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The article focuses on the economic policies that have made it blatantly clear to people own and will absolutely be left to fall if they do not scramble the way to the top of the heap has supported by the own accumulated rolls of toilet paper. Topics include the threat of a global pandemic has brought this issue into stark relief, hoarding toilet paper might be odd, but it is nothing compared to the hoarding of money, the property in a world where people are homeless.

The article discusses the 15th European Paper Week, which took pace on November 26-28, 2013, in Brussels, Belgium. Topics include the sixth Sustainability Report of the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI), CEPI's Two Team Project that aimed to find innovative technology concepts for the paper industry, and the organization's "Basta! Get back on track" campaign aimed to rethink existing European Union (EU) industrial policies.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to construct a frequency-domain framework to study the asymmetric spillover effects of international economic policy uncertainty on China's stock market industry indexes. Design/methodology/approach: This paper follows the time domain spillover model, asymmetric spillover model and frequency domain spillover model, which not only studies the degree of spillover in time domain but also studies the persistence of spillover effect in frequency domain. Findings: It is found that China's economic policy uncertainty plays a dominant role in the spillover effect on the stock market, while the global and US economic policy uncertainty is relatively weak. By decomposing realized volatility into quantified asymmetric risks of "good" volatility and "bad" volatility, it is concluded that economic policy uncertainty has a greater impact on stock downside risk than upside risk. For different time periods, the sensitivity of long-term and short-term spillover economic policy impact is different. Among them, asymmetric high-frequency spillover in the stock market is more easily observed, which provides certain reference significance for the stability of the financial market. Originality/value: The originality aims at extending the traditional research paradigm of "time domain" to the research perspective of "frequency domain." This study uses the more advanced models to analyze various factors from the static and dynamic levels, with a view to obtain reliable and robust research conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid advance of industrialization and urbanization and the intensified impact of global climate change, the contradiction between the global water shortage and economic growth has become prominent. This paper, taking Henan province as an example, analyzed the influence of water resource policy on regional economic growth through a calculable general equilibrium model and further discussed the relevant policy recommendations. The results showed that the improvement of water supply, water efficiency and water technology could promote the growth of the regional economy and result in a positive effect on regional GDP, employment and resident income. However, the rise of water price has a negative impact on regional economic development, mainly reflected in regional GDP, employment and household income. The improvement of water price, water efficiency and water conservancy technology would lead to a decrease in regional water consumption, while only the increase of the water supply would lead to an increase in water consumption. Accordingly, the paper puts forward policy suggestions, such as accelerating the improvement of water conservancy facilities, establishing a reasonable water price mechanism and actively exploring experience in water conservation and emission reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the competition of two financial chains (FCs) when the government intervenes in the financial market to prohibit the excessively high-interest rate by minimizing the arbitrages caused by speculative transactions. Each FC comprises an investor and one intermediary, attempts to finance the capital-constrained firms in financing needs. Design/methodology/approach: Using a Stackelberg game theoretic framework and formulating two- and three-level optimization problems for six possible scenarios, the authors establish an integrative framework to evaluate the scenarios through the lens of the two main decision-making structures of the FCs (i.e. centralized and decentralized) and three policies of the government (i.e. speculation minimizing, revenue gaining and utility maximizing). Findings: Solving the problem results in optimal values for tariffs, which guarantee a stable competitive market. Consequently, policymaking by the government influences the decision variables, which is shown in a numerical study. The authors find that the government can orchestrate the FCs in the competitive market by imposing tariffs and prohibiting high-interest rates via regulating the speculation impacts, which guarantees a stable market and facilitates the financing of capital-constrained firms. Research limitations/implications: This paper aids the financial markets and governments to control the interest rate by minimizing the speculation level. Originality/value: This paper investigates the impact of government intervention policies – as a leading player – on the competition of FCs – as followers – in providing financial services and making profits. The government imposes tariffs on the interest rate to stabilize the market by limiting speculative transactions. The paper presents the mathematical models of the optimization problems through the game-theoretic framework and comparison of the scenarios through a numerical experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has recently announced the launch of a paper factory that workers had taken over, which would now be co-managed between workers and state representatives. The factory, reportedly, will be part of a new plan to promote "Made in Venezuela." The Venezuelan Endogenous Paper Industry is a big paper factory recently expropriated by the government after a hard fought battle by 350 paper workers. The idea, says Chavez, is for Venezuelan industry to satisfy domestic demand for paper, using domestic raw material, which is part of Venezuela's shift to "endogenous" development. The government is working on a plan to bring all basic industry into the state-run endogenous co-managed development model.

