That debate
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Back home we had, of course, to follow that debate. A fascinating spectacle, it was like a boxing match, with the two journalists restricted to ringing the bell at the beginning and the end of each round. Both candidates gave as good as they got and...
Monte Carlo-simulated sovereign credit
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And it’s all free and open source.Presenting the Public Sector Credit Framework — a quantitative alternative to sovereign and muni credit ratings produced by the agencies....
In Ukraine, Mixed Emotions About Tymoshenko
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The darling of the Orange Revolution has not been able to capitalize on general sympathy to generate broader protest over her imprisonment.
The Closer
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ROUND-UPUS stocks limped into the close. The S&P 500 closed down 0.25 per cent to 1,402 and the DJIA fell 0.08 per cent to 13268. Weak ADP numbers added to the gloom spread...
Activists in flash mob against Italy’s escalating femicides
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A flash mob took place Wednesday evening outside the parliament in Rome in protest at escalating femicides in Italy. The protest comprised 55 signs, one for each woman killed by a man already in 2012. It was organized by Tilt – a network of col...
What next for Chen Guangcheng?
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It is probably not good for CGC. Lawrence C. Reardon, Associate Professor of Political Science, Coordinator, Asian Studies Minor, University of New Hampshire This story has become even more convoluted. First you see a picture of the US Ambassador Ga...
What next for Chen Guangcheng?
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It is probably not good for CGC. Lawrence C. Reardon, Associate Professor of Political Science, Coordinator, Asian Studies Minor, University of New Hampshire This story has become even more convoluted. First you see a picture of the US Ambassador Ga...
François Hollande and Europe
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Interview with MEP Stéphane Le Foll, campaign manager for François Hollande - 1. The Euros' guest / France, Domestic politics...
New study: Poland may have more shale gas than recently reported
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A few weeks ago the Polish Geographical Institute estimated that Poland may have significantly less shale gas than previously thought. However, as we have already pointed out, these are early days. Much more exploration is needed in order to fi...
Europe's crisis is about to get a whole lot worse
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Here's your starter for ten. The European People's Party is the largest bloc in the European Council, as measured by voting weight; can you guess the second largest? Congratulations to anyone who plumped for the European Conservatives and Reformists...
Payments to EU farmers to get better targeted
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During the course of the 3161st Council meeting, held last week in Brussels, agriculture ministers discussed the reform of payments for farmers, which as part of the broader discussion on the reform of the EU's common agricultural policy. Accordin...
From Chongqing to Chipping Norton, money and politics have got too cosy | Timothy Garton Ash
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Scandals in Britain and China show the need for the separation of powers and the independence of professionsLet us consider the tale of Murdoch Xilai and little Bo James. I mix them up like this since both Britain and China are roiled by scandal...
The European Union - Paradise Or Purgatory?
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The last few months have been an interesting time to be working in the European Union's capital city, Brussels. Outside, in the real world, the global economy seemed to stagger from crisis to catastrophe and then back again. Our most reputable banks...
Ministers discuss key issues of CFP
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During the course of the last Council meeting on Agriculture and Fisheries, ministers held a public debate in the framework of the common fisheries policy (CFP) reform. Regionalization and transferable fishing concessions (TFCs), which are two of th...
Rematerializing the future at the EESC
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This evening to the opening of an exhibition at the Committee entitled ‘Rematerialize the future!’. The exhibition was opened by Vice-President Anna Maria Darmanin and the President of the Various Interests Group, Luca Jahier (picture), w...
Bonfire Of Financial Stocks Is At Hand As Spain’s Santender Bank Leads European Financials Lower
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Bonfire Of Financial Stocks Is At Hand As Spain’s Santender Bank Leads European Financials Lower Financial Market Report For April 2, 2012 World Stocks, VT, -0.5%, traded lower today as Santender Bank, STD, -5%, and Spain, EWP, -4%, led Ital...
The European Dilemma: the Monetary Union and the Road Ahead
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Countries in the periphery of the Eurozone face one of the toughest dilemmas in recent history. Each of them with their particularities, Greece, Portugal, Italy and Spain all share the challenge of dealing with the consequences of sustained large cur...
SHARE initiative to try to compensate for effects of drought in Kenya
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With the aim to helping Kenya better face its food security challenges, mainly a result of regular droughts, the EU has recently announced that it will allocate Sh4.3 billion (around €39 million) to the country. Main areas of work will be health...
New EU legislation might lead to a ‘blessing’ in RDC
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Some claim that if new EU legislation were to introduce mandatory transparency for multinational companies, living-standards in resource-rich countries, which normally face high poverty rates, would be greatly improved. Joseph Banga, a Congolese...
City Hall emails reveal panic over Boris campaign Twitter hijack
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Emails obtained by Scrapbook reveal panic at City Hall after Boris Johnson’s campaign hijacked the mayor’s twitter feed in March. With criticism pouring in, Boris’ most senior aide Guto Harri desperately tried to figure out an of...
Making eurozonians, or not
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Huge hat-tip to Paul Kedrosky for this – an eye-catching chart from JPMorgan’s Michael Cembalest’s ‘Eye on the markets’ note (click to enlarge):...
Postscript - Does Damscheid need a Mayor?
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As one correspondent from continental Europe has pointed out, the debate across Europe about centralised and decentralised state models is coloured by the recent European experience of dictatorship. The Federal structure bequeathed to West Germany by...
An AUD tale of correlation lost
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The Australian dollar has veered away from its usual path. *Bad Aussie.*But there is a widespread belief it will have to eventually find its way back. How quickly it does so,...
‘Plotting’ an economics’ rebellion? Featured on Deutsche Welle’s mini video documentary on the INET Berlin Conference
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During the INET Berlin Conference, April 2012, DW tv spent a day with me, compiling this mini documentary on the INET Conference in general and my involvement in it in particular. You can watch it here: click the video entitled Economists Planning a...
‘Plotting’ an economics’ rebellion? Featured on Deutsche Welle’s mini video documentary on the INET Berlin Conference
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During the INET Berlin Conference, April 2012, DW tv spent a day with me, compiling this mini documentary on the INET Conference in general and my involvement in it in particular. You can watch it here: click the video entitled Economists Planning a...
Nurses being disciplined for expressing opinions on the NHS carve up
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By by Dr Éoin Clarke (PhD). Cross-posted from his blog The Green Benches. Richard Howitt for those who don’t know him is a hardworking Labour MEP who is really engaged with local issues. Since Labour has few MPs in the South & East of Eng...
Nurses being disciplined for expressing opinions on the NHS carve up
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By by Dr Éoin Clarke (PhD). Cross-posted from his blog The Green Benches. Richard Howitt for those who don’t know him is a hardworking Labour MEP who is really engaged with local issues. Since Labour has few MPs in the South & East of Eng...
Latest ACP-EU updates
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The more the deadline to conclude EPA negotiations looms, the more concerns are raised. Last week, Brussels saw the latest EPA negotiations between the EU and West Africa, as well as between the EU and the East African Community. These meetings, whi...
Playing the CDS-bomb basis
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After holding our heads in our hands and getting over a wave of nausea, FT Alphaville looked up and realised that yes, we really were looking at a trade idea involving credit...
Why I'm leading the march of Italy's 'recession widows' | Tiziana Marrone
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My husband is one of more than 70 people who have taken their lives because of Italy's economic crises. Something has to giveMy husband, Giuseppe Campaniello, was a self-employed bricklayer who worked alone. He always worked and working was not a pro...
