Topic: International

One Currency Doesn’t Require “One Europe”

– March 19, 2010

 The creation of the euro was either the greatest historic achievement of the last century—or its worst delusion. Not to be glib, but the answer is both: The euro represents a magnificent step toward fulfilling money’s highest purposes—to serve as …

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“China’s Hidden Debt Risks 2012 Crisis”

– March 2, 2010

“By Shih’s count, China’s debt may reach 39.838 trillion yuan ($5.8 trillion) next year. His forecast for debt-to-GDP compares with an International Monetary Fund estimate for China of 22 percent this year, which excludes local-government liabilities. …

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Why No Tea Parties in Europe?

– March 1, 2010

“I’ve been doing a little reading this morning about the Greek crisis and related problems in Europe. One take, and it makes sense to me, is that many European countries have such low fertility rates that even with some degree of immigration, they simp …

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“Four Biggest Greek Banks Downgraded”

– February 24, 2010

“Fitch Ratings, citing concerns about Greek banks’ funding costs and profitability, downgraded the country’s four major banks to triple-B, or two notches above “junk” status. Fitch characterized its outlook for Greek banks as ‘negative’… The cost of …

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“Japan’s Central Banker Rejects Setting Inflation Target”

– February 19, 2010

“Inflation targeting has become a favored policy among many central banks world-wide, but the BOJ has resisted it, fearing Japan’s strong downward bias in prices would prevent the bank from ever raising interest rates. Instead it has relied on a softer …

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“U.S. Expected to Press China on Yuan”

– February 18, 2010

“The mounting political tension between U.S. and China is poised to take on a more pronounced economic component—with Washington, in coming months, expected to press China over what officials see as an undervalued yuan. This week, China is facing off w …

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“Stagflation Comes to the U.K.”

– February 17, 2010

“Inflation in the U.K. hit 3.5% annually in January, a level that required central banker Mervyn King to write a letter of explanation to the Treasury. Mr. King lays the blame for the price uptick largely at the feet of idiosyncratic factors. These inc …

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“The United States: Debtor and Leader?”

– February 17, 2010

“China sees a clear link between America’s ability to stand up for human rights and its economic interests—and Beijing isn’t afraid to exploit it. Mr. Weiqun was bluntly reminding the U.S. to take a close look at its balance sheet before indulging in a …

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“Argentina Seizes the Central Bank”

– February 8, 2010

“After a month of wrangling, Argentine President Cristina Kirchner succeeded in sacking central bank President Martin Redrado last week. In his place she named Mercedes Marcó del Pont, a Yale-trained economist who has expressed the view that central ba …

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“China Cools Lending Pace”

– January 29, 2010

“China hopes cooling the pace of lending will keep its economy growing without creating inflation and overheating.” See the CNN video here. “China Cools Lending Pace” CNN, January 25, 2010.

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The S-Word: Key to the Third World Debt Crisis

– May 1, 2008

Research Reports – 1987, Issue: 11 Also: The Myth of the “Unpayable” Debt

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Freedom and National Security After 9/11

– May 1, 2008

Freedom and National Security After 9/11 This article is excerpted and edited from an address by Dr. Konrad Hummler to the Progress Foundation’s Economic Conference, “Freedom and Security,” in Zürich, Switzerland, April 24, 2002 Also: Business-Cycle Co …

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