannot recommend highly enough. Everyone should read it. It should be part of the curriculum in...
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