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Faces in Changzhi and Chengdu as China closes cement and steel plants to cut large overcapacity in 2015
08/28/2015
The closing of a cement plant in Changzhi and the closing of the Panchenggang steel factory in Chengdu in 2015, are part of an overall effort to closer older, less efficent, higher polluting facilities. The transition means more workers laid off and a period of retraining in other fields, and economic uncertainty in these urban areas.
Linked Articles
China’s Shift Away From Industry Drains Life From a Steel Town
Wall Street Journal 09/08/2015
Zombie Factories Stalk the Sputtering Chinese EconomyNew York Times 08/28/2015
Deep differences in 2015 between Alexis Tsipras of Syriza and the Merkel government in Germany on debt forgiveness and the bailouts for Greece
01/26/2015
The deep differences between Greeks and Merkel operate at two levels. On the level of austerity policies Greece shares the view with other EU countries, the governments of Hollande in France and Renzi in Italy that austerity is not the best course for the eurozone. This view is also shared by people in Spain facing unemployment exceeding 20%, though the government of Rajoy in Spain like that of Samaras in Greece lived with the austerity policies with some changes. At this level there is also support from within Merkel's coalition government from Social Democrats. The other level of deep differences is on debt forgiveness and bailouts where Greece has to find its own way out in negotiations hoping that the EU and the IMF will agree to make concessions based on action taken by Syriza to ensure prudence in fianncial management. On issues such as minimum wage one would expect Syriza to be firm and make concessions where the hardship does not fall on the poorer and working class, winning support from the Social Democrats in Merkel's coalition. Beyond the symbolic moves and posturing the actual negotiations are likely to take into account the eurozone's need for help on the fiscal side desired by the ECB's Draghi to support monetary easing to fight deflation, and the need to keep the eurozone intact at a sensitive time. Syriza for its part is aware that a majority of Greeks favor staying in the eurozone.
Linked Articles
Greece’s new prime minister wants Germany to pay for Nazi war crimes - The Washington Post
Washington Post 01/26/2015
A young, impatient leftist is Greece’s defiant new face - The Washington PostWashington Post 01/27/2015
Euribor close to zero and relief for suffering homeowners with mortgages in Spain, Portugal and other eurozone countries
05/28/2014
Most mortgages in Spain and Portugal are based on the Euribor rate. The ECB's monetary policy under Draghi has led to the decline of the Euribor rate to near zero in 2015, giving homeowners in extremely high unemployment countries such as Spain and Portugal much needed relief. Homeowners in Italy, with stagnant incomes and high unemployment, and other eurozone countries also get relief.
Linked Articles
Tumbling Interest Rates in Europe Leaves Some Banks Owing Money on Loans to Borrowers
Wall Street Journal 04/14/2015
Spain Still Suffering Fallout From Housing BustWall Street Journal 05/28/2014
Putting together the basis for a common approach of Germany and the U.S. to Russia
04/18/2014
Linked Articles
Twin Shocks Shake Foundation of German Power
New York Times 04/18/2014
In Cold War Echo, Obama Strategy Writes Off PutinNew York Times 04/19/2014
A major problem for western oil companies- the rapid increase in cost of oil and gas exploration and pipelines
01/29/2014
Projects are exceeding estimates and costs tripling or quadrupling in some cases. The search for solutions includes building processing plants for LNG on ships to eliminate the cost of building pipelines.
Linked Articles
Shell Plans Boat to Tap Gas Fields
Wall Street Journal 01/29/2014
Big Oil Companies Struggle to Justify Soaring Project CostsWall Street Journal 01/29/2014
The part-time low wage jobs generated by the American economy in recent years, especially since 2008
11/06/2012
The biggest challenge facing the American economy is high unemployment and the lack of well paying jobs that formed the core job base of the middle class. Jobs generated since 2008 are largely low wage part-time work in retail and related industries. Wages have also fallen sharply in manufacturing industries as the U.S. competes with Asian manufacturers.
Linked Articles
New York Times 11/07/2012
A Part-Time, Low-Wage EpidemicWall Street Journal 11/06/2012
Fiat Italy's new strategy in Europe based on the Fiat 500 and the export markets in Asia and Latin America
09/25/2012
Linked Articles
Marchionne Maps Out Fiat Revamp
Wall Street Journal 10/31/2012
Fiat's Marchionne Seeks to Make Italy an Export HubWall Street Journal 09/25/2012
The failure of India's power grid in 2012 and the need for investment in power plants and energy sources
07/31/2012
Linked Articles
Power Failures Hit Millions in India
New York Times 07/31/2012
India's Power Network Breaks DownWall Street Journal 08/01/2012
The U.S. May 2012 jobs numbers of 69,000 jobs added and oil prices- reading the numbers correctly
06/04/2012
The mild winter pulled jobs into the Dec-Feb. 2012 period from the March-May 2012 period, overstaing one and understating the other say experts. The drop in U.S. oil prices to $83 on June 1, 2012 should boost disposable income and personal spending acting as an offset to sluggish growth.
