Merkel´s energy transition: Energy prices now so high that low-income Germans not able to pay
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"The primary reason for these costs can be seen on rooftops throughout Germany" The sad truth about German chancellor Angela Merkel´s failed energy transition policy is becoming more and more evident. Subsidised wind and solar power production...
The Closer
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ROUND-UP Today’s markets overview from the FT: “Equities, the euro and commodities rallied amid increasing hopes for another potential round of stimulus measures...
India Can Revive Investment by Learning from Itself
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Many reasons have been put forward to explain India's investment malaise. Fortunately, India has a model of its own, as large variations in the business environment exist across the country. In short, the country can learn from itself.
Les Britanniques, l’Europe et la boutique latine
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A l’évidence, la trêve est bien finie. Au cours des six derniers mois, le débat sur l’Europe a fait plus que jamais résonner aux oreilles du public britannique, des accords d’apocalypse. Une longue déploration wagnérienne sur fond de ma...
The euro and the “hope” trade
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One other thing from Wednesday’s SocGen Hedge Fund Watch that’s worth noting, especially given the ECB’s decision to hold rates steady earlier today:Given...
From bad to desperate
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With the conflict in Syria reaching new depths every day, the call for a strong international response to the crisis grows. With military intervention being a no-go for Western powers and with the UN Security Council being paralyzed by divisions &#...
Emerging Powers in the 21st Century
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Thomas Renard and Sven Biscop sent me a copy of their recently published edited volume entitled ‘The European Union and Emerging Powers in the 21st Century’. This is my review of it.
A delusional commander of Putin´s armed forces
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There are numerous signs showing that lifetime president Vladimir Putin´s Russia is becoming increasingly delusional. Putin´s commander of the armed forces, General Nikolai Makarov, appears to be one of the worst afflicted. He seems think that...
Who will take control of France’s parliament?
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The battle lines have been drawn and 6,500 candidates are gearing up for the start of the French parliamentary elections campaign.On June 10th and 17th the two rounds of the elections will take place for 577 seats where the socialists need to win a m...
Top Hostel Site - The Cheapest of the Cheap Accommodation
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One thing I learned while my boyfriend and I were traveling Europe on a budget last year is that hostels are well worth looking into. While you do have to be careful about the quality and cleanliness of the rooms, as well as the location with respect...
Ireland votes yes
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In the recent vote on the fiscal pact Ireland voted a resounding yes with over 950,000 votes as opposed to the no vote polling 650,000. In an unusual move to hold a referendum middle class voters ticked yes, whereas in the main working class voters t...
Sweden Fossil free?
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A new report “Time to choose the energy system of the future” from the most influence Environment NGO – The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) shows that it is possible to meet Sweden’s electricity needs in 2030 wi...
Ray Bradbury 1920 – 2012
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Ray Bradbury RIP “But there will always be a spirit that keeps things alive. In the case of ‘Fahrenheit,’ even though this totalitarian government is destroying the books, the people have memorized them. There are people who love th...
Ray Bradbury 1920 – 2012
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Ray Bradbury RIP “But there will always be a spirit that keeps things alive. In the case of ‘Fahrenheit,’ even though this totalitarian government is destroying the books, the people have memorized them. There are people who love th...
Europe is in a muddle but it could also hold the solution | Martin Kettle
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There's no easy fix to the crisis. But if finance is to be brought under control, it must be by bodies with power and credibilityIf to err is human, then so is to muddle through. In politics, as in ordinary life, humans tend to prefer the known to th...
Record bond ETP inflows last month (shocking, we know)
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From “The LTROs have saved Europe and US jobs are coming back!” to “Never mind, we might be even closer to econo-tastrophe than we were last year” in just five months —...
Britain needs more free speech. Change this law now | Timothy Garton Ash
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Intended to protect us from harassment, the public order act has become a licence for the harassment of ordinary citizens by the policeEarlier this week a man stood up in the centre of London and sang a song about a guy who murders his girlfriend in...