The article questions the leadership ability of U.S. Federal Reserve Board chairman Alan Greenspan. He was perceived to be the dominant force in economic policy-making. An article in the February 21, 1990 issue of the "New York Times" reported that Greenspan had said that the U.S. economy's slide may have ended. The same day after such remarks, interest rates soared. But the paper's business section did not attribute the incident to Greenspan. Bond dealers blamed concern that rising interest rates overseas would increase the cost of borrowing in the U.S. One reason for believing that the Federal power has diminished is the free flow of money across national borders, seeking the highest rate of return.

On paper, the European Monetary System still exists, even if it is barely a shadow of its former self. Until August 2, 1993 the participants in the Exchange Rate Mechanism were so tied together that the variations in their currencies were limited to a maximum of 4.5 percent. Now, except for the mark and the Dutch guilder, they can fluctuate by as much as 30 percent. Whatever face-saving words officials may use, currencies are floating. Euroenthusiasts will object that the arrangement is, in principle, provisional and that this is not the first setback on the road toward Europe's integration.

The paper focuses on the dynamic pricing game of the duopoly air conditioner market with disturbance in demand and analyzes the influence of disturbance on the dynamic game system. Considering the demand for products, such as air conditioner, varies with different seasons, we assume three cases based on the condition of disturbance, including growth market (Case 1), declining market (Case 2) and completely random market (Case 3). By analyzing these three cases and making comparison among them, the paper shows that the growth market is more sensitive to the changing parameters such as the adjustment variable and the competitive factor than the declining market. It is more difficult to keep the system stable in a growth market. Although the demand is completely random, the dynamic system can reach a stable state, on condition that the adjustment variable is small enough. The results also indicate that the bullwhip effect between the order quantity and the actual demand is weakened gradually along with the price adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment of vegetation ecosystem control tactics needs to consider the late vegetation degradation and limitation of economic resources. The objective of this paper is to derive a stochastic vegetation ecosystem induced by the economic threshold policy control (TPC). The existence and stability conditions of the equilibria for two deterministic subsystems are discussed theoretically and numerically. Analyses show that the two subsystems have different topological properties. The jumping dynamics for the whole threshold policy control system with period force and noise are discussed in more detail, and the optimal control tactic, that is the jumping critical point is found by the evolution of the stationary vegetation biomass (SVB) with respect to the control parameters. The most interesting result is that the initial value of the biomass is crucial to decide whether the current vegetation ecosystem can utilize the threshold policy control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights the first-ever White Paper issued by China on April 21, 2011, titled "China's Foreign Aid." It provided an overall picture of the country's foreign aid activities over the past decades. The White Paper was issued by the Information Office of the State Council and it introduced China's foreign aid policy and the financial resources that the aid has drawn upon in the past. The author lists the eight forms on how China offers foreign aid such as complete projects, goods and materials and technical cooperation.

