For years, only a small and enlightened elite and some NGOs looking beyond their tiny projects have been calling for a New Bretton Woods – a global conference to restructure the global economic and financial system. Yet suddenly such demands have become almost mainstream, and developments have accelerated tremendously. However, the World Financial Summit to be held in Washington DC on 15 November will be at best be a starting point of a process, at worst we will observe another public relations exercise. By Rainer Falk
It is particularly the Europeans who seem to be rushing into action. They have agreed on five measures to re-regulate financial markets: new rules for rating agencies, an overhaul of existing accounting standards, the expansion of control and oversight mechanisms to all financial market segments including hedge funds, a code of conduct for managers of the financial industry and – last not least – strengthening the International Monetary Fund ... ... this article is part of WDEV Issue 6/Nov-Dec 2008 and for subscribers only. For direct log in >>> click here.If you have no subscription >>> pick your option or >>>
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.