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Two party systems and Malaysia's UMNO Party- (2) the future economic prospects of Malaysia under Razak, India under Modi, Indonesia under Widodo
12/08/2014
Najib Razak follows his father Tun Abdul Razak, Mahathir before him, all the way back to Tunku Abdul Rahman, all of the UMNO party, in an uninterrupted control of the United Malay Naional Organization Party which has ruled Malaysia for almost 6 decades. Malaysia has followed the example of Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore by keeping the opposition parties weak to maintain control. Both the UMNO and the party of Lee in Singapore face questions about the merits of suppressing the development of two party systems, at a time when government is changing hands to opposition parties in most of the region and improving economic prospects in each country with a change of government- Abe in Japan, Widodo in Indonesia, Modi and Sharif in India and Pakistan, Aquino in the Philippines, Wickremesinghe in Sri Lanka. A economic drift with no clear direction under Singh and Bhutto in India and Pakistan was reversed with the election of Modi and Sharif, the economic drift and deflation under the Kan and Noda governments was reversed in Japan with the election of Abe, and the economic drift in Indonesia is being reversed by the Widodo government. This shows how critical two party systems are to functioning democracies as middle classes develop and voters look for competing views of the future to choose from.
Linked Articles
Fund Controversy Threatens Malaysia’s Leader
Wall Street Journal 06/19/2015
Indonesian President Joko Widodo Pledges to Cut Investment BarriersWall Street Journal 12/08/2014
Warnings at a banking conference in Moscow in October 2014, and the ruble on the brink of collapse on Dec. 17, 2014
10/02/2014
The central bank head, Nabiullina, the Economy minister, Ulyukayev, and the head of Russia's largest bank Sberbank, German Gref, all expressed skepticism about president Putin's confidence in economic policy at a banking conference in Moscow in Oct. 2014. The architect of Russia's finances in the first and second terms of Putin, Alexei Kudrin, expressed alarm in Nov.-Dec. 2014 about lack of confidence in economic measures as the ruble took a hit from lower oil prices. The Putin administration made errors in handling economic policy leading to the ruble going to the brink of collapse by Dec. 17, 2014. This was preceded by miscalculations in policy towards the European Union and Germany leading to a loss of international confidence, and deteriorating relations with OPEC's leading member Saudi Arabia leading to OPEC's production decisions hurting Russia.
Linked Articles
Russia Introduces Measures to Calm Economic Jitters
New York Times 12/17/2014
Putin Trumpets Economic Strength, but Advisers Seem Less CertainNew York Times 10/02/2014
Air France-KLM's Transavia low cost airline plan and the competition with Ryanair
09/11/2014
Linked Articles
Air France-KLM Restructuring Puts New Focus on Its Low-Cost Airline
New York Times 09/11/2014
Air France Scales Back Transavia Plan, Giving In to Striking Pilots’ DemandsNew York Times 09/25/2014
The West and policies towards Russia- (2) Steinmeier and Merkel on Germany's policy in 2015-2016
08/23/2014
Linked Articles
Merkel Seeks to Defuse Ukraine Crisis as Convoy Returns to Russia
Wall Street Journal 08/23/2014
Frank-Walter Steinmeier Meets With Vladimir PutinNew York Times 11/19/2014
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
Competition for China Eastern and other major airlines in China from Hainan Air
03/20/2014
Linked Articles
Delta, China Eastern Try to Solve Air Traffic Riddle
Wall Street Journal 03/20/2014
Hainan Air Elbows Its Way Into China’s SkiesWall Street Journal 12/05/2014
How the Trans Pacific Trade Partnership Agreement (TPP) fell apart- (3) most of the gains in trade already behind us and the shift in priorities to infrastructure development
02/27/2014
Linked Articles
Pacific Trade Pact Revives Ghosts of Nafta Jobs Fight
Wall Street Journal 04/24/2015
No Big DealNew York Times 02/27/2014
McDonald's and a shift in nutritional habits in the U.S., especially in the younger age groups
01/17/2014
With about one third of the population in developed countries considered obese, there is greater awareness especially among younger people, about the need to read nutritional labels carefully, look for fresh food, and manage calorie intake. There is a shift also away from fast food to places where there is greater nutritional choice and to eating at home. The recession may have induced more people to consider eating less outside.
