Coups Return to Latin America
The recent impeachment of Paraguayan President, Fernando Lugo is the latest in a disconcerting series of attacks against progressive governments in South America that highlights the vulnerability of its nascent democratic institutions and calls into question the trend of democratization in the region.
Lessons from Latvia
Latvia was severely hit by the Global Crisis yet its adjustment has been remarkable. Four years after the hit it has one of the highest growth rates in Europe, its euro-peg has held, and the fiscal and current accounts are close to balance.
One more summit: The crisis rolls on
Charles Wyplosz, Professor of International Economics, sees the EU summit as a vaguely worded agreement that can and has been read in different ways in different nations. The crisis will continue to unfold in the months ahead.
Preventing a Eurozone Bank and Bond Run
Catherine Dobbs, a Wolfson Prize finalist and Michael Spence, a Nobel Laureate, discuss the highly complex operation required to withdraw Greece from the Eurozone.
Asia Exposed
Stephen Roach, former Chairman and Chief Economist of Morgan Stanley Asia, and currently senior fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute of Global Affairs outlines the shock that is hitting Asia. For the second time in less than four years, Asia is being hit with a major external demand shock. This time it is from Europe, Financial and trade linkages make Asia highly vulnerable to Europe’s malaise.
Rethinking the ‘War on Drugs’
Ex-President of Mexico Ernesto Zedillo explains that Illegal drugs are one of the planet’s most pressing problems. They shatter hundreds of millions of lives and wreak untold social, economic and political damage in both consuming and producing nations.
Dashed Hopes for Baghdad Breakthrough
The recently concluded negotiations between Iran and the world powers, the so-called P5+1, was perhaps the first serious attempt at resolving the Iranian nuclear impasse since the 2009 botched negotiations.
CDSs: Useful, Misleading, Dangerous?
Credit default swaps were once a form of insurance but the market has now become overwhelmed by ‘naked CDSs’ that allow speculators to make wildly destabilising bets.
Asia’s Mad Arms Race
Asia is currently in the middle of an unprecedented arms race that is not only sharpening tensions in the region but also competing with efforts by Asian countries to address poverty and growing economic disparity.
Busting the Myths of the FTT
The Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) would be an effective way to redress the imbalance in the current financial crisis. Ordinary citizens have borne the brunt of the huge costs incurred in bailing out the banks – with massive job losses and sweeping cuts to public services.