Asia to Europe: We Need to Discuss Our Relationship
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Yes, Asians in general and the Japanese in particular would be most grateful (and frankly relieved) if Europe could bring itself to consider Asia as something more than just a huge business opportunity and, come to think of it, as more than China.
Asia to Europe: We Need to Discuss Our Relationship
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Yes, Asians in general and the Japanese in particular would be most grateful (and frankly relieved) if Europe could bring itself to consider Asia as something more than just a huge business opportunity and, come to think of it, as more than China.
Asia to Europe: We Need to Discuss Our Relationship
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Yes, Asians in general and the Japanese in particular would be most grateful (and frankly relieved) if Europe could bring itself to consider Asia as something more than just a huge business opportunity and, come to think of it, as more than China.
What do French Socialists want anyway? (Arnaud Montebourg interview)
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“French Socialist economics” may seem like a contradiction in terms. But even the more radical in the Socialist Party are promoting a very concrete mix of Krugmanite Keynesianism and realist mercantilism that practically addresses people&...
Let's dare to have less Europe!
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As leading UK politicians and commentators urge eurozone countries, above all Germany to take the plunge into a fully fledges fiscal and economic union (while firmly rejecting the UK’s participation), it seems they have failed to contend with quite...
Earth ‘risks irreversible change’
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“Humanity’s path is anything but sustainable, the UN Environment Programme warns, as scientists suggest life may be heading for irreversible change.” (Source: BBC News) In the run-up to Rio+20 the UN has presented its 5th Global Environment...
The South China Sea: A Maritime Hotspot
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Even before the recent stand-off between China and the Philippines at Scarborough Shoal, it was clear that maritime security in general, and the South China Sea in particular, was going to feature prominently at the Asia-Pacific Security Dialogue.
The South China Sea: A Maritime Hotspot
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Even before the recent stand-off between China and the Philippines at Scarborough Shoal, it was clear that maritime security in general, and the South China Sea in particular, was going to feature prominently at the Asia-Pacific Security Dialogue.
The South China Sea: A Maritime Hotspot
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Even before the recent stand-off between China and the Philippines at Scarborough Shoal, it was clear that maritime security in general, and the South China Sea in particular, was going to feature prominently at the Asia-Pacific Security Dialogue.
U.S./Asia-Pacific: The Superpower and its Rubik’s Cube
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The Asia-Pacific region is the United States’ strategic Rubik’s Cube: how to engage China and at the same time contain it?
U.S./Asia-Pacific: The Superpower and its Rubik’s Cube
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The Asia-Pacific region is the United States’ strategic Rubik’s Cube: how to engage China and at the same time contain it?
U.S./Asia-Pacific: The Superpower and its Rubik’s Cube
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The Asia-Pacific region is the United States’ strategic Rubik’s Cube: how to engage China and at the same time contain it?
Discussing SYRIZA with Die Zeit
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Syriza handelt verantwortungsvoll Der deutsche Steuerzahler solle sich über die radikale Linke in Griechenland freuen, sagt der Ökonom Yanis Varoufakis im Interview. Das Land sei nicht reformunwillig. Filed under: European Crisis, Greek Crisis...
Discussing SYRIZA with Die Zeit
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Syriza handelt verantwortungsvoll Der deutsche Steuerzahler solle sich über die radikale Linke in Griechenland freuen, sagt der Ökonom Yanis Varoufakis im Interview. Das Land sei nicht reformunwillig. Filed under: European Crisis, Greek Crisis...
Hedgies reposition on the long bond
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From the latest SocGen Hedge Fund Watch, this is new:(The chart is based on the hedge fund share of total open interest positions in the relevant CBOT futures contract, with...
The euro: A domesday machine
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As a counter to the last post, an interesting from investment banker Marshall Auerback at EconoMonitor, worth a read for a bit of history on the (evidently flawed) economic assumptions underpinning the formation of the euro and some links to …...
China: The Invisible Dragon in the Room
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In deciding not to send their defense minister to last weekend’s Shangri-La Dialogue and offering only an elliptical justification, China made itself the subject of even greater speculation and theorizing than usual.
