May 07, 2011

Labour and the Liberal Democrats share an identity crisis

Was it luck, or good judgment? Actually, it was a bit of both. David Cameron committed himself to the AV referendum with a light heart. He trusted the sceptical common sense of the British electorate. He never thought that there would be a majority vote to overthrow the electoral system. Not all Tories shared his confidence, nor did the early opinion polls vindicate it. It seemed as if Mr Cameron had taken the risk of running through an explosives factory with a naked flame.

May 06, 2011

Competition, Cartels and the Euro Crisis

Alex Taylor hosts I talk, the new programme on Euronews where the public question Europe’s decisions makers. This week’s guest is Joaquin Almunia, the European Commissioner for Competition

May 05, 2011

Can Europe escape the debt trap? Yes – and here's how

Financial markets have successfully demanded the imposition of severe austerity on the periphery of the eurozone – Greece, Ireland and Portugal – to deal with public debt. The markets have also raised concerns about it in the United States, Britain and Japan, clamouring for austerity. Public debt seems to operate like a mask behind which lies a shadowy world of creditors to whose upkeep entire economies are mortgaged.

May 04, 2011

Euro zone takes third debt crisis patient into care

Portugal and Greece talked up the benefits of Lisbon's decision to accept a multi-billion euro bailout from the European Union and IMF on Wednesday, but the outlook for both countries and Ireland remains highly uncertain.

May 03, 2011

Bond Vigilantes Ignore Next Stage of Euro Crisis: Matthew Lynn

Greece? Been there. Ireland? Done that. Portugal? Got the T-shirt. For the past year, countries sharing the euro have been going bust one by one.

So where’s next? Plenty of people will point the finger at Spain. Some at Italy. A few single out Belgium, a country with high debts, and no government.