Ireland’s nine year bond yields closed below 6% for the first time since October 2010. The country’s yield dropped to 5.97%, the lowest level in 22 months and almost two years on since the beginning of their EU-IMF bailout program. This welcome development is particularly useful as it comes ahead of the Irish National Treasury […]
Irish road to recovery continues with further prosperity in the bond market Read More 👉
The theme of the Irish economic rehabilitation continues as the country has successfully staged an auction to sell long-term bonds to investors. This is the first time the island has been able to do such an operation since entering the EU-IMF program in November 2010. In total, €5.2bn was raised, with €4.19bn of that money
Success for Ireland in bond markets as first long-term bonds are auctioned off Read More 👉
If a week is a long time in politics than a day is a long time in banking. Within the space of 24 hours, three former senior executives at Anglo Irish Bank were arrested and charged in connection to financial irregularities at the bank. The bank (now known as the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation) is
Justice on the horizon for Ireland as bankers are finally held accountable Read More 👉
Albert Einstein once said ”Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” That quote definitely applies to the political leaders of Europe. Almost half a decade on from the inception of the global financial crisis, they have doggedly stuck to their failure of a policy that is austerity. And
Europe’s turning point on the way? Stimulus finally comes to Ireland Read More 👉
Ireland hasn’t had anything to cheer about since the onset of the global financial crisis in 2008 but in the past week, that has slightly changed. Becoming the first eurozone country to enter recession, it was downhill since that declaration by the Central Statistics Office in September 2008. Almost four years on and with the
Light at the end of the tunnel for Ireland Read More 👉
As recently as 2008, Ireland was ranked the highest western nation in the conservative think tank Heritage Index of Economic Freedom (ranked primarily based on low corporate taxes and deregulated financial markets). As the Irish economy began its self-destruction back in 2007, the fears of the Irish people that it would turn into a dangerous
Irish Media Downplayed Red Flags as Country Descended into Economic Turmoil Read More 👉
Longstanding government fiscal and monetary policies are fundamental contributors to the global imbalances that have built up, and as recently as 2008-2009, broke out and all but tore down the as yet prevailing global financial and economic order. China pegging the value of its currency, the yuan, to the US dollar has been a significant contributing factor. Despite support among economists and analysts, it’s high time for China to make the transition to a floating exchange rate system and open up its domestic markets to international investment opportunities, both coming in and going out.
China’s US Dollar Peg, Mercantilism Redux, Part 3 Read More 👉
Global economic conditions over the past five years clearly indicate that fundamental changes are needed if some sort of balance in the global economic system is to be achieved. Given the tremendous growth China’s economy has experienced in the past two-plus decades, and the repercussions of its US dollar peg, transitioning to a floating rate currency system could serve both China and its trading partners worldwide well.
China’s US Dollar Peg & Mercantilism Redux, Part 2 Read More 👉
The debate regarding the effects China fixing the value of its currency, the yuan, to the US dollar continues, even as China continues to resist calls to float its currency. In fact, it’s become apparent that Chinese government monetary policymakers have tightened the peg in the face of another potential banking system crisis and severe economic contraction, this time centered in Europe. This three-part series is an attempt to ‘deconstruct’ and examine, both wholly and in part, the effects of China’s US dollar peg and arguments for and against China moving to a floating exchange rate system.
