Stories about Economics & Business from June, 2012
Benin: Introducing the African School of Economics
Dr. Leonard Wantchekon introduced the African School of Economics ASE at the World Bank on June 14. The campus will be located in the city of Akassato in Abomey-Calavi (Benin), near Cotonou. The goal of the school is to “to address the dearth of quality tertiary education, cutting-edge research, and innovative public policy in...
Japan: Generational Gap of Hope in Tough Economy
Japan’s younger working generation are leading a very different life from their parents, who prospered in the ‘Bubble Economy’ of the 1980s and 1990s. This generation consumes less, works under stricter conditions, and have less ‘hope’ of their future. Here a working woman in Japan narrates her uneasiness towards her parents’ generation and the society built by them.
Singapore Versus Hong Kong
Singapore Armchair Critic compares the economic, financial, governance, and press freedom indicators of Hong Kong and Singapore. The two cities are the major financial centers of East Asia
Malaysia Plans To Expand Cash Transfer Program
Khoo Kay Peng advises the Malaysian government to review its plan to further expand the cash transfer program known as Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (BR1M). The author insists the money can be used instead to stimulate the local economy
Brazil: Second Round of Occupy Belo Monte Started
Marcelo Salazar, a Brazilian engineer who works for the [river] Xingu Program of the Instituto Socioambiental, posted on Facebook a series of photos from the second round of “occupy” Belo Monte, which started on June 22, 2012, in the construction site of the hydroelectric power plant.
Will a Unified Time Zone Work for Indonesia?
Indonesia, the world's largest archipelagic country, plans to synchronize its three time zones on October. The business sector is supporting the plan but netizens and religious leaders have many questions.
Hungary: New Freedom of Information Tool
Vastagbőr blog [hu] is promoting the use of atlatszo.hu's new website KiMitTud [‘WhoKnowsWhat’], which allows users to send freedom of information requests to any institutions responsible for spending public funds in Hungary. Vastagbőr wrote: “Those who have ever asked themselves these questions, ‘I wonder how much this cost?’ or ‘Who...
Belarus: Views From the Ground
Below is a selection of some "views from the ground" - recent posts by Belarusian bloggers about the situation in the country and what it is like for ordinary people to live there.
#SudanRevolts in Wake of Austerity Anger
Amid a complete media blackout, the youth of Sudan have taken to the streets in a nation-wide protest against recent austerity measures. Maha El-Sanosi reports.
Debate Over South Korea Forcing Blizzard to Give Diablo III Refunds
South Korea’s Fair Trade commission raided online game maker Blizzard’s headquarters in Seoul after receiving complaints about the availability of Diablo 3. It has started a debate in a game community website Massively about Blizzard's decision to offer affected users a full refund, but with a few conditions attached.
Brazil: Is There A Clear Foreign Policy for the Middle East and Africa?
The twenty-first century has brought important changes to the balance of power which had been in place until then, with obvious ramifications for the international economy and politics. In this context, Brazil has come to dispute its influence in recent years in two regions which were formerly dominated by the central countries: the Middle East and Africa.
Spain: No to Eurovegas in Barcelona Gathers Momentum Online
The possible arrival of the Eurovegas mega project to the Llobregat delta in Barcelona has provoked outrage in social networks. City dwellers, social groups and the Church show their disapproval to the project that they feel is detrimental to Catalonia.
Lebanon: Complete Blackout
Two of the major power plants, Zahrani and Deir-Ammar, in Lebanon suffered from “unknown” technical difficulties, which plunged most of the country into complete darkness. While some citizens took to the streets blocking roads in protest, netizens took to their keyboards to express their frustration.
Cameroon: Officials’ Corrupt Behaviors
Salma Amadore, wrote [fr] about the bad habits of Cameroon officials, on blogitude.mondoblog.org: ” When they are assigned to another city, directors take it upon themselves to sell the TV, mobile phone (especially when it's a blackberry) and fridges that belong to the office. As for laptops, one director even bought...
Jamaica: Windscreen Murder
Jamaica Woman Tongue blogs about the murder of a man who cleaned windscreens for a living, saying: “This murder seems to be about rank class prejudice. We have to find a sustainable solution to the chronic problem of unemployed young men. Shooting them in the head is not an option...
Malawi: New Government, Costly Livelihood
The rising cost of living in Malawi has forced some Malawians to come up with innovative ways of making ends meet. Dalitso Chimwaza and several other friends earn a living from collections they make on a wooden brige they constructed across Lilongwe River in the capital city.
Armenia: Memories of Historic Yerevan Market
Ianyan takes its readers on a photographic tour of a closed market on one of the capital's main central streets. Taken over by a notorious oligarch, public reaction to demolish the ornate building in which the market is contained has been negative.
Singapore: Alternatives to Minimum Wage
Kumaran Pillai, editor of The Online Citizen, identifies alternatives to the proposed minimum wage system in Singapore
Poland, Ukraine: A Euro 2012 Roundup
Notes and musings on issues related to the Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine: at Polandian – here, here, and here; at Memory at War – here; at Raf Uzar – here; at Politics, Economy, Society – here; at The Pipeline – here.
Ukraine: President Yanukovych's European Assets
On OpenDemocracy.com, Ukrainian journalist Serhij Leschenko writes about President Viktor Yanukovych's “luxury residence and the money trail that leads to London”: “Having completely rejected such European values as human rights and democracy, the Ukrainian president uses Europe as a place to hide his dirty money with impunity. European leaders who...
Ukraine: Obstacles to Having a Visa-Free Regime With the EU
On Causes.com, “Make Europe visa-free for Ukrainians” now has 970 members. Odessablogger explains what some of the obstacles to a visa-free regime are: “The 2015 goal for visa-free with the EU, set by the Ukrainian government, looks likely to be 2017 due to its own inability to legislate for biometrics...