Linked Articles
Americans' Eating Habits Take a Healthier Turn, Study Finds
Wall Street Journal 01/17/2014
McDonald's Faces 'Millennial' ChallengeWall Street Journal 08/25/2014
Putin and the excessive cost of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia approaching $51 billion
11/05/2013
The need for infrastructure spending in other parts of Russia, for R&D development and making the transition away from dependence on oil revenues, as competing needs for capital. This also happens as currency values are declining for emerging markets and it is increasingly difficult to attract foreign investment in 2014, leading to slowing growth with high inflation.
Linked Articles
Putin's Olympian Construction Zone
Wall Street Journal 11/05/2013
Putin’s Olympic Fever DreamNew York Times 01/22/2014
Banking culture issues- the suicides of Broeksmit, senior executive at Deutsche Bank, following federal German investigations, and of Wauthier, CFO at Zurich Insurance following difficult interactions with former Deutsche Bank executive
09/04/2013
Questions about cultural issues in banking raised by the two suicides, and the culture at Deutsche bank.
Linked Articles
Friction at Zurich Built in Months Before Suicide
Wall Street Journal 09/04/2013
Executive Who Committed Suicide Anxious Amid Deutsche Bank ProbesWall Street Journal 03/26/2014
Amazon's use of temporary workers in Germany and the issue of lower wages
06/19/2013
Linked Articles
Amazon Wage Dispute Spreads Beyond Germany
Wall Street Journal 12/17/2013
Amazon Vexed by Strikes in GermanyWall Street Journal 06/19/2013
Policy contrast between socialist governments in Venezuela and Bolivia
04/12/2013
Bolivia's socialist government of Evo Morales has taken a different approach by reducing subsidies and increasing gasoline prices to about $2.00 a gallon in 2013. Salaries of governent workers was also increased by 20% in 2013, and additional 10% added to price of locally produced grain and corn, in policy actions. Morales cited as a reason the $150 million in smuggling to neighboring countries of the $660 million in gasoline imports, wasting a significant part of the $380 million annual state gasoline subsidy which could be used for infrastructure. In Venezuela both opposing candidates for president Maduro and Capriles supported the state subsidy for gasoline that is exceptional among developing countries, and at a time when Venezuela is short of foreign currency for other imports.
Linked Articles
Almost-Free Gas Comes at a High Cost
Wall Street Journal 04/12/2013
Turnabout in Bolivia as Economy Rises From InstabilityNew York Times 02/16/2014
Ari Shavit of Haaretz and Ami Ayalon of Israel Security Agency see a new way forward for peace in the Middle East and reduction of tensions
03/12/2013
The opportunities presented by a rapidly changing Middle East are being observed by perceptive Israeli observers after decades of conflict. By defusing tensions and involving public opinion in the Middle East it provides a more lasting agreement han can be reached with individual leaders in the Middle East. It also returns to the focus to widely shared benefits of economic development of the people in the region and improvements in education, infrastructure and economic opportunity. Old ideas of secuirty are supplemented by new ideas of security.
Linked Articles
New York Times 01/01/2014
The Old Peace Is Dead, but a New Peace Is PossibleNew York Times 03/12/2013
Much needed boost from lower oil prices for eurozone countries Germany, France, Italy and Spain
10/09/2014
For countries like Germany in the eurozone with what Draghi calls "fiscal space" but did not use it, the drop in oil prices from $100 to $65 in 2014 offers relief at the right time to get back to growth in 2015.