Born in 1826, Bagehot became editor of the Economist in 1861 after marrying James Wilson's daughter a few years before. From Bagehot to Geoffrey Crowther (editor from 1938 to 1956), the paper looked to the Liberal Party as the prime agent of liberalism; from the 1940s until the mid-late 1960s the editorial line was informed by the experiences of the Second In addition to its economic liberalism - Marx called it the "European organ of the aristocracy of finance" - and its steady views on empire and intervention, the Economist has also held a mostly consistent line on democracy. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose This paper aims to understand and explore the causal relationship of elements responsible for the macro vicious cycle of poverty in Guinea-Bissau, and discuss policies to break it.Design/methodology/approach The methodology used in this study is based on the system dynamics simulation paradigm.Findings Breaking the Guinean poverty cycle requires a multifaceted approach involving more resources and the building of several national capabilities. Traditional approaches tend to fail.Research limitations/implications Limitations come from the level of abstraction used in the model, which does not detail the processes for building specific capabilities and their interrelationships, and the necessary exclusion of variables that may have an impact in the process. Considering implications, the study models the evolution of human development index (HDI) in Guinea-Bissau, linking it to the economy and political sectors and allowing the simulation of different scenarios.Practical implications The study presents a critical stance towards common recommendations from international agencies, and it provides a blueprint for development of more effective public policies.Social implications Overcoming the poverty trap in sub-Saharan countries remains a challenge for the international community. The study aims at helping in the process of integrating different frameworks into a compact and manageable model.Originality/value The study contributes to the system dynamics and economic development literatures by presenting an integrative model of human development in Guinea-Bissau. There is no study in the system dynamics literature modelling the relationship of HDI to economy and political sectors while different and contradictory points of view characterize the economics literature, leaving well-meaning public officials in Guinea-Bissau at a loss of mental models to tackle the poverty trap in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Much information is hidden from consumers including social and environmental violations, poor labour practices and unethical economic activities. This paper aims to present a model for both consumers and corporations that can assist in empowering consumers when making purchasing decisions by bringing the behind the scenes information to the buyer. A responsibility rating is provided at each step in the production chain. Design/methodology/approach – The paper provides an argument with research findings of how consumers are linked to their purchases, and how these purchases contribute to the current manufacturing cycle and perpetuation of land and labour abuses. Findings – Consumers can influence the product lifecycle of their chosen products. The model provides a mechanism for consumers to purchase items that are in keeping with their worldview. A certifiable standard for corporations is presented. Practical implications – Consumers are provided with a system that they can immediately obtain the responsibility ratings of any of their chosen products in real-time. Companies with low responsibility ratings lose out in their sales revenue and are thus motivated to change their production methods. Companies would compete in an atmosphere of total disclosure regarding social and environmental matters giving rise to a new ethic of consumerism. Originality/value – A new form of consumerism is uncovered, one that takes the recursive nature of consumer actions into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to research the status quo and future trends of the income elasticity of the consumer demand of Chinese rural residents. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses model ELES and model GM (1,1) to analyze and predict the income elasticity of consumer demand in the rural areas of China. Findings – The findings show the indicator that the income elasticity of consumer demand in the rural areas of China is quite large at present, but most sub-categories of the indicators show a declining trend in the future. Practical implications – The paper includes implications for the relevant departments to adjust the economic polices timely and reasonably according to specific form based on the findings above. Originality/value – The income elasticity of consumer demand is an important indicator, reflecting the relationship between consumer demand and income, so it is of great significance to research it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An integrated ecological evaluation of the Beijing economy was presented in the paper based on the emergy accounting with the data in 2004. Through calculating environmental and economic inputs within and outside the Beijing economy, this paper discusses the Beijing’s resource structure, economic situation and trade status based on a series of emergy indicators. Through the comparison of the systematic indicators of Beijing with those of the selected Chinese cities, the general status of the Beijing economy in China is identified. The results also show that most indicators of Beijing are located at middle levels among the selected Chinese cities. Particularly, the environmental impacts, expressed by the ratio of waste to the renewable emergy, and the ratio of waste to the total emergy use, are 84.2 and 0.26, respectively in Beijing in 2004, which indicate that the Beijing economy is greatly reliant on the imported intensive fuels, goods and services with high empower density and environmental loading. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to offer the theory of a parametrical regulation of market economy development, and the results of the theory development and usage. Design/methodology/approach - Theoretical results of the abstract have been obtained by way of applying the theory of ordinary differential equations, geometrical methods in variation tasks and the theory of dynamic systems. These results have been used for solving a number of practical tasks. Findings - The market economy development parametrical regulation theory structure has been offered. The approach to parametrical regulation of a nonlinear dynamic system's development has been suggested. An assumption about the existence of solution to the task of calculus of variations on the choice of the optimum laws of parametrical regulation within the given finite set of algorithms has been set forward. An assumption about the conditions sufficient for the existence of an extremal's bifurcation point of the task of calculus of variations on the choice of the optimum laws of parametrical regulation within the given finite set of algorithms is presented, formulated and proved. Theory application samples have been provided. Research limitations/implications - Future papers would be focused on studies of rigidness of other mathematic models of economic systems. Practical implications - The research findings could be applied to the choice and realization of an effective budget and tax as well as monetary and loan state policy. Originality/value - The market economy development parametrical regulation theory has been offered for consideration for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to offer the theory of a parametrical regulation of market economy development, and the results of the theory development and usage. Design/methodology/approach - Theoretical results of the abstract have been obtained by way of applying the theory of ordinary differential equations, geometrical methods in variation tasks and the theory of dynamic systems. These results have been used for solving a number of practical tasks. Findings - The market economy development parametrical regulation theory structure has been offered. The approach to parametrical regulation of a nonlinear dynamic system's development has been suggested. An assumption about the existence of solution to the task of calculus of variations on the choice of the optimum laws of parametrical regulation within the given finite set of algorithms has been set forward. An assumption about the conditions sufficient for the existence of an extremal's bifurcation point of the task of calculus of variations on the choice of the optimum laws of parametrical regulation within the given finite set of algorithms is presented, formulated and proved. Theory application samples have been provided. Research limitations/implications - Future papers would be focused on studies of rigidness of other mathematic models of economic systems. Practical implications - The research findings could be applied to the choice and realization of an effective budget and tax as well as monetary and loan state policy. Originality/value - The market economy development parametrical regulation theory has been offered for consideration for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper employs an economy-wide framework to evaluate impacts of water and trade policy reforms in South Africa (SA) on virtual water flows. To pursue this analysis, the study derives net virtual water trade flows between SA and its partners to assess implications of recent trade agreements within the South African Development Community compared to economic cooperation with other major trading blocks (e.g. European Union, Asia, and Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC)). Recent trends in actual trade confirm model predictions that liberalization of water allocation would switch water from field crops to horticulture and promote growth in non-agricultural exports. The results suggest that it is necessary to introduce policies that enhance likely outcomes of liberalization promoting higher water use efficiency within irrigation agriculture such as increased adoption of more efficient irrigation methods (sprinkler, drip, etc.) as water becomes more expensive under wider open competition. Moreover, investment in higher water use efficiency and improved competitiveness of dryland agriculture therefore represent the sound economic options for strengthening the capacity to achieve food security objectives as the country strives to lower net water exports. Finally, careful coordination of trade and water policy reforms is another necessary challenge for SA's strive to manage a water stressed economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the opinion of the U.S. and Canada on bulk water exports under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with opponents such as the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives campaigning against the idea. It presents the 2013 Ottawa policy paper which contradicts the FTA classifying water as a commodity. It also mentions the timetable published by Kansas State University researchers in August 2013 regarding the Ogallala Aquifer beneath the Great Plains in the U.S. INSETS: OVER-ABUNDANCE OR JUST ENOUGH?;A CANAL RUNS THROUGH IT.

