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Interest rate swap contracts sold by banks to the city of Detroit in 2005 and the "kiko" derivative contracts sold by banks to exporters in S. Korea before the 2008 global financial crisis
04/03/2009
The huge losses suffered by Detroit and by exporters in S. Korea and how the issues raised were handled in the two places. What takes precedence fairness or contracts, how much of a contract has to be intelligible to the investor and the broader question of why banks needed to write such contracts or conduct business in this way which could hurt their reputation. An example is given by Floyd Norris of NYT where Bankers Trust reputation suffered badly in 1994 for selling such contracts to P&G.
Linked Articles
New York Times 04/03/2009
'Safe Harbor' in Bankruptcy Upended in Detroit CaseNew York Times 12/23/2013
Child hunger in India and India's Food Security legislation in August 2013
03/13/2009
Food expert Rieff cites figures showing child malnutrition at over 40% in India for children under the age of 5 in 2009. A World Food Program report says 230 million people in India are hungry each year. India's Food Security legilation has to be seen in this context. Rieff says India is in danger of losing its demographic dividend as a result of child malnutrition. All developing countries can learn from each other and their programs to reduce child malnutrition, improve health care and vaccinations, and introduce healthy food and sanitary practices. Programs are in place in Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, India, and China.
Linked Articles
As Indian Growth Soars, Child Hunger Persists
New York Times 03/13/2009
India's Lower House Passes Food Bill to Help PoorWall Street Journal 08/26/2013
The financial crisis poses a challenge to the idea of a single European Community, the EU itself.
02/26/2009
The countries of Eastern Europe and the banks of western European countries are enmeshed in a growing financial crisis that threatens the unity of Euope, and the idea of the European Community. What kind of help will Germany and other nations of western Europe provide. Will this be differentiated by different groups of countries like the Baltics different from Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic, and how will leaders like Angela Merkel of Germany negotiate the political winds, as she faces an upcoming election.
Linked Articles
The bill that could break up Europe
Economist 02/26/2009
Sweden Aids Bailout of Baltic NationsNew York Times 03/13/2009
Restoring Deutsche Bank's image in Germany- (3) Deutsche Bank in the global financial crisis of 2008-2009
01/15/2009
Linked Articles
Deutsche Bank Deserves Bite Bair Gave It
Wall Street Journal 06/07/2010
Capital: Time Deutsche Raised the IssueWall Street Journal 01/15/2009
Sales slowing, inventories piling up of electronics goods, and the Capps and Muirs of Boise, Idaho.
12/31/2008
The dramatic shift to a savings oriented and thrifty lifestyle reminiscent of the thirties and forties in some ways, is seen in the new lifestyles and spending habits of the Capps and Muirs in Boise, Idaho. With its high tech factories Boise has held up well in previous recessions. If things are changing this much in a place like Boise then its aserious sign of changes in the whole country. This is leading to buidup of inventories of cars, electronics goods, and other goods in retail stores. It has a serious global aspect as products made in China are affected, and products made elsewhere that go into these products are affected, and the equipment manufacturers in Germany for these products made in China are also affected.
Linked Articles
BusinessWeek 12/31/2008
Hard-Hit Families Finally Start Saving, Aggravating Nation's Economic WoesWall Street Journal 01/06/2009
The reluctance of the German government to introduce a large stimulus spending plan.
12/15/2008
The reluctance of the German chancellor and her Finance Minister to match the large stimulus spending of France and Britain.
Linked Articles
New York Times 12/15/2008
German Talks Address Long-Term StimulusWall Street Journal 12/15/2008
The poverty rate and wealth gap between rich and poor in New York city and in China and the rest of the world.
08/27/2008
How the New York City experience compares with China's.
Linked Articles
Poverty Rate Declines in New York
New York Times 08/27/2008
World Bank Finds More People Live in Steep PovertyNew York Times 08/27/2008
Europeans protest of fuel taxes.
05/28/2008
Europeans protes fuel taxes but public opinion especially in Germany favorsreducing fuel consumption. It requires agreement by 27 EU member states to reduce fuel taxes so this is unlikely to happen.
