Euro crisis solution lies in political arena

WORLD VIEW: The alternative visions of economists must focus better on what is possible internationally

IRELAND BADLY needs a strategy to handle the euro zone crisis, rather than reacting defensively to all its latest twists and turns. This requires a political as well as an economic understanding of the dynamics in play at European and national levels.

IAIN MARTIN: The euro crisis is terrifying - but it's Cameron's last chance to restore Britain's sovereignty

Surely, it was one of the greatest escapes in Britain’s history.

If we had been foolish enough to go into the European single currency we would be in an even more dire economic situation than we are now.

The euro’s lower interest rates would have made money even cheaper and easier to borrow during the boom, making the recession deeper when the bubble burst and more difficult to get out of.

ALEX BRUMMER: Greece looks for escape hatch as euro crisis deepens

Until the last few days it was verboten to suggest that Greece was in such deep trouble that it would have to cut the face value of its debt, secede from the euro and/or restore the drachma.

But with Athens having to pay up to 25pc to borrow and the deficit piling up, as the economy refused to respond to the shock treatment, anything now looks possible.

Greek debt pile opens new Euro crisis chapter

A new chapter in the Euro sovereign debt saga is beginning to unfold, after the shared currency had its most severe weekly drop since late last year, and one of its worst two-day since its introduction. The free-fall, which commenced on Trichet's dovish comments in last Thursday's ECB meeting, was exacerbated after Germany's Der Spiegel reported an incendiary article, suggesting Greece may be planning an exit from the eurozone.

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.