Stories about Economics & Business from August, 2009
Argentina: Proposal to Increase Taxes on Some Technology Products
The Argentine Congress gave their preliminary approval to raise taxes on some imported technological products. Many bloggers feel that this will make it harder for all segments of society to access these tools.
Antigua & Barbuda: Lessons from Working Girls
“For hundreds of years the feminist movement has been divided on the question of prostitution,” writes Antigua-based playing with ink, who thinks that “feminists…could learn a lot from sex workers who in many instances are exercising their right to self-determination, which includes deciding how they earn money given the economic...
Bermuda: Choosing a Path
“Another day, another shooting”: 21 Square says that “some of the largest issues we face in Bermuda today are the inability for disadvantaged youth to see nor understand a path out of poverty via traditional routes.”
Egypt: Adverse reactions to TE-Data Fair Usage Policy
Earlier at Global Voices Online, Tarek Amr captured the initial reactions to new plans to limit Internet use across Egypt. Marwa Rakha reports more adverse reactions hitting the Egyptian blogosphere.
Egyptian translators call for a syndicate
Egyptian blogger Ahmed Al Sabbagh says in his post that there are more than 100,000 translators in Egypt. Around 1,000 translators joined forces on Facebook, others created EgyTranslation blog, and many are calling for a syndicate and for a body that protects their rights.
Hungary, Ukraine: Illegal Stem Cell Therapy
Last week, four people were arrested in Hungary on suspicion of giving illegal stem cell treatments, some of which were carried out in hotel rooms and private homes around the country. Marietta Le reports on bloggers' reactions to the case.
Trinidad & Tobago: The Cost of Propaganda
“The ultimate stakeholders, the public, must know how much it cost to make propaganda for a project which is ruinous to its health, economy and ecology”: In calling for public access to the accounts of the proposed Alutrint aluminium smelter plant, Trinidadian blogger Rhea Mungal republishes a letter advising against...
Trinidad & Tobago: The Spin Factor
B.C. Pires is following the Commission of Enquiry into Trinidad and Tobago's construction sector and notes that: “The legal costs of UdeCott and Calder Hart are being met entirely by taxpayers” and “presumably include full page, self-serving advertisements…that do nothing more than allege the Commission must be biased since it...
Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago: Economic Outlook
In light of Standard & Poor's low financial rating for Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago blog The Liming House predicts: “If economic conditions in Jamaica and the Caribbean get much worse, the country is going to have a hard time meeting its outstanding debts.”
Bermuda: Addressing Inequality
Catch a fire is interested in “what the Government has done, or should do, to address the continuing racial inequalities in Bermuda.”
Fake eggs in Myanmar
Today in Myanmar reports that fake eggs are being sold in some areas in Myanmar. The fake eggs were allegedly transported from neighboring countries.
Brunei retirement age now at 60
The Sultan of Brunei has increased the mandatory retirement age in the country from 55 to 60 years old.
Egypt: TE-Data Fair Usage Policy
Egyptian Internet service provider TE-Data started applying what it calls a "Fair Usage Policy," without prior warning. Bloggers and Twitter users react in this post by Tarek Amr.
China: Economic bubbles
David from Silk Road International is worried about China economy even though it is growing: “how can the Chinese government continue it’s stimulus if the world doesn’t recover to pre-crash levels of consumer spending? Answer? They can’t.”
Haiti: Honduras Parallels
Wadner Pierre posts an article by Haiti Liberte which examines the “uncanny similarity between the June 28, 2009 coup d'état against Honduran President Manuel Zelaya and that of February 29, 2004 against Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.”
Jamaica: Falmouth Pier
Snailwriter is convinced that the construction of a cruise ship pier in Falmouth, Jamaica will not only “bring very small economic benefits…by way of short term, low level jobs. It is very likely that an authentic place of history will be part Disneyfied, wholly faked, and this old town constructed...
Kazakhstan: Economics and blogs
Megakhuimyak talks about the models of social behavior of the Kazakhstani citizens… [ru]: People of the Third World countries specifically like to spend their money to show off, especially, when wedding parties are concerned. A couple has just married, but tens of thousands of dollars are already spent. Then they...
East Timor: Ricegate scandal
Responding to a looming food and rice shortage last year, East Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao awarded 17 companies with contracts to import rice. These contracts are now being questioned by the opposition after Radio Australia News exposed that one of the companies is partly owned by the Prime Minister’s daughter.
Foreigners in Singapore
Oikono writes about the impact of the rising population of foreigners who work and settle in Singapore.
Vietnam: Drama and social change
The Right to Shine is a theatre for Social Change project that aims to use drama to help rescued child laborers in Vietnam to realise their full potential
Ukraine: Economy Update
Ukrainiana comments on Ukraine's economy: “Ours is an economy that thrives on cheap labor and cheap natural resources. The outcome? Poor living standards. A net population loss of more than 6 million people during the last 18 years.”
