Category Archive: 5) Global Macro

China Says It Is Ready To Assume “World Leadership”, Slams Western Democracy As “Flawed”

Over the weekend China used the Trump inauguration to warn about the perils of democracy, touting the relative stability of the Communist system as President Xi Jinping heads toward a twice-a-decade reshuffle of senior leadership posts.

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The Collapse of the Left

The Left is not just in disarray--it is in complete collapse because the working class has awakened to the Left's betrayal and abandonment of the working class in favor of building personal wealth and power. The source of the angry angst rippling through the Democratic Party's progressive camp is not President Trump--it's the complete collapse of the Left globally. To understand this collapse, we turn (once again) to Marx's profound understanding...

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The evolution of taxation by our cartoonist KAL

It wasn’t always cold hard cash that the taxman was after. Our cartoonist looks at how tax has evolved through the ages. Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: http://econ.trib.al/rWl91R7 Most modern societies employ some sort of taxation, but taxes have not always involved money. The ancient Chinese paid their taxes with pressed …

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Emerging Markets: Preview for the Week Ahead

EM FX ended last week on a firm not, led by a huge MXN rally on Inauguration Day. We believe that the peso rally was largely driven by positioning and technicals, and so we view Friday’s gains as a correction since the fundamental outlook remains unchanged. Indeed, we think the broader EM rally will be short-lived too, as US interest rates remain elevated. The 10-year yield flirted with the 2.5% level, and we believe it will eventually head even...

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25 Years of Neocon-Neoliberalism: Great for the Top 5 percent, A Disaster for Everyone Else

It cannot be merely coincidental that the incomes and wealth of the top 5% have pulled away from the stagnating 95% in the 25 years dominated by neocon-neoliberalism. One unexamined narrative I keep hearing is: "OK, so neocon-neoliberalism was less than ideal, but Trump could be much worse." Let's start by asking: would Syrian civilians agree with this assessment?

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The Central Bankers Are Going To Shutoff The Spigot And The Economy Will Rollover:Charles Hugh

Today’s Guest: Charles Hugh Smith Websites: Of Two Minds http://www.oftwominds.com http://charleshughsmith.blogspot.com/ Books: All of his books can be found on his website. Why Our Status Quo Failed and Is Beyond Reform Get a Job, Build a Real Career… Why Things Are Falling Apart and What We Can Do About It A Radically Beneficial World Most …

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Emerging Markets: What has Changed

Prime Minister Phuc said Vietnam will ease the limits on foreign ownership of banks this year. Russia’s government is working on measures to limit ruble volatility, including possible FX purchases. Turkey’s central bank start auctioning FX swaps to help support the lira. Brazil’s central bank resumed rolling over FX swaps. Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Zavascki was tragically killed in a plane accident. Chile’s central bank started the easing...

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The Agenda: Winnie Byanyima on inequality | The Economist

Winnie Byanyima, the executive director of Oxfam International, discusses the world economy’s failure to tackle the extremes of inequality. Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: http://econ.trib.al/rWl91R7 THE AGENDA explores the defining questions of our time and seeks out the stories, solutions and the personalities who might just hold the answers. Discover the …

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Truck drivers grapple with automation

The son of two truckers, Robert Kalista has driven trucks since the 1980s. Now this most American of industries seems to be in line for automation. Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: http://econ.trib.al/rWl91R7 THE AGENDA explores the defining questions of our time and seeks out the stories, solutions and the personalities who …

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The Agenda: Christine Lagarde on globalisation | The Economist

From the elite bubble of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, shares her views on the future of globalisation. Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: http://econ.trib.al/rWl91R7 THE AGENDA explores the defining questions of our time and seeks out the stories, solutions and the …

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Draghi Lets Steam out of Euro

US reported stronger than expected series of data, including a large drop in weekly jobless claims for the week of the next NFP survey. Draghi remained dovish, with key phrases retained. Euro needs to break $1.0575 now to confirm a top is in place. Markets still uncertain ahead of the start of the new Administration.

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Self-driving technology and highway trucks with no one at the wheel

Technological innovation and automation are transforming entire industries. As self-driving trucks hit the road, what could possibly go wrong? Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: http://econ.trib.al/rWl91R7 THE AGENDA explores the defining questions of our time and seeks out the stories, solutions and the personalities who might just hold the answers. Discover the …

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Learning to code will help you prepare for the jobs of tomorrow

Tech firms are going back to school. Find out what middle-school kids have got to do with populism—and why “learning to learn” will be key to many people’s futures, whatever their age. Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: http://econ.trib.al/rWl91R7 THE AGENDA explores the defining questions of our time and seeks out the …

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Italy’s Five Star Movement holds a rally in Turin

Beppe Grillo—a former stand-up comedian and leader of Italy’s populist Five Star Movement—knows how to appeal to the emotions of frustrated Italians. Despite lacking political experience and obvious solutions, his surge is mirrored by other populists throughout the West. Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: http://econ.trib.al/rWl91R7 THE AGENDA explores the defining questions …

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The Agenda: Arianna Huffington on the media | The Economist

Arianna Huffington, founder of The Huffington Post, shares her views on the role of journalism in a political world transformed by populism. Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: http://econ.trib.al/rWl91R7 In recent years the media has transformed politics. What role is there for journalism in this changing environment? Arianna Huffington founded The Huffington …

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Hong Kong: pro-independence v pro-China | The Economist

Hong Kong society is divided between those who want independence from the mainland and those who want to remain close to it. Holden Chow, of Hong Kong’s pro-China DAB Party, and Edward Leung, an independence activist, discuss their opposing visions for the territory’s future. Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: http://econ.trib.al/rWl91R7 Hong …

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The Agenda: Minouche Shafik discusses education and inequality | The Economist

Minouche Shafik, deputy governor of the Bank of England and the next director of the London School of Economics, discusses the role of education in a world coloured by populism. Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: http://econ.trib.al/rWl91R7 At a time of political upheaval, many believe that jobs are under threat. In a …

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Populism is reshaping our world | The Economist

From the streets of Turin to Silicon Valley, people power is taking the world by storm. With frustrations rising and the old order apparently crumbling, who really has the answers? Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: http://econ.trib.al/rWl91R7 December 2016 Italy’s populist opposition is shaking up the establishment. They’re days away from a …

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The dangers of hyperinflation by our cartoonist KAL | The Economist

In Yugoslavia in 1993 prices rose 20% a day. In Zimbabwe in 2008, inflation reached 231,000,000%. Our cartoonist KAL looks at how hyperinflation can lead to the collapse of a country’s economy. Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: http://econ.trib.al/rWl91R7 When the prices of goods and services rise rapidly, families and businesses suffer. …

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Will Our Grandchildren Wonder Why We Didn’t Build a Renewable Power Grid When It Was Still Affordable?

Anyone seeking clarity on the energy picture a decade or two out is to be forgiven for finding a thoroughly confusing divide. On the one hand, we have reassuring projections from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) that assume current production of fossil fuels will remain steady for decades to come.

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