The article presents two papers on socialist economics developed through correspondence with sociologist Marta Harnecker and former Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez. Topics addressed include productive relations under capitalism, the transformation of state-owned and cooperative enterprises, and the book "Beyond Capital," by István Mészáros. Venezuelan economic policies are addressed.

Transport climate change impacts have become a worldwide concern. Transport is responsible for 41% of CO2 emissions in Spain, and around 65% of that figure is due to road traffic. Tolled motorways are currently managed accor-ding to economic criteria: minimizing operational costs and maximizing revenues from tolls. Within this framework, this paper develops a new methodology for managing motorways based on a target of maximum energy efficiency. It includes technological and demand-driven policies, which are applied to two case studies. Various conclusions emerge from this study. The results clearly indicate that to achieve the best carbon footprint savings it is necessary to design sustainable strategies to manage each motorway section. That means to use the maximum of its capacity according to the total traffic flows of cars and heavy duty vehicles in the motorway road and also in the parallel roads. Another important finding is that substantial GHG reduction emissions could be achieved in the toll plazas with the application of Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) and Open Road Tolling (ORT) schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates whether and how different regulatory regimes for water pricing incorporate mechanisms for consumer inclusion. A literature review suggests that the more separation between policymaking and economic regulation, the higher the incorporation of regulatory governance principles such as transparency, accountability and participation. Our comparative case studies of the system of self-regulation in The Netherlands, the bipartite negotiation model in Spain, and the Scottish model of independent regulation provides additional empirical evidence to this hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article informs on a discussion paper recently posted on the Federal Reserve's website by Jeremy Rudd on inflation. It mentions that when firms expect costs to rise, they set higher prices, in both cases, inflation becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. It also mentions that central bankers' task is to pin down expectations at a low, stable level, if they succeed, they can control inflation.