China’s US Dollar Peg and Mercantilism Redux Read More 👉
It seemed easy and straightforward enough. Fighting in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between a variety of warring factions has resulted in the death, rape and displacement of many in the region. Based on most accounts upwards of 5.4 million people died during the official war period of 1998-2003 and some 2.7
Conflict Minerals: Where Dodd-Frank, The Enough Project and Global Witness Went Wrong Read More 👉
A wise man once said, “beer, the cause of and solution to all of life’s problems”. More recently, Center for Global Development (CGD) Senior Fellow, Charles Kenney published an article in Foreign Policy magazine called “Chug for Growth” discussing the role of beer and beer manufacturing in developing countries. Ever since the development profession (for
Does Beer Equate to Development? Read More 👉
Although Wal-Mart has had a checkered past when it comes to entering foreign markets, a deal was announced at the end of May that the company has purchased a majority stake in the South African company, Massmart. While the $2.4 billion investment doesn’t raise too many eyebrows considering the company has a market cap north
Wal-Mart Enters Africa Read More 👉
An interesting question was posed recently by a member of a group I’m part of on LinkedIn (Global Reporting Initiative) that stated simply “Is GRI beneficial for a 3rd world enterprise?” It’s both a valid and interesting question for a variety of reasons. This gentleman’s concern was mainly over the cost and time that it
The Value of CSR Reporting in Developing Economies Read More 👉
As most people are aware these days, Sudan, a country that has undergone so much hardship since it became Africa’s (geographically) largest country on January 1, 1956 is on the cusp of splitting into two. A complex issue anyway one looks at it, with economic and cultural concerns at the forefront. However, for a continent
Sudan: Open for Business? Read More 👉
Multinational companies like Procter and Gamble sure think so and they are making large investments into developing areas such as China, India and Africa. On the surface, it makes sense. Not only is this potential group of consumers enormous- according to a recent World Resource Institute report the group (depending on income but usually below
Are the Poor the New Middle Class? Read More 👉
Clearly there’s a significant, “soft conflict” currently being waged between the US and China. First we had the currency devaluation issue which many feel has led to the US/China trade imbalance. Humanitarian and environmental issues have often been a concern of the US in regards to China (although we could probably use a watchdog in
Rare Earth: The Latest Episode on this Week’s Washington v. Beijing Read More 👉
You’ve heard there are some, shall we say, negative feelings among the working/middle classes in European countries these days, yes? Something about austerity measures, mismanaged economies, something about being angry at banks and bankers and powerful people? It all dribbles out, and we don’t see much of it in the press here in the US.
Tea Party This! European Activists Push For Mass Bank Run Read More 👉
The U.S. Military’s latest strategy for the safety of our troops in Afghanistan is also a measure that is also sustainable. Renewable energy will now be utilized by the Marines so that they can be less dependent on fossil fuels while on the battlefield. Less dependence on fossil fuels has become an important issue because
Safety and Sustainability for the U.S. Military Read More 👉
CSR is now a thing. It has gotten to the point where when visiting a corporation’s website, one of the first things you will see is at least a mention of corporate social responsibility and perhaps a link to some sort of sustainability report. While this is becoming the norm and is something the general
CSR Reporting in the Age of Social Media Read More 👉
In a terse open letter to top executives at Woolworths, Coles, and Metcash, the Consumer’s Alliance for Global Prosperity (CAGP), is publicizing its report “The Empires of Collusion,” which apparently proves that the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a tool used by the “greens” and “the NGOs” to “conspire to force their standard on consumers
Does Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification Impoverish? Read More 👉
This summer California was home to the world’s biggest surfing event, the Hurley U.S. Open in Huntington Beach. The week long event hosted 400 surfers from around the globe and drew an enormous crowd that totaled close to half a million by the last day. Surfing is the main even but fans were able to
Surfers Bringing Clean Drinking Water to the World Read More 👉
One thing you will notice walking the streets of any eastern Chinese city these days is the burgeoning consumer middle class. What might not be initially as evident is whether the Nike, Louis Vuitton or Polo they are sporting is real or counterfeit. According to a recent New York Times Magazine article, “Inside the Knockoff
Are Companies Benefiting From the Counterfeit Goods Trade? Read More 👉
Like many other aspects of international development (microfinance, I’m looking at you), there is a wealth of literature on the value and outcomes of fair trade and for the most part, the results have been inconclusive. That’s not to say that there haven’t been some positive impacts, but like microfinance there are some definite drawbacks
Is Fair Trade Really Fair? Read More 👉
