The “Official” View on China's Reform

ESWN translates from the quasi-official Caijing magazine an article that is reputed to represent the views of senior Chinese officials. The article states that many injustices “occurred because the administrative powers intervened in the distribution of production during the marketization“. The author cites the central government's plan to reform “the...

South Africa: Absorption Capacity

South African blogger, Idland explains the theory of “Absorption Capacity” which he feels is difficult to understand but is very important….”One aspect of absorptive capacity is a Government's ability to spend new aid in programs that make a difference in people's lives. How can it be hard to spend money?”

Indonesia: Education or Infrastructure

Cafe Salemba reconstructs a debate between one of the posters and a “gorgeous lady” regarding which factor plays the most important role in growth: education or infrastructure?

Bermuda: Land use

The latest “Open Mike” topic at The Limey in Bermuda addresses ways of making use of vacant land and buildings under the control of the government.

African Bloggers Respond to the Rise of China in Africa

There's no doubt about it China has emerged as the newest economic force fast embroiled in the global race for markets and raw materials. No where is this more apparent than in Africa where the Chinese are converging on the continent intent on reaping economic benefits of all sorts from...

Martinique, Guadeloupe: UDF visit

Le Blog de l'UDF, the blog of a French centrist party, reports (FR) its leader Francois Bayrou's visit to French overseas departments Martinique and Guadeloupe. In his post-visit press conference Bayrou cited the unaddressed psychological consequences of slavery, rampant unemployment, a banana industry crisis, immigration from neighboring Caribbean nations, and...

Musengeshi Katata comments (FR) on Amely-James Koh Bela's book on African prostitution in the West at Forum Realisance: “Can one really defend values that are everyday assaulted and eroded by poverty? … Without a battle against poverty including against western exploitation and the depravation of African economies, without a protracted...

China Is 80 Years Behind

Simon World points to an amusing new study published in People's Daily (the official propagand mouthpiece of the Chinese government) today. The study, conducted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, concluded that “China is still a less developed country that is 80 years behind the US, France, Sweden and Germany“,...

Le Pangolin Advises Africans to Purchase Stock in Companies that Exploit their Resources

In light of Indian company Mittal Steel's recent attempt to acquire Arcelor, a European counterpart, Congolese blogger Mouele Kibaya advises at Le Pangolin that (FR) Africans purchase stock in companies that exploit African raw materials. He continues: “Ivory Coast should purchase stock in leading cocoa companies. Congo should use its...