Abstract: Standard macroeconomics, based on a reductionist approach centered on the representative agent, is badly equipped to explain the empirical evidence where heterogeneity and industrial dynamics are the rule. In this paper we show that a simple agent-based model of heterogeneous financially fragile agents is able to replicate a large number of scaling type stylized facts with a remarkable degree of statistical precision. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Presents a paper issued by the Economistas de Izquierda (EDI), a group of economists in Argentina, entitled "Program for a Popular Economic Recovery," which seeks to address the economic recovery in Argentina. Background of Argentina's public external debt; Implications of the country's public external debt on the economy; Analysis of the country's efforts for economic recovery; Suggestions for employment alternatives in the wake of high unemployment rate in the country.

Contends that the only thing standing between Brazil and Asia-like rates of economic growth is poor government. How Brazil has changed for the worse; Disintegration of Brazil's society; High inflation rates; Debt; Comments from a paper by Rudiger Dornbusch, an economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Brazil's resources, including enthusiasm and entrepreneurialism.

Discusses what Western countries can learn from developing nations through knowledge of their cultures. Recount of the authors' visit to Papau New Guinea where technology helped produced successful entrepreneurs, but also resulted in villagers' sentiments that those entrepreneurs no longer contributed to the common good of the community; Assessment of visits to cultures throughout the Pacific, where community and cooperation were more important than economic development of individuals; Reference to the book "Cultural Transition," a collection of papers edited by Merry White and Susan Pollak, exploring the concept of community and cooperation in indigenous cultures.

Reports on the developments in scientific communication in the United States. Attention to the interagency review of scientific communication and national security; Possibility of revisions to the Export Administration Act of 1979; Preparation of recommendations for control of unclassified but militarily sensitive technology, visas, scientific conferences and publication of scientific papers.

The article focuses on the five core themes of the Social Foundations program of the Centre for Independent Studies (CIS). On family, Jennifer Buckingham's paper "Child Care: Who Benefits" looks at the developmental and social effects of child care on children. For education, "Policy" magazine focuses on an interview with U.S. education expert Chester E. Finn Jennifer by Buckingham. Peter Saunders' "The Government Giveth and the Government Taketh Away" forms part of CIS' welfare state and tax reform policy.

The regional economic income multiplication plan is the target set by many economic development zones. The multiplication plan time is an important research hotspot of economic development planning. The paper uses fractional-order accumulation to generate GMλ (1, 1)-gray prediction model to predict the per capita income level of a region. The data is derived from the per capita income of the region in 2009–2013, and predicts the per capita income capacity. Through research and calculation, it is found that using the fractional calculus λ value in the error controllable range can make the prediction result more reasonable and more accurate. The final case study demonstrates that the region's per capita income doubling plan can be completed by 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on debt restructuring in Argentina, which defaulted on bonds worth $81 billion in December 2001. A majority of creditors surrendered their claims before a February 25th deadline, in exchange for new bonds worth about 35 cents on the dollar. The giant debt swap involves 152 varieties of paper denominated in six currencies and governed by eight jurisdictions. These bonds will now be exchangeable for three new issues. Bondholder groups think it a travesty. But on March 1st, Néstor Kirchner, Argentina's president, declared the restructuring a triumph, claiming "at least 70-75%" of bondholders had accepted it. Standard & Poor's, a credit rating agency, has said it will upgrade Argentina to B- after a successful debt swap. Argentina defaulted so heavily because it defaulted so late. Its descent into default, devaluation and destitution is vividly recounted in a new book by Paul Blustein. J.P. Morgan has announced that Argentina's weight in the EMBI Global will rise from 1.9% to about 2.7% once the latest debt swap is declared a success.

Focuses on the power that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) wields in the world. Need of countries in debt or seeking new loans to seek IMF approval of their economic policies; Requirement of the World Bank for national governments to have won the IMF seal of approval before it will fund major new projects; Need for every country to produce one of Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers to qualify for debt-reduction or new loans.

The article discusses arguments against term thinking in economics from a paper by mathematicians John Geanakoplos and J. Doyne Farmer. The practice of exponential discounting of the value of assets over time is criticized because it does not account for future changes in the economy. They propose instead the use of hyperbolic discounting rates for economic policy-making, claiming that economic mathematical models using hyperbolic rates are more consistent than those using exponential rates.

