Do Markets Negate Democracy?
At the end of last week and for part of the weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the Biennale Firenze in Florence, Italy. The event was being hosted by EESC, the European Economic and Social Committee. With a title of “Education To Combat Social Exclusion”, it is not a natural event for a blog [...]
Financial Transaction Reforms Explained
Earlier this week, I was able to interview one of the key players and thinkers on the European Commission team for financial reform as a part of the ‘day job’.
As mentioned here, David Wright, Deputy Director of DG Internal Market and Services, is one of the most public voices right now on the direction [...]
Can The EU Lead On Financial Reforms?
The European Parliament should be leading the development of financial regulation reform. According to MEP Dr Kay Swinburne, member of the Special Committee on the Financial, Economic and Social Crisis (CRIS), many MEPs have the belief that if the European Parliament creates good, workable legislation - and does so first - the United States will [...]
Breaking News: Confidence In Wall Street ‘On The Line’
This story from CNN shows just what denail the United States is in when it comes to Wall Street, financial services, money and reputation.
According to the story, it seems that confidence in Wall Street is ‘on the line’. Which line would that be?
Perhaps it is the final line that an economy will not [...]
Lies, Damned Lies And Economic Statistics
This morning I spotted a story on the BBC website about jobless statistics in the United States. You might recall that unemployment in the US hit 10% a few months ago.
Well the story explains a little of the real numbers. As we must all have - at a minimum - suspected by now, governments have [...]
No ‘Green Shoots’ Of Recovery In A Desert
It seems that the ‘Green shoots’ of a financial recovery that the world has been prepared for by multiple hundreds of desparate politicians and economists has been dealt a severe blow.
Why?
Dubai.
All this time, we have been witnessing the economic miracle that is / was Dubai in awe and respect. But hey, it seems that they [...]
Just How Dangerous Is High-Frequency Trading?
In a story on the BBC today, Lord Myners, Minister in the Treasury (UK), warns that HFT (otherwise known as high-frequency trading) could put large corporations at the mercy of automated speculators.
He is probably right.
Much of the blame for the stock market drop in 1987 lies at the door of automated trading programs. At the [...]
The Real Cost Of The Bailout?
The BBC website has a 7 slide show relating to the costs of the bailout worldwide. If you are either:
a) interested in finance
b) wondering what the real cost of the bailouts are
or,
c) from the UK
be sure to spend 30 seconds of your day taking a look. See the slides here.
For months, the British public [...]
Lithuania Slumps
This blog recently highlighted the trouble being faced by Latvia in this economic crisis. We all knew that Latvia was not the only country suffering and not the only Baltic country suffering. But todays news suggests that Lithuania is in even deeper trouble.
Poor Lithuania…
This story explains that the Lithuanian economy has falled by a thumping [...]
Notes From Felipe Gonzalez’s Lecture In Brussels
One of the problems with blogging is the speed at which communications can now be transmitted. I know that this is meant to be the major strength of blogging - but if you happen to busy, it simply makes you look slow!
This time last week I was fortunate enough to attend a one hour lecture [...]