Economics

By Oxfam International – An explosion in extreme wealth and income is exacerbating inequality and hindering the world’s ability to tackle poverty, Oxfam warned in a briefing* published on 19 January 2013 ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos. The $240…

IRIN* The World Economic Forum has released its eighth annual Global Risks Report, which lists top global threats identified by a survey of over 1,000 experts. As in last year’s report, 2013’s risks were topped by economic and financial concerns,…

Three, two, one, zero… The sales are now on.  Offers, discounts, % off… fill the shop windows of the high streets and the shopping centres.  It is the time to buy and to buy cheaply.  But… Is what we’re buying…

When the cost of labour started to rise in China a few years ago, many manufacturers thought it would be a smart move to decamp to smaller Southeast Asian countries such as Cambodia where wages were a lot lower and…

The Bolivian Tax Office (SIN in its Spanish acronym) has closed the 2012 period with a total tax collection of 37,459.5 million bolivianos (5,421.34 million US dollars), a total which represents an increase of 24% with respect to what was…

We are saved —so our politicians tell us —from a plunge off the fiscal cliff. In all reports, however, it is mentioned that President Obama settled for a slice of what he claimed to be after, which was to raise…

Germany and Switzerland: two solid financial rocks in the EU crisis or just fantastic at “social maquillage”? (with thanks to Mr. Kundera). These days the EU is going through serious growing pains. The economic disciplining is in full motion and…

– UK Uncut successfully targets Starbucks over tax avoidance and impact of government cuts on women – Over 40 protests across the UK take place at Starbucks shops today, in UK Uncut’s biggest day of action – Protesters stage sit-ins…

By R. Nastranis Church leaders from around the world have expressed solidarity with the much pooh-poohed and crisis-ridden Greece in a two-day visit to the country during which they met Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece as well…

An offshoot of Occupy Wall Street has launched a new movement called “Rolling Jubilee” to buy distressed debt from financial firms, often for pennies on the dollar, and then canceling it so that borrowers do not have to repay. The…