Stories about Economics & Business from January, 2012
Iran: Sanctions Bite, and the Iranian Currency Falls
Iranians are facing a financial tsunami as the national currency (Rial) loses value day by day as sanctions against Iranian oil and the banking system get tougher.
Haiti: Leadership Triangle
“There they were, at the official ceremony: the living, breathing banes of Haiti’s existence”: The Haitian Blogger republishes an article which suggests that Martelly, Clinton and Duvalier's “rubbing shoulders” at a recent event “offer[s] an insight into the prospects for Haiti’s reconstruction and, indeed, into the prospects for Haiti’s political...
Europe: Radio Documentary to Chronicle Long-Term Effects of Crisis
Chronicles of a European Winter is a radio documentary series project focused on the actual effects of austerity measures amongst the populations of different European countries. It will be shot and edited between December 2011 and May 2012 in Greece, Ireland and Spain, and episodes will be licensed under Creative...
Fourth Friendship Lao-Thai Bridge
This youtube video gives an overview of the fourth Friendship Bridge which was designed to link Laos and Thailand across the Mekong River
Puerto Rico: Economic Reality
Gil the Jenius shares “a bitter pill of economic information”, asking: “How screwed are We? On a scale of 1 to 10, about a 9.5.”
Brazil: Toll Roads, Constitutional or Too Much?
After the approval of the Urban Mobility Law in the beginning of 2012, a discussion surrounding toll roads in all national territory came back into play. According to the law, cities will be able to charge an “urban toll” with the intention of diminishing automobile traffic and improve circulation around the cities. However, the implementation of yet another toll makes internal mobility impracticable for a portion of the population, given that several important federal and state highways have already been privatized.
Russia-US: Reviewing the Jackson-Vanik Act
Edward Lozansky at Russia Blog argues that the US Jackson-Vanik Act – denying Russia Most Favoured Nation trade status – should be aborted in view of Russian accession to the World Trade Organization.
Russia: Oligarchs Day in Court
John Helmer of Dances With Bears accounts for the legal battle over business interests between Russian business tycoons Boris Berezovsky and Roman Abramovich, which is about to be finalised by the London High Court.
Romania: “A Tsunami” of Protests Against Austerity Cuts and Corruption
The Romanian online community is trying to explain why people have taken to the streets all over the country, what the authorities' response was and what the outcome of the protests might be. Oana Maria Dan reports.
Slovakia: TV Show on Corruption Cancelled
The Slovak public TV channel STV cancelled [sk] a scheduled live talk show on the alleged widespread corruption of 2005-2006 [en], which involved many of the country's past and present politicians. Head of RTVS (Radio and TV Slovakia) said [sk] that broadcasting such a program, produced by an external producer...
Guatemala: Child Labor in the Sugar Cane Fields
The recent investigation done by journalists of Plaza Publica in Guatemala has uncovered how government authorities, although legally having to prevent child labor, allow children under 14 years of age to work in their cane fields, a physically demanding and dangerous work.
Nepal: Evolution Of Export Destination
Chandan Sapkota depicts how Nepal's export destinations evolved over the years.
Reviewing Malaysia's National Car Policy
Anil Netto lists the reasons why he thinks Malaysia's national car policy is a ‘big mistake.’ He mentioned that “the dependence on motor vehicles puts Malaysians at the mercy of higher oil prices.”
Romania: “Revolution of Decency”
Power & Politics World reports on the protests in Romania, sparked by budget cuts and the resignation of deputy health minister Raed Arafat. Csíkszereda Musings writes about Raed Arafat and the government's policies: “Basescu and his government seem hell bent on using the excuse of ‘austerity’ to destroy education, healthcare...
Bulgaria: Protests Against Shale Gas Exploration
On Jan. 14, some 15,000 protesters came out in the streets of at least 12 Bulgarian cities, as well as in London, Paris and Copenhagen, to call for a moratorium on shale gas tests through hydraulic fracturing and to demand a new law that would ban this potentially dangerous practice....
Russia: Rooftop Krasnoyarsk Pictures
Raskalov_vit shares mind-blowing rooftop pictures of snowy Krasnoyarsk, city in Siberia. On the pictures: bridges, snow and heating steam, multi-storey houses mixed with industrial landscapes.
Hungary: Right-Wing Pro-Government Demonstrations
The Contrarian Hungarian reports that three right-wing demonstrations in support of the Hungarian government have taken place only this weekend, in protest against increased international pressure on Hungary for its defunct economy and political turmoil.
Ukraine-Russia: Gas Conflict Heats Up Again
Streetwise Professor speculates on whether there is a new gas war coming up between Ukraine and Russia or if Kiev finally will cede its pipelines to Gazprom to get a price-cut on gas deliveries.
Slovakia: 25,000 Euro for National Gallery's Website?
Slovak netizens are discussing the overpriced new website of the Slovak National Gallery [sk, en]: SME.sk reports [sk] that the “minimally designed” [en] site cost Slovak taxpayers some 25,000 euro (allegedly, 20 times the price of the website of the Czech National Gallery in Prague [cz]); SME.sk blogger Martin Palšovič...
Ukraine: Gas and Budget
Odessablog's Blog discusses Ukraine's new state budget and how eventually what may be afforded for the country's public sector will be decided not by state incomes but by the price of Russian gas.
Madagascar, Ethiopia: Arable Lands on Sale
The association “Collectif TANY” for the Protection of Land in Madagascar has published an exhaustive list of the instances of Land Grab by foreign entities in Madagascar [fr]. They warn the public opinion that sales or leasing of arable lands at discount prices are still taking place in Madagascar (2...