Linked Articles
Wonkbook: Don’t read too much into the May jobs numbers - The Washington Post
Washington Post 06/04/2012
Technically Speaking, Crude-Oil Prices in TroubleWall Street Journal 06/04/2012
Hitachi pushes forward in nuclear power plants
05/11/2012
Linked Articles
Hitachi Extends Nuclear Push with $1.12 Billion U.K. Deal
Wall Street Journal 10/31/2012
Hitachi President Prods TurnaroundWall Street Journal 05/11/2012
Research In Motion's Blackberry 10 and the effort to put together a patchwork of technologies
03/30/2012
Research in Motion failed to come up with a smartphone in time to match the iPhone and Android based smartphones. The Blackberry 10 was put together in crisis mode by June 2012. This is a classic example of the chaos created for established players by new entrants and new technologies.
Linked Articles
RIM's New BlackBerry 10: The Patchwork Smartphone
Wall Street Journal 06/07/2012
BlackBerry Maker in TurmoilWall Street Journal 03/30/2012
The IMF's view on austerity measures, the "German hypothesis," and the British economy
02/17/2012
The IMF's view is that it could take 5 years before the breakeven point on the effects of austerity measures is reached and it turns positive. The "German hypothesis" based on German experience as an exporting nation is that the benefits come sooner in the short term. For Britain, which is not an exporting nation like Germany, the benefits from exports are likely to be limited when the rest of Europe is'seeing declining or stagnant growth. The IMF view means Britain may be faced with the costs of the Cameron-Osborne austerity measures till 2016.
Linked Articles
Britain's Economy Contracts More Than Predicted
New York Times 03/28/2012
Austerity Debate a Matter of DegreeWall Street Journal 02/17/2012
The views of Condoleeza Rice and Vladimir Putin on Russia's evolution through democratic processes
02/09/2012
Rice points out that diversification of the economy away from oil utilizing Russian technological capabilities will help Russia move away from the corruption of a resource based economy and build a healthy democratic setup. Putin says he recognizes the need for democratic processes to keep pace with the development of civil society and the growing middle class, but emphasizes that democracy cannot be built overnight, and places a higher priority on what he calls the "sovereignty of the people," the right to work, the right to education and free medical care.
Linked Articles
How Russia’s urban middle class can bring an end to Putinism - The Washington Post
Washington Post 03/09/2012
Vladimir Putin: My vision for a better Russia - The Washington PostWashington Post 02/09/2012
China's efforts to transition to a new model for development in 2016-2017, based on consumers and not on heavy state spending
08/25/2015
Xi-Jinping and Li Keqiang face a challenge and choices not unlike the one facing Deng Xiaoping in the 1980's- now the challenge is how to move China beyond the middle income status it has achieved with all its accompanying problems of environmental destruction, corruption and aging population.
Linked Articles
Economist 01/23/2016
Political Risks May Foil Economic Reform in ChinaNew York Times 08/25/2015
VW's investment in the U.S. Chattanooga plant in 2014
07/15/2014
Linked Articles
Volkswagen to Invest $900 Million in U.S. Plant
Wall Street Journal 07/15/2014
The Chattanooga Jobs PayoffWall Street Journal 07/15/2014
More women without jobs in 2014 compared to 2010, and the 20% of U.S. households in 2014 either underwater or with less than 20% equity in their homes
05/19/2014
Most parts of the Democratic base badly damaged in the Obama administration's policy decisions in the housing and mortgage crisis of 2008-2009. A delayed economic recovery with weakness in consumer spending as one of the predictable outcomes of the policy decisions taken for homeowners.
Linked Articles
Economic Recovery Yields Few Benefits for the Voters Democrats Rely On
New York Times 05/19/2014
Mortgage, Home-Equity Woes LingerWall Street Journal 05/20/2014
A former mayor of Chattanooga, Tennessee, a VW plant, and the city of Detroit
02/15/2014
Linked Articles
Detroit files plan to fix debt, leave bankruptcy - The Washington Post
Washington Post 02/22/2014
Corker's Campaign Behind Union RejectionWall Street Journal 02/15/2014
Obama advisor, Christina Romer, and support for Simpson-Bowles recommendations on limiting deductions
11/10/2012
The Feldstein, Romney proposals based on the ideas of the Simpson Bowles Commission of limiting tax deductions finds convergence with Obama economic advisor, Christina Romer's support for Simpson Bowles recommendations after the 2012 presidential elections.
