More on the intricacies of the GDP and the search for a meaningful way to measure it.

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/dd2ec158-023d-11e4-ab5b-00144feab7de.html#axzz36ompqPW9

Trust you are well and enjoying the break

post the link within the text of the post, and always leave the “Page Links To” field on “Its normal WordPress URL.”

and – remember to include your name somewhere, please

I wanted to post this as a response to Andrew’s recent post on this topic, but the way the post is published does not allow for comments.

In a separate message I will post the instructions again. please take note so we can generate discussions on the blog.

Here is another take on the likely future of China RMB as a world currency. as you will notice, this one is more in the spirit of the discussion we had in class of this issue. whatever view you take, it is an excellent take of the issue.

http://www.economist.com/news/finance-and-economics/21604579-buzz-about-rise-chinas-currency-has-run-far-ahead-sedate-reality-yuawn

In this article I was very fascinated by Maria Onysko’s preference of the barter system to obtain funding for her goods. Her system involves exchanging the land that she rents for grain. During the interview, Ms. Onysko said: “I have two cows and four pigs, many chickens”. Therefore, getting grain to feed her cattle is the most inexpensive way for her to run the farm.
The way the system in Ukraine works is the following:
First, if you borrow in euros you have to pay 12%. Second, if you borrow from the bank you will pay 20%.
Therefore the solution to this dilemma for Ms. Onysko is to use the barter system to avoid the need for borrowing money from anyone.

Sincerely,
Sidi Salmi

Firstly, this article is just an  another reminder that when you make your investment choices – you have to diversify. Numerous retirees in Argentina, Germany and Italy lost their investments in Argentina’s default in 2001. Most of them lived very comfortably for a while but the default had wiped out everything.

The second important point is the danger and uncertainty of investment in countries like Argentina. The economy in Argentina moves rather erratically going from boom to bust and article gives the clear picture on how hard it is to deal with the mess after the bust. Here is the problem in a nutshell:

“Argentina is the world’s leading exemplar of how a sovereign should not treat its creditors,” Brodsky said in an emailed statement last year. “The global financial system is placed at risk by rewarding such behavior, not by enforcing contracts.”

http://www.newsweek.com/retirees-set-lose-big-argentinas-bond-fight-255553

http://www.newsweek.com/argentina-keeps-hedge-funds-sweat-after-supreme-court-ruling-255268

Rada

http://www.weforum.org/content/global-agenda-council-youth-unemployment-2012-2014

Here you will find an article that talks about the global crisis for unemployment with the global youths. 

As we become more global as a community it is vital that all of us pay attention to employment around the world and the opportunities for the youth. As we become more interconnected in the future this will effect all of us.

Charlotte

I watched this video that shows how our countries computer waste is handled. This was from our CIS class. I was so stunned at how we just send our trash to other countries and not even care. It made me realize how we have evolved into a global community. What happens in one country effects the others within the world. We are all responsible for all of our neighbors. Amazing to see we may have man made borders but our actions effect everyone.

Charlotte

Getting ready for our globalization debate.  Check out this article, below are the facts.

The globalization of the yuan or renminbi will not only benefit the Chinese economy but generate global economic stability, a senior banker has said.

China’s economy ranks second in the world and its trade ranks first, so it is thought that use of the currency in cross-border trade will be a mutually beneficial move for China and its trade partners.

Investors are also optimistic about RMB globalization. Bank of China’s global customer survey shows that over half of the respondents expect RMB cross-border transactions to rise by 20%-30% in five years. And 61% of overseas customers say they plan to use or increase use of RMB as a settlement currency.

Andrew Bonacci

Ukraine’s new president, Petro O. Poroshenko signed a new trade agreement with the European Union on Friday in Brussels.   I can’t help but think how this new agreement would impact  the rest of the world.  The article describes Mr. Poroshenko’s excitement on the new opportunity however the article also states that the new pact has escalated what was already a volatile atmosphere in the region.  The former USSR state has had their sovereignty tested by Russia recently with the latter’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula.  Russia has slowly impose a manifest-destiny-type will on Ukraine despite the rest of the world’s objections.  The signing of this pact not only escalates their tension to the next level, Ukraine has also clearly drawn the line and their intentions on where and which side they are planning on taking in the foreseeable future.

I believe this trade agreement will affect the rest of the world positively because of a couple of reasons.  First of all, trade agreements are design to boost the economy (at least between the parties concerned).  Secondly, looking at the eco-political aspect of it, this sets precedent in the modern international community that diplomacy wins over might.  This is a significant change to the old mentality that was prevalent in the 20th century.  With this agreement, Russia’s attempt to recapture the former USSR states by coercion has absolutely and utterly failed, further severing its tie with Ukraine and ironically pushing them to the hands of the western community.   Once Ukraine stabilizes the remainder of the their eastern territory, the country should fulfill the positive expectations set by themselves and the EU.  What do you guys think?

After reading so much about IMF, I decided to write my own IMF blog.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an organization of 188 countries, for some it’s the devil for others the savior. By our book’s definition: “working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world”.

Recently IMF called for countries to work harder together on tax policies, as it finds increasingly pervasive cases of nations’ tax rules affecting each other. In a new paper, the IMF discusses tax issues like profit shifting – which has sparked outrage in Congress with cases involving Apple Inc. and Caterpillar Inc.

As we hear, read, and in my case experience, most multinational organizations use various ways to get around paying taxes, by maneuvering profits around the world for higher margins. As an example, PepsiCo has about 600 legal entities designed to move money around, establish transactions through entities that are established in countries like Ireland, Bermuda and Luxemburg to minimize taxes, fees associated with doing business in various countries, and foreign exchange rate impacts.

These multinational organizations serves as foreign direct investors, bring development and much needed jobs to these countries. E.g. One of Google’s major business hub is located in Cork, Ireland. IMF doesn’t mention any company by name in its report, but acknowledges that these efforts can create what the fund calls “a collective inefficiency” in the global economy. Congress is moving on its own to stop such deals to close tax loopholes for companies that take U.S. jobs overseas.

Result? In my opinion, this is all legal, and I admire multinational companies that can learn and implement business practices like this. Government seems to be slow at taking steps to prevent these approaches. As Marketwatch calls it: “Major U.S. tax legislation is virtually certain to go nowhere as lawmakers gear up for November’s midterm elections.”

Erol Menda