Global Economy

Refuting Hegel? Striking the Right Balance between Financing and Adjustment in International Adjustment

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:44:27 +0000

Pull Quote:

This evolution of the system was not accompanied by a corresponding change in international arrangements for dealing with financial crises.

“We learn from history that we do not learn from history.”

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

Prime Minister Harper Visits China

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:49:49 +0000

As Prime Minister Stephen Harper heads for China, CIGI Senior Fellow Gregory Chin provides expert analysis on what the expectations are for this second visit. He stresses the significance of this mission to re-establish Canada's relationship with China on more firm footing, and says the timing is important as Canada continues to deal with the turmoil in the world economy. To watch this interview, click here.

History Lessons for the Euro Zone

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:52:24 +0000

Pull Quote:

History has shown that the “unthinkable” can quickly become the “inevitable.”

Following S&P’s downgrading of European debt in early January, German Chancellor Angela Merkel used her keynote speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to implore her euro zone colleagues to implement the budget austerity needed to secure their goal of a “fiscal compact.” While European interest rates fell in the wake of the European Central Bank’s (ECB) decision to provide a long-term funding facility for banks, unfortunately, the higher borrowing costs that will eventually result from lower credit ratings will make the goal of fiscal probity more elusive.

Searching for Disruption, Sustainability and Transformation at Davos

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:26:08 +0000

Pull Quote:

The Occupy movement spread to 900 cities last year in a matter of days, but its impact is slow and not as grand as I and many others would wish. The same for the Arab Spring.

Heads of state and leading figures from business and academia gather this week in Davos, Switzerland to “shape global, regional and industry agendas,” as part of the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual meeting.

Dear Mr Wolf… Reflections for the Magic Mountain

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:10:22 +0000

The Davos countdown has begun, as some of the world’s most powerful embark on the ritual trek up the Magic Mountain. What should be expected from this glitzy, snowy, global dialogue in this Year of Unreasonableness?

The WTO and the Future of International Organizations

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:09:41 +0000

The ISN concludes its analysis of the problems facing contemporary international organizations with a podcast focussed upon the World Trade Organization's (WTO) response to the changing dyanmics of the international system. Our guest, CIGI's Debra Steger, notes that the internal dynamics of the WTO have changed as a consequence of the rise of emerging market economies.

March meeting should shed light on TPP fate

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:43:10 +0000

Trade minister working behind the scenes to sell member states on accepting Canada.

Canada's acceptance into the Trans-Pacific Partnership is not guaranteed but the government will likely have a better sense of whether it will be able to join the trade club in March, say trade analysts and observers.

That's when the nine current TPP member countries meet in Australia for the next round of free-trade talks.

A World View of the Economy in 2012

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:55:29 +0000

Pull Quote:

The damage this year will likely extend to the global image of the E.U. The expectation has been that Europe is at the core of an evolving multipolar world. However, with declining resources and rising brittleness among the E.U. members, this assumption will be more severely challenged.

The beginning of the New Year brings an opportunity akin to other pundits about how trends or results will come to the fore in 2012. Given the enormous range of possibilities, I will limit my choices to the country level, options that leave out questions about the fortunes of specific international organizations, economic sectors, and non-state actors (including celebrities) that I remain interested in but will leave for other postings.

CELAC y Canadá

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:11:57 +0000

CIGI Distinguished Fellow Jorge Heine comments on the creation of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in 2011 and Canada's relationship to the new organization. To listen to the full interview with RCI, click on the View Website link. (Interview and article in Spanish only.)

Conservatives - Is it 1930 Already?

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:55:34 +0000

Having written my first book, based on an Oxford doctorate on economic policy-making by British Conservatives during the Depression of the 1930s, I have been intrigued by the mix of change and continuity located in the approach of David Cameron's government.

A quick trip to Britain in the wake of the British "No" at the EU summit, however, rekindled an interest in discussing more explicitly how strong the echoes of the past are in shaping the British response under conditions of hard times.