Many features of the US–Soviet cold war are present in contemporary US–China relations: ideological competition, struggles over the control of natural resources, and old-fashioned rivalry for leadership of the global community.
Times of crisis are a chance to discover who your true friends are. Ukraine learned this lesson two years ago. While it was largely Euro–Atlantic nations that spoke out against Russia’s actions in Crimea, Ukraine also found a supporter in Japan.
Officials have announced that Japan and Ukraine are arranging for Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to visit Tokyo ahead of the G7 summit in May. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has continued to voice support for Ukraine in light of the ongoing conflict in the country’s eastern regions.
One concerning aspect of China’s rising prominence is its troublesome relations with its neighbours. It has fought both real and legal battles on territorial and ideological grounds on several fronts including in India, Vietnam and on the Korean peninsula in the past, and currently is causing controversy with its maritime expansion. However, one break in this pattern is the country’s long-standing relationship with Nepal.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited Kyrgyzstan and praised the government for its commitment to democracy, according to Deutsche Welle. Germany pledged additional money to Kyrgyzstan to combat the Islamic State’s growing influence in the region. Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Erlan Abdyldaev stated that his government needs more aid to combat the spread of radicalism.
As of April 1, the UK’s new National Living Wage (NLW) means a compulsory pay rate of £7.20 an hour for over-25s. Some see it as little more than a clever piece of branding by George Osborne, an addition of only 50p per hour to the existing National Minimum Wage (NMW). After all, it still falls well short of the £8.25 voluntary accredited living wage outside London – which is based on my research on actual living costs – let alone the £9.40 London rate.
When we think about disadvantages and challenges in the labor market, unemployment generally takes center stage, clearly exemplified by the monthly jobs report hype over one stat: the unemployment rate.
Is it up or down? What will it be next month?
The same is true in the academic world. While there is voluminous research on the causes and consequences of unemployment, there is less scholarship (although certainly some) on what it means to be involuntarily working part-time or to be stuck in a job that doesn’t fully utilize your skills.
There is nothing more compelling than a catchy metaphor to attract attention and garner support for policy prescriptions. ‘Engines’ and ‘traps’ are two of the most popular metaphors in the development literature. Both have been used repeatedly to advance various policy agendas in East Asia. However, do these metaphors provide a reliable basis for growth policy?
Seeing a weak economy and struggling middle class, the Federal Reserve is considering measures to stimulate the economy. In a speech earlier this week, Janet Yellen, Chair of the Federal Reserve, said the Fed has “considerable scope” for stimulating the economy, hinting that something akin to the Quantitative Easing programs of the late 2000s and early 2010s may be in the cards in the near term.
To many, the word “inflation” causes a knee-jerk reaction and a cringe. Most associate inflation with a negative trend for economies and buying power. Some inflation, however, can actually be a good thing, and that is why the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is calling on world leaders to use demand-side models to actually spur on inflation.
Economic inequality is now firmly on the public agenda as candidates and voters alike look for someone to blame for stagnant wages, entrenched poverty and a widening gap between rich and poor.
Bernie Sanders blames Wall Street. Donald Trump points his finger at companies moving overseas. Hillary Clinton identifies middle-class families who are working harder but staying in place as the root cause.
