Economics

Cutting back: how the degrowth movement could save the planet

Constant growth may not be the marker of success it’s cracked up to be. The degrowth movement promotes an active downscaling of the economy as a pathway to environmental sustainability and a more fulfilling lifestyle

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: a force to be reckoned with

The launch of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank will further secure China’s position as a global economic powerhouse

Economic and monetary union

The creation of Europe’s economic and monetary union is unique in the history of sovereign states, says Jean-Claude Trichet

The real dangerzone

If you think the eurozone is a dangerous place to do business, you clearly haven’t travelled very far, writes Colin Turner

Irish services expansion slows, confidence rises

The expansion of Ireland’s services sector slowed in August but companies remained confident about future prospects and recorded rising orders from both home and abroad, a survey showed on Friday. The NCB services Purchasing Managers’ Index fell to 52.9 from 55.7 in July, when the sector saw the fastest rate of expansion since late 2007, […]

Into the lion’s den

What impact will the recent change of government in the UK have on the economy? By Business psychologists Jill Flint-Taylor and Cary L. Cooper of Robertson Cooper Ltd

NATO says security key to economic growth

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has been quoted as saying economic growth was dependent on global security and that governments should be aware of this when cutting defence budgets. Rasmussen said in an interview that pressure on governments to reduce budget deficits would undoubtedly lead to cutbacks in defence spending but urged NATO countries […]

Eurozone aid for Greece is only short-term solution

The Eurozone’s standby aid package for Greece offers only a short-term solution to Athens’s debt crisis and leaves many questions about the future of the single currency group and the EU unanswered. Financial markets welcomed the deal reached on April 11 by the finance ministers of the group of 16 countries that use the euro, […]

Moody’s: Iceland investment grade rating under review

Iceland could lose its investment grade rating if it fails to resolve debt claims from Britain and the Netherlands, Moody’s Investors Service said as it cut the country’s credit outlook to negative. The ratings agency has warned the country might lose its Baa3 rating – which stands just one notch above junk level – if […]

French unions protest, capitalise on Sarkozy woes

French trains, schools and public services were hit on Tuesday by protests over pensions and wages, with unions looking to capitalise on a hefty defeat for President Nicolas Sarkozy at weekend regional elections. Up to half of all regional trains weren’t running and a third of high speed services were cancelled, while unions said that […]

Eurozone Jan jobless rate stable, but seen rising

Eurozone unemployment held at 9.9 percent in January, unchanged from the previous month’s downwardly revised number and better than expected, but it is likely to creep higher in coming months given still weak economic growth

Greek woes could slow ECB’s exit from crisis mode

Turmoil brewing in Greece could slow the ECB’s withdrawal of its extra liquidity measures, especially if other countries become infected with similar woes

UK consumer confidence rises in January

British consumer confidence rose in January, a survey showed recently, but households showed less desire to spend than normal for the start of the year and barriers to a full recovery in sentiment remain. The Nationwide Building Society’s consumer confidence index rose three points to 73 in January, almost twice the low of 39 recorded […]

Portugal sees modest deficit cut in 2010

Portugal’s government expects a small budget deficit reduction this year to around 8.3 percent of GDP, but from a wider than previously expected gap in 2009, an opposition party leader has said. Jose Pedro Aguiar Branco, the head of the centre-right Social Democratic Party’s (PSD) parliament faction, told reporters the government had told the PSD […]

UK’s Darling says PBR will reassure markets

The Labour government’s plan to halve the budget deficit over four years will soothe market concerns about Britain’s debt burden, finance minister Alistair Darling told reporters in an interview on Thursday. Government bond futures fell sharply, however, a day after Darling delivered a pre-budget report that shied away from detailing exactly how he plans to […]

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