Category: Markets
Shrewd China Move To Fight Inflation, “Currency Wars”
China’s central bank unexpectedly announced Friday night
Neo-Classical Crap re “US Jobs Through Exports” Unmasked
16 November 2010. By David Caploe PhD, Chief Political Economist, EconomyWatch.com.
Japan / China / Russia Tensions at APEC Summit
The leaders of China and Japan held their first formal talks on Saturday since clashing two months ago over disputed islands,
in what appeared to be a hastily arranged attempt to patch up differences between the two Asian powers.
The leaders of Japan and Russia, who have also sparred recently over the Kurile Islands in the Pacific, also met Saturday, but appeared to remain divided.
The meetings took place on the sidelines of a summit meeting of 21 Asia-Pacific nations that Japan hosted over the weekend.
China Pushes Copper Prices Close To Record Highs
Copper is the single most important metal for a rapidly industrializing nation.
The average single-family home uses 439 pounds of copper in construction,
an air conditioner uses 52 pounds and a refrigerator uses 4.8 pounds.
The average vehicle contains more than 50 pounds of copper stretching nearly a mile.
This year, copper has notched a spectacular rebound off its lows,
and currently sits about 10 percent below its all-time high set in 2008.
EW Ahead of the Curve: Income Inequality as Key Issue
In January of this year, we identified income inequality — both within and among nations — as probably the number one issue of world political economy.
Indeed, it was our suggestion for a Global New Year’s “Resolution” … 😉 …
Obama’s Failed Asia Trip Shows Increasing US, Global Isolation
15 November 2010. By David Caploe PhD, Chief Political Economist, EconomyWatch.com
To be fair, there were at least two positive outcomes from President Obama’s trip:
1) He publicly endorsed India for a Permanent Seat on the UN Security Council —
and China DIDN’T object 😉 !!!
As many of our Indian readers especially noted, the entire initiative remains a bit ethereal —
and the UN is hardly all that important anymore anyway,
Koreans Unnerved By Exploding Cost of Spicy Staple Kimchi
While President Obama and his fellow big wigs at the G-20 Seoul meeting likely didn’t have any,
kimchi – the fiery and pungent Korean national dish that typically combines cabbage, radishes, red chili peppers, garlic and salt –
has exploded in cost recently, making Koreans even more unhappy than the failure to reach a free trade agreement with the US.
The price for one head of long-leafed Napa cabbage grown in Korea has skyrocketed, to as much as $14, from about $2.50.
Ten “First Impressions” of US Political Economy
10 November 2010. By David Caploe PhD, Chief Political Economist, EconomyWatch.com
It’s a bit strange coming back for a long visit to the US,
especially given the disastrous – albeit totally predictable and predicted – election result on Tuesday.
And, like everyone else, I can’t be everywhere all at once,
so my immediate and observations are somewhat limited by where I am –
basically San Francisco Bay and New York City Metro Areas –
China Says It’s OK w India Security Council Seat
China said on Tuesday it understood India’s desire
to gain a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council,
where China is the only Asian member.
“China supports appropriate and necessary reforms to the UN Security Council,”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular news briefing.
“China understands India’s desire to enter the Security Council.