This article argues in favor of the elimination of so-called corporate welfare, or subsidies given to businesses by the federal government, in the United States. A forthcoming paper by Stephen Slivinski of the Cato Institute lists $87 billion of corporate welfare in this year's budget. And corporate-welfare spending is growing, and has increased by 30 percent since 1997. Different groups had different views on corporate welfare. Conservatives argued that most tax breaks could not be counted as welfare. According to them, letting companies keep more of their profits was not the same as giving them taxpayers' money. Since 1995, opponents of corporate welfare have tried to eliminate the Advanced Technology Program. U.S. President George W. Bush wants to eliminate the program, but so far his proposal is going nowhere.

Discusses the arguments in Australia's Economic Planning Advisory Commission Paper No. 10 entitled `Tariff Reform and Economic Growth.' Dynamic gains in productivity and per capita income from tariff reductions; Exclusion of non-tariff barriers from the analysis; Trade restructuring effects of Australia's tariff regime.

The article presents a response by Ethan B. Kapstein to comments on his paper "Workers and the World Economy," which appeared in the May 1996 issue. Authors Paul Krugman and Robert Z. Lawrence denigrate nonspecialists who allegedly lack an understanding of the technical issues surrounding economic matters. It is contended that societal outcomes ultimately reflect the pulling and hauling of political processes, and this is as true for economic policy as it is for health care or defense.

The article discusses the cleanup campaign of Chinese government in the city of Beijing that includes demolitions of illegal structures made by building walls and digging holes, aimed at driving out as many of the city's incomers as possible. It mentions that the campaign leaves a new level of legitimacy for shop owners to save their businesses, that is the right papers in the right zone, including personal residence permit listed in the right city. Other topics mentioned include Beijing's nominal population, the impact of breaking small businesses on the poor, and government's promises to control migration and to prevent peasants from using hospitals and schools of metropolises.

The article focuses on issues concerning the white paper titled "China's Energy Conditions and Policies" issued by the Information Office of the State Council. This white paper is China's first white paper in the arena of energy in almost a decade. This white paper will guarantee the realization of the country's energy outlines in policy as well as offering a window to the international community to comprehensively learn China's energy policies. It also tackles the enormous developments achieved by the energy sector.

Presents an interview with Fang Ning, the Deputy Director of the Institute of Political Science under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, on the issuance of the first white paper on political democracy by the State Council Information Office on October 19, 2005 in China. Late publication of the white paper due to Chinese Government's alleged reluctance to develop democracy despite its successful economic restructuring policies; Identification of the white paper as China's first government document on its political democracy with focus on consensus building; Purpose of the white paper to help people fully and correctly comprehend the sound development of China's political democracy, recognize reasons for the country's adherence to socialist political democracy and to strengthen their determination to be firm on the path.

The article focuses on Ben Bernanke, a former Princeton professor of economics who is awaiting Senate confirmation to replace Alan Greenspan as chairman of the Federal Reserve Board. At the height of the stockmarket bubble in 1999, he co-authored an influential paper with Mark Gertler of New York University which argued that central banks should focus on asset prices only insofar as they are likely to influence consumer prices. Targeting asset prices directly, his paper claimed, would create more, not less, instability. This suggests that a Bernanke Fed might be even less inclined to fret about soaring house prices than Mr Greenspan, who has only recently worried aloud about them. Everyone knows that Mr Bernanke, unlike Mr Greenspan, is a long-standing supporter of the idea that the Fed should set a public target for inflation against which it can be held accountable, as many central banks do. Mr Bernanke will doubtless nudge the Fed towards inflation-targeting. But the change is likely to be evolutionary rather than radical. His initial task will be to prove his inflation-fighting credentials and shake off a lingering reputation for dovishness.

Discusses foreign relations between Great Britain and Germany in light of the June 1999 publication of a joint Anglo-German paper called `Europe, the third way, die neue Mitte,' emphasizing New Labour positions on Anglo-Saxon economics. Political, economic and institutional differences between Britain and Germany; Identification of the group that prepared the paper; Possible gains for British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The article presents the condensed text of two reports published in Russian newspapers about Russia's economic policy in 2011. It focuses on the articles "Stop, Modernization," by Natalya Kostenko and others in the October 26, 2011 issue of "Vedomosti" and "Nothing to Be Proud Of" in the October 27, 2011 issue of the same paper. The decrease in funding for President Dmitry Medvedev's modernization initiatives is explored. Increased foreign investment in Russian assets is also discussed.

