Stories about Economics & Business from July, 2009
Peru: Economic Impact of Canceling Events Due to H1N1 Virus
In order to slow down the spread of the H1N1 virus, the Peruvian government is considering canceling events in which a large number of people congregate such as the upcoming military parade. Caviar de Cianuro [es] examines the economic impact such a move would have, especially on walking vendors who...
Latvia: EU loan but on what conditions?
Baltic Economy Watch discusses EU's upcoming loan to save Latvia's economy and reflects on its conditions.
Bermuda: Celebrity Tours
As Bermuda introduces “celebrity tours”, 21 Square says: “For those who believe that…tourism can be rejuvenated via exclusivity and prestige, this is horrifying…the absolute opposite direction for Bermuda tourism that we should be taking.”
Barbados, Jamaica: Rock & A Hard Place
Today, the Jamaican government will announce whether it is taking the International Monetary Fund up on its offer of financial aid – guest blogging at Bajan Dream Diary, Leesha Delatie-Budair says: “Basically, we are damned if we do and damned if we don’t.”
China: Rio Tinto's trouble – commerical bribery or espionage?
According to China Daily, the official newspaper in China, Rio Tinto has virtually bribed the entire management of the steel industry in the country. More than a week ago, four employees of Rio Tinto were arrested on suspicion of ‘espionage, stealing state secrets and harming the nation’s economic interests and...
Belarus: Arms trade rescues regime
Bielar.us discusses a recent United Nations’ report on arms’ trade in the world, where Belarus is pointed out as a major dealer, and the significance this trade has for the regime.
Russia: Which way with the WTO?
Amanda Lahan at Crisis Crunch discusses Russia's ambivalence on whether to become a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) or not.
Kyrgyz Airlines Still Banned in Europe
Elena informs that the European Commission published the new List of airlines banned within the EU, featuring 17 – i.e. all – Kyrgyz airlines.
Hungary: Economics opposition style
Hungarian Spectrum writes about what economic policies the country's opposition might have to offer for the upcoming 2010 parliamentary elections.
India: No shortcuts please, this is business!
The world is not Orkut, says Harini Calamur at POV, so people will do well to mind their language – especially when it comes to business communication.
Pakistan: The power of the Fatwa
The Karachi Electricity Supply Company (KESC) has reportedly obtained a fatwa [religious decree] from 12 senior Islamic scholars against the theft of electricity. Kalsoom at Changing Up Pakistan writes in this post how the idea of a major corporation using religious fatwas to give religious legitimacy to their cause is...
Turkey: Finding an Apartment as an Expat
Turkish Muse details her recent experience as an American trying to rent out an apartment in Izmir. “We were aghast. How could she ask for that much? That's ridiculous!, we thought. Then we were incensed. I immediately assumed she was asking for such a high amount — and in dollars,...
Philippines: Error-Ridden Book
A Page Turner's Odyssey draws attention to the grave number of typographical errors found in a book by a prominent Filipino author.
Philippines: Protest of KFC workers
Filipino employees of KFC, a popular fastfood chain, staged a picket-rally to protest the “illegal” dismissal of many workers in the country.
Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados: Plantation Governance
“My thesis is that Caribbean governments today are run exactly like the plantations of old, the only difference being that there are fewer white people cracking whips; the overseers have taken over the Great House”: Barbados-based Trinidadian blogger B.C. Pires builds on the late Lloyd Best's Theory of Plantation Economy.
Fiji finds foreign friends?
Leaders of Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands will lobby the 15-member Pacific Islands Forum to consider lifting Fiji’s suspension to re-start dialogue with the country to provide its military backed government time to complete reforms.
Why did Thailand’s former PM travel to Fiji?
Bloggers are debating the significance of the recent trip of Thailand’s ousted Prime Minister to Fiji and Tonga. Fiji and Thailand have no extradition treaties, fueling speculation that the former Thai leader traveled to the Pacific looking for asylum.
Dominica: Investing in Women
Dominica Weekly says that the island's “muted” celebration of World Population Day was an opportunity lost “to start to create meaningful change in the lives of our women”, but adds: “It’s never be too late to create a positive movement…”
Japan: Unemployment in Japan by Region
Curzon from Mutantfrog posts a map that shows unemployment in Japan by region.
Ghana: Global discussion of Obama's visit to Ghana
The diversity of voices participating in the global discussion concerning President Obama’s visit to Ghana and the speech made on Saturday 11th of July in Accra almost universally share a common thread irrespective of the arguments, views and opinions otherwise expressed: sincere hope for Africa and Africans. And bloggers have been asking: Why Ghana? Why not Kenya, the President’s ancestral home, or Nigeria, the self-professed “super-power”? And why now? Is it about oil or democracy?
Latvia: IMF raises the stakes
Baltic Economy Watch speculates upon what new conditions the IMF has set for Latvia to receive new loans to avert the country's financial crisis.
