Financial Times (June 24)
“It is too early to say, but with the credit intensity of China’s slowing economic growth surging back this year to levels last seen in the 2009 credit boom, a severe credit squeeze could precipitate a big drop in investment, accentuate the downturn in growth and lead to financial and banking sector instability.”
Tags: Banking, Boom, China, Credit, Downturn, Economic growth, Instability, Investment, Squeeze
The Economist (December 23)
American troops departed Iraq on December 18. Less than a week later, dozens were killed when bombs exploded in Baghdad “stoking fears that without American soldiers, an unravelling political situation could herald a return for Iraq to the bad old days of sectarian bloodshed.”
Tags: Baghdad, Boms, Instability, Iraq, U.S.
Washington Post (October 18)
Newsweek editor Fareed Zakaria writes that the U.S., China and South Korea need to think hard about “the collapse of North Korea.” The extensive measures Kim Jong Il is taking to shore up his son as successor suggest instability. In addition to a bad economy, food shortages and famine, North Koreans are “beginning to learn more and more about the outside world.” With South Koreans earning $28,100 versus each North Korean’s $1,900, it is only a matter of time before “North Koreans are going to start moving south, to jobs, money, opportunity and freedom.” Unless plans are made now, there will be chaos with potential for “serious geopolitical instability.”
Tags: China, Instability, Kim Jong Il, North Korea, U.S.