Linked Articles
Falling Oil Prices Spur New Bets on Global Economic Growth
Wall Street Journal 12/08/2014
Merkel Hints at Economic Policy Shift in GermanyNew York Times 10/09/2014
Lufthansa low cost carrier Eurowings and Air France-KLM low cost carrier Transavia in 2015- an effort to setup separate airlines to remain competitive
09/28/2014
Linked Articles
Lufthansa Chief Carsten Spohr Defends Airline’s No-Frills Push
New York Times 12/08/2014
Air France Pilots End Two-Week StrikeNew York Times 09/28/2014
German chancellor Merkel and U.S. president Obama on an increasing NATO presence in the Baltic States of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia
08/23/2014
Linked Articles
Obama Pledges NATO Backing for Baltic Allies
Wall Street Journal 09/03/2014
Merkel Seeks to Defuse Ukraine Crisis as Convoy Returns to RussiaWall Street Journal 08/23/2014
The failure of Maliki to reduce sectarianism in Iraq, and the failure of the Obama administration's Middle East policy, lead to reversal of years of effort in Iraq
08/15/2014
WSJ reporter Bradley talks to Maliki's aides who say he is only interested in personal power not the future of Iraq. Gen. James Jones, National Security Advisor to U.S. president Obama 2009-2010, says Maliki's corrupt policies and using increased sectarian conflict to further personal power, and president Obama's failure to act in Syria when chemical weapons were used as well as not maintaining a training presence after the withdrawal, are both responsible for the summer 2014 collapse in Iraq.
Linked Articles
How to Save Iraq and Honor American Sacrifice
Wall Street Journal 08/15/2014
Iraq Crisis: Nouri al-Maliki QuitsWall Street Journal 08/15/2014
BaFin, German federal financial regulatory authority, and the problems at Deutsche Bank- regulators slow to act on information
03/28/2014
Eyk Henning of the WSJ points out the slow response of regulator BaFin to information about problems at Deutsche Bank that suggest a broken culture in a report on March 28, 2014. This comes 6 years after the WSJ first reported the LIBOR rate manipulation in 2008 leading to British and U.S. regulatory investigations. In April 2015 Deutsche Bank made a legal settlement for LIBOR rate manipulation of $2.5 billion with U.S. and British regulators. As the time when regulatory authority passes to the European Central Bank, and after a period of 7 years since the 2008 WSJ report, BaFin finally sends its report on the broken culture at the bank. A month later the two co-CEO's at the bank resign.
Linked Articles
Germany Blasts Deutsche Bank Executives Over Culture
Wall Street Journal 07/17/2015
German Financial Watchdog Bites BackWall Street Journal 03/28/2014
The role of Germany's Siemens and U.S.'s Exxon in promoting dialogue and de-escalation following the Ukraine crisis
03/06/2014
Linked Articles
Siemens Chief Meets Putin in Russia
Wall Street Journal 03/27/2014
Exxon Says Russian Projects Remain on TrackWall Street Journal 03/06/2014
Setting a path for a better future for the people of Ukraine- Germany, the EU and the U.S.
02/23/2014
Linked Articles
What the West Must Do for Ukraine
New York Times 02/23/2014
Aiding Ukraine's DemocratsWall Street Journal 02/24/2014
Growing inequality in the U.S. and Germany with declining incomes and wealth of the bottom half of households- 1985-2015
12/03/2013
Linked Articles
How Quantitative Easing Contributed to the Nation's Inequality Problem
New York Times 10/22/2014
Americanized Labor Policy Is Spreading in EuropeNew York Times 12/03/2013
Missteps of German brands in the U.S. market 2013-2015- Adidas and VW
09/06/2013
Linked Articles
How Adidas Aims to Get Its Cool Back
Wall Street Journal 03/26/2015
VW's $1 Billion Bet on U.S. Factory SputtersWall Street Journal 09/06/2013
An assessment of Germany's Angela Merkel's 10 years in office (2)- from the eurozone crisis to Ukraine and the refugee crisis
08/23/2013
Linked Articles
Germans Respond to Merkel's 'Motherly' Side
Wall Street Journal 08/23/2013
The refugee crisis could actually be a boon for Germany - The Washington PostWashington Post 09/10/2015
Airbus shift away from Europe and German government financing after increasing publicly traded shares to 72%
06/16/2013
Linked Articles
Airbus Vows to Fly With Own Wings
Wall Street Journal 02/27/2014
Airbus on Track to Double Profit Margin by 2015Wall Street Journal 06/16/2013
Neglect of vital infrastructure needs in Germany and the U.S. 2006-2015
03/15/2013
A decade of neglected infrastructure needs in Germany and the U.S. as both countries face tight budget constraints and postponed priorities.
Linked Articles
A Slowdown on the Road to Recovery
Wall Street Journal 10/14/2013
German Policy Takes Toll on Public WorksWall Street Journal 03/15/2013
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