The article offers news briefs related to economy of China as of October 1, 2015. White paper has been issued by China on September 6, 2015 on Tibet disclosing the regional ethnic autonomy policy. Declaration of fixed assets on an online platform has been instructed to the local authorities by the Ministry of Land and Resources of China in second half the year. The income threshold has been increased for businesses to qualify for the tax reduction by the State Council of China.

The article discusses economic and political conditions in Ecuador, with a particular focus on budget shortfalls arising from drops in oil prices and the strength of the dollar. Details on Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa and on the country's public debt are also presented. Other topics include corruption and regulations allowing the government to issue electronic money and paper currency associated with its Central Bank.

This article discusses the impact of foreign investment within China. During a session of China's parliament, the head of the government's statistics service said that if mergers and acquisitions by foreign companies in China continued unchecked, China's brands and its innovative ability would disappear. The debate over foreigners intensified, with some papers publishing criticisms of the sale of stakes in Chinese state-owned banks to foreign banks.

This article focuses on United States Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan, whose term ends in January 2006. At this year's meeting of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, a collection of central bankers and economists, distinguished even by the elevated standards of Jackson Hole, Wyoming paid tribute to Alan Greenspan's 18 years as chairman of the Federal Reserve. Greenspan gave warning that an unusually long period of economic stability might have encouraged investors to accept lower risk premiums and thus inflated the prices of assets, such as shares and homes. Moreover, Mr Greenspan, who until recently gave short shrift to the idea of a housing bubble in America, said that the property boom was an "imbalance" and that prices of homes could fall. He argued that in future the Fed will need to pay more attention to asset prices. Despite Mr Greenspan's caution, the gathering preferred to focus on his past performance. His chief examiners were Alan Blinder (a former vice-chairman of the Fed) and Ricardo Reis, both of Princeton University, whose paper concluded that "he has a legitimate claim to being the greatest central banker who ever lived". According to Messrs Blinder and Reis, the main ingredients of Mr Greenspan's tenure have been intellectual flexibility, scepticism of economic models and forecasts and a preference for discretion over formal policy rules such as inflation targeting. Mr Greenspan's Fed sees monetary policy as risk management, looking not only at the most likely path for the economy but at all the possible paths it might follow. In any case, Mr Greenspan's words of caution at Jackson Hole were surely an attempt to lean against the current housing boom. Perhaps he is showing more intellectual flexibility on how to respond to asset prices than Messrs Blinder and Reis give him credit for.

The article focuses on economic conditions in Argentina. No matter where one goes in Argentina these days, evidence of the country's remarkable economic recovery is hard to avoid. In the northern Patagonian province of Rio Negro, the autumn apple crop has given way to hordes of skiers; near the Brazilian border, Chilean-owned factories churn out paper pulp; and in the beach resorts south-east of Buenos Aires, builders race to finish new homes in time for the holiday tenants who will flock there next January. Since its collapse in 2001-02, Argentina's economy has grown by a quarter. According to government estimates, it has finally surpassed its previous peak of May 1998. In another sign that the worst is over, on July 18, 2005 the government issued dollar bonds for the first time since its massive debt default of 2001. But while the economy may have recovered its former size, it is different in many other ways. Some of the imbalances of the 1990s have been fixed: budget deficits have turned into surpluses; devaluation has ignited exports; and the public debt has been restructured. Yet many ordinary Argentines see a country that is more unequal, less prosperous and less economically secure than it was seven years ago. Many of the new jobs are in the informal sector: Argentina has the same number of formal-sector employees today as it did in 1980, while the number of informal workers has doubled. Such jobs pay less. Real wages in service jobs are still a quarter below their pre-crisis level. The overall share of wages in GDP has declined by 15%.

Speculates on the motives of Robert Rubin, secretary of the U.S. Department of Finance during the administration of President Bill Clinton, for releasing a paper which criticized the economic policy of U.S. President George W. Bush. Concern of Rubin about the federal level budget deficit under President Bush; Reputation of Rubin; Economic views of Rubin; Democrats who are aiming for presidential nomination for the 2004 election that are inclined to adopt the views of Rubin.