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Barron’s (November 12)

2023/ 11/ 13 by jd in Global News

“Germany’s economy, historically the powerhouse of Europe, is going through a rough patch. Its reliance on Russian energy and trade with China will have to be scaled back and new sources of growth found.” The nation’s GDP “declined in the third quarter, bringing down the rest of the euro zone with it,” and the OECD now “expects Germany to be the second worst performer in its group of 30 advanced economies this year, ahead only of Argentina.”

 

Washington Post (May 5)

2021/ 05/ 06 by jd in Global News

“Now Japan faces its very worst fear: flopping on the world stage.” In COVID-19 vaccinations, this “nation famed for first-world logistical competence is running dead last among the 37 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development…. This dismal performance isn’t just imperiling the Olympics — or the world’s third-biggest economy. It’s challenging basic notions about whether Japan can change at all.”

 

The Economist (December 1)

2018/ 12/ 01 by jd in Global News

“Personal income tax accounted for only 8% of total tax revenue in China last year, compared with an average of 24% in the OECD, a group of rich countries.” This is largely because tax dodging is ubiquitous. Estimates suggest “only 2% of Chinese pay any income tax.” Since “China has run a budget deficit in 21 of the past 22 years,” however, the government is now making efforts to raise collection to 15%.

 

Financial Times (September 16)

2014/ 09/ 17 by jd in Global News

“Fears of disruption following a Scottish vote for independence and intensifying conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine have damaged prospects for the world economy,” according to the latest assessment of the OECD, which lowered growth forecasts for 2014 to 2.1% in the U.S., 0.9% in Japan and 0.8% in the eurozone.

 

Investment Week (May 19)

2014/ 05/ 20 by jd in Global News

At just 3.6%, Japan’s unemployment rate is extremely low and this should promote inflation. “Labour shortages have already driven wages higher for part-time workers. Adding to this, the demand to provide new infrastructure for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and the need to replace equipment should also serve to further stimulate the economy.” The OECD has forecast that “only Japan, New Zealand, and Israel are expected to grow faster than their previously forecasted GDPs in 2014.”

 

The Economist (November 9)

2013/ 11/ 10 by jd in Global News

“The biggest problem facing the rich world’s central banks today is that inflation is too low. The average inflation rate in the mostly rich-world OECD is 1.5%, down from 2.2% in 2012 and well below central banks’ official targets (typically 2% or just under)…. None of this means that inflation will not one day be a risk. But it is not today’s problem.”

 

Financial Times (March 22)

2013/ 03/ 23 by jd in Global News

“China is on track for a fourth consecutive decade of rapid growth and will overtake the US as the world’s biggest economy in 2016.” The prediction comes from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which predicts China’s economy will reach 8.5% growth in 2013 and 8.9% in 2014.

 

Financial Times (February 17)

2013/ 02/ 19 by jd in Global News

“Forty governments are signatories to the anti-bribery convention adopted in 1997 by the Paris-based OECD…. So it was reprehensible for Silvio Berlusconi, Italy’s former prime minister, to state last week that bribery in pursuit of international contracts was not an offence. It would be unfair on Italian companies to play by rules scorned by competitors, he declared.” Italy is a signatory to the OECD convention.

 

The Economist (January 21, 2012)

2012/ 01/ 23 by jd in Global News

The concept of limited liability, which protects shareholders, “is one of the greatest wealth-creating inventions of all time.” In many places, however, companies can be set up to hide or disguise the ultimate owners. “This is of great use to wrongdoers, and a huge headache for those who pursue them.” Both the World Bank and the OECD argue that the identities of owners should be disclosed. The Economist agrees. “Anyone registering a limited company should have to declare the names of the real people who ultimately own it, wherever they are, and report any changes. Lying about this should be a crime.”

The concept of limited liability, which protects shareholders, “is one of the greatest wealth-creating inventions of all time.” In many places, however, companies can be set up to hide or disguise the ultimate owners. “This is of great use to wrongdoers, and a huge headache for those who pursue them.” Both the World Bank and the OECD argue that the identities of owners should be disclosed. The Economist agrees. “Anyone registering a limited company should have to declare the names of the real people who ultimately own it, wherever they are, and report any changes. Lying about this should be a crime.”

 

The Economist (December 3)

2011/ 12/ 04 by jd in Global News

As the European “crisis deepens, an alarming prospect looms: that France’s own status could lapse, and thus its clout at the heart of the euro zone. France is by far the most vulnerable of the zone’s six AAA-rated countries.” Many French officials are still pretending a downgrade is unthinkable, but Moody’s has placed France’s rating on watch. In another worrying move, the OECD “cut its 2012 GDP growth forecast for France from 2.1% to just 0.3%, well below the 1% on which the government based its latest austerity plan.” With some forecasting recession, the French could find themselves in the vice of decreased revenue and increased financing costs.

As the European “crisis deepens, an alarming prospect looms: that France’s own status could lapse, and thus its clout at the heart of the euro zone. France is by far the most vulnerable of the zone’s six AAA-rated countries.” Many French officials are still pretending a downgrade is unthinkable, but Moody’s has placed France’s rating on watch. In another worrying move, the OECD “cut its 2012 GDP growth forecast for France from 2.1% to just 0.3%, well below the 1% on which the government based its latest austerity plan.” With some forecasting recession, the French could find themselves in the vice of decreased revenue and increased financing costs.

 

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