Markets

It is easy to blame politicians for our current economic woes, but do the public have to bear some of the blame as well? As Axel Weber would say, policymakers simply do not have the public mandate to get ahead...

Greece may have reached a last-minute bailout deal with its debtors, but the country has been saddled with harsh austerity measures and debt conditions, which leaves serious doubt on their ability to recover and avoid default in the longer term....

The world needs a new paradigm for sustainable development. With economies teetering, ecosystems under siege, and inequality soaring, the world needs to act now to ensure our sustainable development. But how do we begin to tackle the massive challenge of...

In the last few years, the debate on socioeconomic inequality has received greater media attention and academic interest, especially after last year’s Occupy Movement. However, governments across the world have been slow to enact real changes to address the rising...

The ECB's recent decision to lend unlimited funds to eurozone commercial banks at very low rates acknowledges the need to address a core drawback in the euro-architecture: the ECB itself. However the banks use the money, it is now clear...

The modern “capitalist system” cannot be considered as true capitalism. Rather, this corrupted version is more akin to corporatism, which chokes off the dynamism that makes for engaging work, faster economic growth, and greater opportunity and inclusiveness. The time though...

There are several explanations for the ECB’s insistence on a "voluntary" restructuring of Greece's sovereign debt, none of which speaks well for the institution. Indeed, as we have seen elsewhere, institutions that are not democratically accountable tend to be captured...

  Sustainable development means inclusive economic growth that protects the earth’s vital resources. Yet achieving it will be a matter not only of technology, market incentives, and appropriate regulations; we must embrace sustainable development as a common commitment to decency...

The pace of China’s Internet revolution has been breathtaking. Since 2006, the number of Internet users in China has more than tripled to 485 million, while the cost of connectivity is also expected to fall sharply as China’s Internet penetration...

Germany is caught in a dilemma. On the one hand, while the Germans cannot afford austerity in troubled states due to the resulting decline in demand for German goods, cannot simply tolerate Greek-style indifference to fiscal prudence as well. In...

The current economic crisis demands solutions. But while most government officials, central bankers, and Wall Street economists have subscribed to the standard Keynesian formula for recovery, the potential results from this step simply paper over much of the real problems...

The world faces a nasty credit problem. Far too often, companies and households with access to credit tend not to need it; while those who do, are not able to receive it. If this situation is left unattended, it might...

China’s success story is one that would certainly go down the chapters of economic history. While the West firefights its debt crisis, many fail to realize that China too has her own fair share of debt. The overinvestment theory has...

The Year of the Dragon could be a challenging time for Asian countries as uncertainties – from within and without the region – are growing rapidly. As such, a calm, sensible, and prudent approach is needed to ensure Asia’s steady...

Natural disasters are inevitable, but at every level we have the power to ensure that they do not become unnatural tragedies. According to a recent report released by the World Bank and the United Nations, an ounce of prevention in...