New US unemployment figures are at a seven month low, adding to the view that the American economy is strengthening. But in Europe the crisis is deepening.
Category archives: Problems
Innovation in money and music (and agriculture)
In the third quarter this year, as prices fell, central banks made their largest purchases of gold for 40 years. The buying was led by the central banks of emerging countries such as Thailand, Mexico, and South Korea. The value of foreign currencies and government debt at the moment are volatile at best, so it …
Continue reading “Innovation in money and music (and agriculture)”
“Most worrying day of the crisis so far”
As fear drives eurozone debt markets and economies markedly downwards, and the increased volatility makes good money for some, the underlying grievance of the Occupy Wall Street movement can now be seen mirrored clearly in the European crisis. The tension is effectively between those who believe that inequality is divisive and we should all pull together (Germany), …
As financial systems and economies worsen, innovation comes from an unlikely source
After some apparently good news yesterday, the news today has turned distinctly sour. As stories in the FT show: The world’s financial systems still seem to be getting worse, not better European solutions seem to be tinkering at the edges The ‘real’ economy is becoming increasingly volatile Innovation is needed
Turning the corner?
A generally upbeat set of stories in the FT this morning: The Bank of England’s executive director of financial stability has called for risk rules for lending to small businesses to be temporarily relaxed. Although counterintuitive in some ways, it would help to smooth business cycles: encouraging activity in a downturn and reducing the support given …
Crowdfunding shows principles for disruptive business models
Self-publishing used to be called ‘vanity publishing’. But the arrival of the Internet, the ability to sell e-books, and the technology to cost-effectively produce small print-runs, made it increasingly popular. Now an online publisher unbound.co.uk has taken the model one step further. Interested readers can visit their website and review potential books being proposed. If they find …
Continue reading “Crowdfunding shows principles for disruptive business models”
Unusually warm autumn
An article here describes how the exceptionally warm autumn has led many plants and animals to be seen doing things they wouldn’t normally do till spring — including the arrival of a swallow! This is part of a larger trend of the natural events of the seasons being disturbed, and could be bad news for …
Stability of the financial system: perception, reality, and leadership
As this recent article in the FT put it, “When it comes to managing sovereign debt crises, perception is all.” We might add, “perception [not reality] is all”. The latest update on this situation is that the UK government’s borrowing costs have now fallen to historic lows, as investors seek safety from the perceived risks of Italy and …
Continue reading “Stability of the financial system: perception, reality, and leadership”
Our top priority — remembering who we are
As fears around Italy (the world’s third largest debt market) drive down the euro and stock markets on both sides of the Atlantic, China’s export growth slows further, General Motors (still joint-second-biggest car maker in the world) considers shutting more plants in Europe, Cisco Systems is pleasantly surprised by accelerating order growth, and Jefferson County (Alabama) …
Continue reading “Our top priority — remembering who we are”
Solar power nears “tipping point”
Falling subsidies by European governments (Italy, for example, is currently the world’s second largest solar market) has left production capacity of 30GW chasing demand for 18GW of panels this year. As a result, prices are falling. Installed cost is already $3/watt for some commercial buyers, and for residential is expected to reach around $4/watt next …