Slowdown in the US, but robust growth in the South
The world economy is expected to moderate in 2007 after three years of historically high growth according to a new UN report, titled “World Economic Situation and Prospects 2007”. Stepping back from the all-time high growth in world gross product (WGP) of 4.0 per cent reached in 2005 and the estimated 3.8 per cent growth for 2006, global growth is expected to slacken at a pace of 3.2 per cent in 2007. WDEV summarises the report.
A weakening housing market in the United States is a major factor in the global slowdown, according to the UN annual forecast (see reference). The cooling of the housing boom is expected to depress consumer demand and slow the growth of the US economy to a rate of 2.2 per cent in 2007 ... ... this article is for subscribers only. For direct log in click >>> here.If you have no subscription >>> pick an option or >>> buy the article.
After decades of isolation - imposed by major OECD countries out of concern for the country's human rights violations - Myanmar is emerging as a new darling of the "West" - judging by the accelerating succession of visits by senior officials and gurus. New groups of investors are waiting to enter the country as soon as possible.
Persistent high unemployment, the euro area debt crisis and premature fiscal austerity have already slowed global growth and factor into the possibility of a new recession. Now the United Nations have downgraded significantly its forecasts for the world economy in the next year.
Eastern European states are in for a new round of the crisis. The external control of the banking sector and high reliance on external credit has landed the countries of Eastern Europe in a vulnerable position. Now, credit flows from Western banks are drying up again. Hungary has been the first country in the region to ask for IMF support again.
While the G20 efforts to manage global aggregate demand, exchange rate management and stronger regulation of the international financial sector have not worked out quite as planned, in Cannes the Group was further solidifying its role in directing the system of multilateral institutions.
In November 2011, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is celebrating its 50th anniversary.The new Minister, Dirk Niebel of the (neo)-liberal FDP has launched a 'radical change of course'. In the recent edition of the Reality of Aid shadow report the change is analyzed.