Stories about Economics & Business from December, 2007
Armenia: Dram Politics
The Armenian Economist is unhappy with the way the media and other bloggers have reported on the appreciation of the Armenian Dram against the US Dollar. In particular, says David, the issue is instead hijacked for political purposes.
China: Fixed Price Begging and IPO
Mr zhang ran into a beggar doing RMB6 dollar begging in the street. The blogger feels that such kind of begging method is similar to the IPO in the stock market (zh), if the company don't fix a price, people would just give a penny.
Japan: The battle of HCV victims
Stories about tainted blood products are nothing new in Japan. In the 1980s, patients with hemophilia contracted HIV from tainted blood products, the result negligence on the part of the government and pharmaceutical companies about an earlier FDA decision to withdraw its approval of the products.
Russia: Yegor Gaidar's Book
Streetwise Professor reviews Yegor Gaidar's new book: “I believe that Gaidar is right that down this path lies ruin. I fear, however, that Russia will have to find this out the hard way. So Yegor Gaidar is a prophet without honor in his own country, among his own kin, and...
Lithuania: Coffee and Health Care
Music and Life – Everywhere! writes about Vilnius coffee houses and health care costs.
Russia: Middle Class
Dr. Sean's Diary writes on Russia's middle class, a subject that has inspired “a lot of informed journalistic comment – […] – but seemingly little in the way of academic research. How can you research something that doesn’t exist – and perhaps historically never did?”
Czech Republic: Jan Švejnar
Czech president is due to be elected Feb. 8 by a joint session of both chambers of the parliament, and Dr Sean's Diary writes about a likely contender for the post: Jan Švejnar, who “emigrated to the US in 1970 (where, as a dual-national, he is still based) taking a...
Bahamas: Hail to the Chief?
Larry Smith at Bahama Pundit agrees that The Bahamas 2007 Special Report, a book published with public funds in order to help attract foreign investment, is really a “hail to the chief book.”
Dubai Real Estate Company Invests in Rwanda
Dubai World, Dubai's real estate investment holding company, announced plans to invest $230 million in the Rwandan tourism industry [Fr], writes Addax.
The Politics of Cleaning Up Dakar
Senablog writes about the Senegalese government's latest attempts to rid the streets of Dakar of informal traders [Fr], which last month prompted large protests. Senablog describes how previous efforts have been unsuccessful because of the support traders enjoy from marabouts and some politicians.
Hong Kong: Delay No Mall
ESWN picks up a local news on a shopping mall called: Delay No Mall.
Peru: The Purchase WONG Supermarkets
A Chilean company recently purchased the Peruvian supermarket chain WONG. Juan Sheput of Mate Pastor [es] writes about some possible implications for the country.
Russia: Rosstat vs Kremlinologists
Russia in the Media cites statistics to prove that two “brave Kremlinologists” engaged in “manipulations with numbers,” as they worked on a Russia piece for the International Herald Tribune.
Russia: Politics and Style
James of Robert Amsterdam's blog reviews recent coverage of “the marriage of Russia's emerging political culture and style.”
Russia, Moldova: Natalia Morar's Expulsion
Perspectives on the New Russia and Robert Amsterdam write about journalist Natalia Morar's work and the possible reasons for her expulsion from Russia.
Russia: North Korean Laborers
Moscow Through Brown Eyes writes about North Korean laborers in Russia and examines other cases of coerced labor, elsewhere.
Kenya: Bank Review 2007
Bankelele's Kenya Bank Review '07: “The low end of the banking sector showed little growth in loans or deposits – bank sizes are stagnant.”
Trinidad & Tobago: Technology as Marketing Tool
KnowProSE.com has definite ideas about what he wants the Internet to reflect in the coming year: “I want it to be about the individuals who are using technology to get themselves seen.”
Kazakhstan: Offshore Islands as Best Investors and Importers
Marat reviews statistics on the investments in Kazakhstan and exports from Kazakhstan – and in both cases the offshore paradises occupy a significant space.
Iraq: Iraqi Refugees in Syria
Alive in Baghdad highlights the plight of Iraqi refugees in Syria in this video.
Iraq: The Suffering of Iraqis
While we have touched on the plight of Iraqi refugees in neighbouring Arab countries previously, nothing compares to the real misery they are facing away from their homes and jobs more than Iraqi blogger Faiza Al Arji's (Arabic) report from the ground.