Linked Articles
Europeans Protest Fuel Taxes But Accept High Prices
Wall Street Journal 05/28/2008
Irate Europeans Protest the Soaring Price of GasolineNew York Times 05/30/2008
Sharp and precipitious decline in auto sales in Japan and Germany in the global financial crisis of 2008
01/08/2008
Auto sales in Japan go back to the sales level of 1972, and auto sales in Germany decline to the level in 1990. Shows the maturing western markets and how this is affecting automakers strategy, and the shift to focus more on developing countries where the market is growing rapidly but which present challenges like the need to develop lower priced cars.
Linked Articles
German Car Demand Hits New Low as Fuel Costs Rise
Wall Street Journal 01/08/2008
Auto Sales in Japan Drop to a 35-Year LowWall Street Journal 01/08/2008
Blending cultures and workers from France and Germany for Airbus operations
10/15/2007
Bringing together engineers and workers from the Airbus operations in Toulouse and Hamburg to build complex aircraft with new designs is an ongoing challenge at EADS Airbus. Other related challenges include how to divide labor and management responsibilities considering the interests of unions and governments to achieve an efficient enterprise.
Linked Articles
Airbus, Amid Turmoil, Revives Troubled Plane
Wall Street Journal 10/15/2007
Airbus Wants A380 Cost CutsWall Street Journal 07/13/2012
Virgin America's first flights
08/06/2007
The way Virgin does it to link San Francisco and New York at $250, with more amentities and attracting attention by decking SF city hall in Virgin's colors, Branson style.
Linked Articles
Wall Street Journal 01/05/2008
Will Virgin America Enjoy Much of a Honeymoon?Wall Street Journal 08/06/2007
Employment in the auto industry, GDP growth targets and increasing auto emissions in China's cities
06/13/2006
Environmental pollution in China's cities and increasing auto emissions that pose dangers to health. The situation in 2007 was deteriorating . By 2013 Beijing was seeing air quality extremes of 700 micrograms per square meter, with 500 routine. WHO standards show 300 micrograms as dangerous for health. Pressure to push for GDP growth is intense for local officals and the environmental agency lacked powers for enforcement. The car population was doubling every few years in this period 2000-2012.
Linked Articles
As China's Auto Market Booms, Leaders Clash Over Heavy Toll
Wall Street Journal 06/13/2006
As China Roars, Pollution Reaches Deadly ExtremesNew York Times 08/26/2007
Peter Eavis thinks the Geithner plan isn't based on sound logic.
03/23/2009
If only the confidence and liquidity were an issue then maybe the Geithner Public Private Investment Program plan might work. But says Eavis, the underlying price structure for these mortgage securities is gone with this crisis,so that the recovery in their price for banks to avoid huge losses is going to be elusive. He cites Credit Sights which estimates losses of US banks through 2010 of $250- $450 billion.
Linked Articles
Treasury’s Got Bill Gross on Speed Dial
New York Times 06/21/2009
Geithner's Gamble Needs SpeculatorsWall Street Journal 03/23/2009
Efforts to revive Germany's Lufthansa airline
03/12/2009
Linked Articles
Lufthansa Results Suggest Overhaul Is Paying Off
New York Times 03/13/2014
Lufthansa, Aer Lingus Feel PinchWall Street Journal 03/12/2009
The idea of one Europe and financial crisis in Eastern Europe.
02/26/2009
How leaders of Germany, France and Britain respond to calls for help from Eastern European countries will determine the future of the European community and the European Union. Will a differentiated approach develop that provides help to the newer members of the EU. Will the Swedish example with the Baltics lead to a supportive role by Germany?
Linked Articles
The bill that could break up Europe
Economist 02/26/2009
Growing Economic Crisis Threatens the Idea of One EuropeNew York Times 03/02/2009
An Alternate View of U.S., and EU relations with Russia from Gates and German public opinion
01/05/2009
A look back at former Defense Secretary Gates views about Russia in the larger context of the postwar years and what it is today, including Georgia (and Crimea) and other issues. A similiar perspective fom the German side as seen by former chancellor Kohl, Merkel, Schroeder, and Ischinger, going back to the days of Wily Brandt. Brandt was Mayor of West Berlin in the period of enormous tensions between the Soviets and the Federal Republic during the sixties and later initiated the policy of constructive engagement.
