One of the more difficult decisions facing investors is what is going to happen to the euro. [Read more…]
Lessons from Cyprus
April 23, 2013 By
Cyprus Banking
Once again, scary speculation about the consequences of the financial collapse in Cyprus turned out to be rubbish. [Read more…]
Tackling the crisis head-on
June 29, 2012 By
Tallinn – Estonia
Estonia, across the Baltic, with close linguistic, historical and economic ties with Finland and Sweden, is a nation of just 1.3 million. After it regained its independence in 1991, it opted for free trade, flat taxes, fiscal and monetary restraint and stable exchange rates. Its economy grew fast, and Estonia sought close ties with its neighbours to the west, entering both the European Union and NATO. [Read more…]
Lessons from the Sauna Club
June 28, 2012 By
The Sauna Club
Investor attention now is focused on the “Pigs” – the member-nations on the periphery of the Eurozone whose debt bubbles threaten to explode and fragment the currency union. [Read more…]
Europe Financial Crisis and You
December 19, 2011 By
Greece tipping point
Greece is a tiny economy, amounting to only 2½ per cent of the 17-nation Eurozone, yet its difficulties have triggered a financial crisis that is sweeping across the Continent and threatens to engulf the global system. [Read more…]
Europe as German Empire
October 5, 2011 By
The German Eurozone Empire
A year ago I described Europe as being, in all but name, Germany’s empire of 500 million people – but one about to become a major burden. It would nevertheless stand by its “troubled empire.” Notwithstanding domestic opposition, Germany would “provide or mobilize enough financial aid” to avoid collapse of the Eurozone, “which would be so devastating to the nation’s political, economic and financial interests.” [Read more…]
The Eurozone farce
August 24, 2011 By
The Eurozone farce is a game of pass the parcel… with the “winner” to be left holding the booby prize.
What is Likely to Happen in Europe
Somebody has to pay the costs of allowing Greece and other troubled member-nations to loot the single-currency system through indulging in profligate lifestyles and speculative real estate booms, accumulating a mountain of debt they cannot afford to repay. But no one is willing to pay… [Read more…]
Will the Eurozone survive?
January 28, 2011 By
Euro Zone Fears
The Eurocrats are trying to design a better system for managing the Eurozone – both finding a way to restructure the dodgy debt and evolving a more conservative approach to state financial management in future.
There are many reasons why this is proving very difficult. Some nations favour stronger centralized control, others oppose it. Those who have been disciplined about money are understandably hostile to paying for the sins of those who have been, and in many ways still are, irresponsible, continuing to live too well on borrowed money. [Read more…]