Stories about Economics & Business from February, 2006
Albania: Cell Phone and Electronics Market in Tirana
Alwyn Thomson of Our Man In Tirana visits local markets selling mobile phones and electronics (many of which are either stolen or fake), doesn't buy anything, and is “thankful” for...
Singapore: Leap Backward
Singaland senses in the latest government budget a step backward for Singapore: “The most telling sign is the decision to build 2-room flats for sale. The government had stopped building...
Russia: “Salt Crisis”
Two-Zero writes about “salt crisis” in Russia – allegedly, a direct consequence of the “gas crisis” in Ukraine – and the difficult relationship between Russia and Ukraine.
Singapore, Thailand: Photoblogging Protests
Singapore-based themediaslut is photoblogging protests in Thailand against business mogul and PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who last week dissolved parliament and called snap elections as a response to the public outcry...
Kenya: Poverty eradication industry
ThinkersRoom comments on the growing poverty eradication industry…“Poverty is one of the biggest employers, and what’s more, has created some of the biggest gravy trains in history”
South Africa: Failed habitats
African HOUSEIT writes on “Failed Habitats” that is the thousands of homes that lack proper sewage systems and water supplies...”Thousands in the area have no private access to water, and...
From the Jordanian Blogosphere
The Jordanian bloggers are angry over the attack on Islamic, particularly Shi'aa, monument the Askariya Shrine, some of them are comparing the unneeded reactions from Muslims towards the Danish cartoon...
Pulse of the Saudi Blogosphere
Many different and interesting topics were discussed in the Saudi blogosphere this week, so let's start our roundup right away. What is the difference between democracy and American democracy? Hassan...
Report on Contracts Signed during the D.R. of Congo's Civil War Released
Le Blog du Congolais reports (FR) that a long awaited report on mining contracts signed during the Congolese civil war which ended in June 2003 was finally made available to...
Indonesia: Mining Politics
Yosef Ardi reflects on the long involvement of U.S. mining company Freeport McMoran in Indonesian politics. Freeport, which operated a massive mine — the largest copper and gold mine in...
Africa: water & energy solutions
Timbuktu Chronicles reports on an amazing invention that may provide the water and power to may people in poor rural areas of the developing world. “To solve the problem, he’s...
Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand: Globalization Mini-Stories
Cafe Salemba has two mini-stories of globalization, both in-flight: one involving an encounter on an American on a plane who works for a Japanese company and another about Japan Airlines...
South Africa: squatters
Squatter City gives some facts on squatters in Cape Town and country wide South Africa.…260,000 on the waiting list for housing; 1.84 million people nation wide live in shacks –...
Chad: Stealing the oil
Chad's public officials have joined other African leaders in the stealing of oil funds into offshore accounts – Yebo Gogo points to an article in the NY Times.
Philippines: Burger Brand
Howie Severino talks about Jollibee, a local fast-food chain in the Philippines that competes strongly with McDonalds. “Jollibee has since come a long way, and so has our globalized world....
Cuba: Century's end
Que Bola? posts a photo of an abandoned department store in Trinidad, Cuba called “Fin de Siglo” (the end of the century) and notes: “The 1900s were in fact a...
Marxist Class Analysis in Hong Kong
Simon on Simon World considers that “Marxist class analysis pervades even the world's free-est economy, that darling of laissez-faire economics, Hong Kong”. He cites the latest budget discussion as evidence.
Indonesia: Electric Growth
Sarapan Ekonomi critiques John Perkins, author of Confessions of an Economic Hitman: “His self declared crime — inflating the forecast of electrical demand to force Indonesia into bankruptcy — has...
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Cooking gas war
Abeni reports that a “gas war” is on the verge of breaking out in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as Texaco pushes to increase the price of a cylinder of...
From the Jordanian Blogosphere
“No Comment” caricature by Wael Attili The Jordanian blogosphere is discussing more traditional aspects relating to our culture and language this week. Khalidah writes about Jordanian traditions when it comes...
Palestine: Parliament Convens
The Palestinian parliament convenced its first session today the 18th of February, 2006 despite of Israeli moves to bar Gaza workers, lawmakers, people and even goods from entering Israel. Laila...