Linked Articles
Pentagon Chief Sees Opportunities In Russia and the War on Terrorism
Washington Post 01/05/2009
Germany's Angela Merkel Treads Softly With Russia's Putin On UkraineWall Street Journal 04/08/2014
The untold story of civilians caught in the crossfire in the wars in places like Gaza and Afganistan that have lasted decades.
12/25/2008
A physiotherapist from Turin, Italy, who runs the Red Cross Rehabilitation Center in Afghanistan, and a wounded surgeon who loses his wife and child in the cross fire between militants and Israelis in Gaza City, both have an untold story of civilians in both places.
Linked Articles
A Foreign Face Beloved by Afghans of All Stripes
New York Times 12/25/2008
Despair and a Defiant Smile in a Gaza HospitalNew York Times 01/09/2009
Le Clezio and Chinua Achebe look at Nigeria
10/10/2008
Le Clezio looka at Nigeria during the British colonial period in "Onitsha." Onitsha is the second largest city in Nigeria after Lagos. Achebe offers a hometown writer's verson of Nigeria during the hopeful period after independence in the sixties and the struggles and strife of the decades following this.
Linked Articles
French Writer Wins Nobel Prize
New York Times 10/10/2008
Chinua Achebe, Famed Nigerian Writer, DiesWall Street Journal 03/22/2013
Did Putin overreact in Georgia 2008 and Ukraine 2014? Russia and the dangers to the Russian economy of not maintaining good relations with the West
08/13/2008
Russia tones down its overreaction as 66% of Russians polled in June say Russian forces should not enter Ukrainian terrritory. Putin and Russians in the administration policy making may have underestimated the reaction in the U.S. as reflected in this WSH editorial saying Americans should remember the words of Gen. Lucius Clay during the Berlin Blockade and the subsequent airlift. This could be why analysts in Russia now maintain that good relations with the West must be maintained, and entry of Russian forces into Ukraine would have disastrous consequences for Russia in terms of western sentiment and foreign investor sentiment. In such a situation Germany would be likely to support the stronger U.S. position seeing this in terms of the language used in theBerlin Airlift of 1948. For Germany and Russia this would be reversing the hard won gains of building relations from the time of Brandtand Kohl till today, fifty years of effort to build better relations and economic relationships- just too much for sober heads in Moscow Paris, and Berlin to accept, and closing another chapter in Russia's interactions with the West.
Linked Articles
Wall Street Journal 08/13/2008
Seeing Cost of Saber Rattling in Ukraine, Putin Alters CourseNew York Times 07/11/2014
Debt gorged Britain and the U.S.
03/22/2008
British debt is even worse than the American debt with household debt to income ratio at 1.62 in Britain compared to 1.42 in the USA. Continental cousins in Germany have a ratio of 1.09.
Linked Articles
Debt-Gorged British Start to Worry That the Party Is Ending
New York Times 03/22/2008
Frugality Forged in Today's Recession Has Potential to Outlast ItWall Street Journal 04/06/2009
Saudi Arabia's $600 billion investment plan in aluminum, chemicals, and new cities.
12/12/2007
What does the investment binge in Saudi Arabia mean in terms of how well its been thought through, the productive use of the money, will it create enough jobs, what it means for oil prices.
Linked Articles
The Construction Site Called Saudi Arabia
New York Times 01/20/2008
Saudi Industrial Drive Strains Oil-Export RoleWall Street Journal 12/12/2007
Airbus engineering and manufacturing operations split between Toulouse, France and Hamburg, Germany that present a special challenge
10/15/2007
Linked Articles
Airbus, Amid Turmoil, Revives Troubled Plane
Wall Street Journal 10/15/2007
Airbus Wants A380 Cost CutsWall Street Journal 07/13/2012
Handan Iron & Steel Works, Hebei Province, and ThyssenKrupp, Dortmund, Germany, a world away- bad decisions and environmental pollution in China
10/02/2006
Did China's government officials underestimate the cost of environmental pollution in bringing the old polluting plant from Dortmund, Germany? How much will a cleanup cost? In 2007? In 2015 or 2020? Were these costs figured in? Who got the better deal- Germany or China?
Linked Articles
Why Beijing Is Trying to Tally The Hidden Costs of Pollution As China's Economy Booms - WSJ.com
Wall Street Journal 10/02/2006
China Grabs West’s Smoke-Spewing FactoriesNew York Times 12/21/2007
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