Linked Articles
Democrats Like a Romney Idea to Cap Tax Deductions
New York Times 11/12/2012
Budget Showdown Offers an Opportunity for ProgressNew York Times 11/10/2012
Mexico's emergence as the fourth largest exporter of cars in the world in 2012
10/02/2012
Mexico is expected to export 2.14 million cars in 2012. This makes it the fourth largest exporter after Japan, Germany, and S. Korea. Mexico is expected to overtake S. Korea in a few years. About 130,000 engineers are graduating each year from Mexico's technical universities, according to President Calderon. Mexican plants have quality and productivity that is comparable to Japanese plants for Nissan, say Carlos Ghosn, Nissan CEO.
Linked Articles
In Mexico, Auto Plants Hit the Gas
Wall Street Journal 11/20/2012
In Mexico, auto industry fuels middle class - The Washington PostWashington Post 10/02/2012
Work and life in manufacturing communities across the U.S. midwest- Joliet, Illinois, and Janesville, Wisconsin
08/18/2012
The transition period in U.S. manufacturing and manufacturing based communities in the U.S. as the old manufacturing base is replaced by a new one that is more automated and competitive with Asian manufacturers with fewer jobs than the old manufacturing base. The wrenching change in communities like Janesville and Joliet as communities adjust to job losses and smaller incomes.
Linked Articles
Could Paul Ryan’s ideas help his struggling home town? - The Washington Post
Washington Post 08/19/2012
Caterpillar Union Bows to DemandsWall Street Journal 08/18/2012
Why Mario Monti is the Euro's best hope
06/24/2012
The leadership exercized by Mario Monti in Italy and supported by all Italians offers one of the best hopes for the Euro. The efforts of the mild mannered professor of political economy from Bocconi University in Milan.
Linked Articles
Italy's Leader Calls Economic Efforts "a Very Tough War"
New York Times 07/11/2012
Why Monti, despite Merkel, could prove the euro’s best hope - The Washington PostWashington Post 06/24/2012
The July 2012 Report by an independent parliamentary panel on the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster and prime minister Naoto Kan's testimony
05/28/2012
The report calls the disaster "a profoundly man-made event," and "a disaster 'Made in Japan,' " citing cultural factors that contributed to the accident. It is sharply critical of TEPCO and the Japanese government's response. Both the report and the testimony of the prime minister at the time of the accident, Naoto Kan, refer to the 'nuclear bloc' or 'nuclear village' in Japan that promotes nuclear energy. Some of its actions are dangerous to safety, such as locating the nuclear safety agency NISA inside the same ministry that promotes nuclear power, a critical flaw. Ironically Germany made the decision to make a gradual shift out of nuclear power after looking at the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster and near collapse in Japan, while Japan is reactivating its nuclear plants to meet energy needs without having obtained public confidence in the system of nuclear energy including the essential safety actions. The result is a profound credibility gap about the nuclear plant industry, and public opposition in Japan.
Linked Articles
Report blasts Japan’s preparation for, response to Fukushima disaster - The Washington Post
Washington Post 07/06/2012
Japan's Ex-Premier, Naoto Kan, Condemns Nuclear PowerNew York Times 05/28/2012
Ford's plans to invest $1.3 billion to scale up its manufacturing operations in China
04/06/2012
Expansion of manufacturing facilities in Chongqing with a$600 million investment and a $760 million investment for a new plant in Hangzhou are part of Ford's effort to catch up with other manufacturers in China. Ford's forecast is for a 5% increase in the market each year for the next decade. The risk is that Ford will be scaling up just as the market is slowing after five years of hyper growth, with increased competition in the Chinese market hurting profit margins, and the distance of the Chongqing plant from the west coast of China making it harder to export to other emerging markets.
Linked Articles
Ford to Build New Plant in China to Catch Up With G.M.
New York Times 04/19/2012
Ford Plans to Boost Production in ChinaWall Street Journal 04/06/2012
Eliminating all Bush tax cuts to generate the revenue base to support spending programs for the middle class down the road
03/29/2012
Jared Berstein of the Economic Policy Institute, Peter Orszag, former director of the Congressional Budget Office, and Mayor Bloomberg of New York, say eliminating all Bush tax cuts would provide the revenue base needed to support middle class programs for future years. Orszag says making the tax code more progressive is desirable especially considering the inequality but this does not do much good if the revenue base to support middle class programs down the road is insufficient.
Linked Articles
Middle Class Malaise Complicates Democratsâ Fiscal Stance
New York Times 12/12/2012
Federal Budgets and Class WarfareWall Street Journal 03/29/2012
Why America has a role to play as a leader for liberal democracy and free trade
02/10/2012
Much of the progress that the world has enjoyed in the last six decades is a result of America's leadership and championing of liberal democracy and its institutions, and free trade. A lot will be at risk if this role is jeopardized by a policy of indifference to American economic strength and astrong its manufacturing base, indifference to Europe as an invaluable partner of the U.S. with the same goals and ideals, and a new generation unaware of the role the U.S. played and continues to play in bringing the peoples of the world together around common goals and aspirations.
Linked Articles
Wall Street Journal 02/11/2012
Now That The Sun Has SetWall Street Journal 02/10/2012
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