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in The Economist
by
The Economist, 8 May 2008
This article is little more than a list of the British prime minister's problems; that it's possible to fill a column that way pretty much sums up the Economist's position. Some things have been beyond his control -- the revival of the opposition Conservative party and the global economic slump -- but many problems, including the collapse of Northern Rock, stem from his own actions as Chancellor. It's not really credible that he'll be replaced before the next election, but he's going to have to do a much better job expressing what he stands for if his party is to avoid electoral carnage.
Posted 12:50, 13 May 2008
This abstract was written by
John Lister
and edited by Brijit.
in The Economist
by
The Economist, 8 May 2008
With infant mortality at 76 of 1,000 births and one-third of the country living under the poverty line, Myanmar is among "the world's neediest and least-helped countries," not least because its leadership is more interested in its own survival than its citizen's prosperity, The Economist effectively criticizes. In the wake of a devastating cyclone, the editors call for wisdom in humanitarian aid, as well as for pressuring China and Thailand to approach the junta about its scheduled constitutional referendum. Providing an excellent analysis of the post-cyclone crisis, the editors roundly condemn the junta for its "criminal" neglect of its citizens.
Posted 11:56, 13 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Bethany Stotts
and edited by Brijit.
in The Economist
by
The Economist, 8 May 2008
This brief, pragmatic editorial recommends a wait-and-see approach to dealing with new Russian president Dmitry Medvedev. For one thing, Vladimir Putin is still around as Prime Minister, and he may hold the real executive power. How Medvedev manages looming economic troubles, including problems with oil production, and chooses policies for relations with Western nations will determine whether the new regime is liberal or stuck in neutral, reluctant to modify attitudes toward free speech, political prisoners, or neighboring Georgia. What this bear (Medvedev) does, more than what he says, will make things clear soon enough.
Posted 11:34, 13 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Cath Stockbridge
and edited by Brijit.
in The Economist
by
The Economist, 8 May 2008
Supporters of the planned Federal Housing Administration say its scheme to reinsure home loans could help 1.5 million people keep their homes and prop up house prices. The Economist backs this view to a point: In many cases, renegotiation is better than the time-consuming and costly foreclosure process. But the voluntary scheme will make little difference in practice, and in most cases foreclosure is the correct market outcome for people who can't afford to live in their homes. The real solution is to make foreclosure a quicker process, but that's probably politically untenable. This frank opinion should at least provoke discussion.
Posted 11:17, 13 May 2008
This abstract was written by
John Lister
and edited by Brijit.
in The Economist
by
The Economist, 8 May 2008
Sixty years after Israel's birth, Palestinians are still waiting for their promised independent state. But while world leaders have dragged their heels -- America in particular seems reluctant to aid a cause that has such strong support among Islamic radicals -- Palestinian forces must also shoulder some of the blame. Until Hamas accepts that Israel has a right to exist and backs a two-state solution, little change is likely. The article is hardly groundbreaking, but it's a useful reminder of the big picture.
Posted 11:10, 13 May 2008
This abstract was written by
John Lister
and edited by Brijit.
in The Economist
by
The Economist, 8 May 2008
With mathematics against her, the only reason for Hillary Clinton to continue to fight is if she genuinely believes Barack Obama would be either unelectable or a poor President. The Economist, while still skeptical about Obama's policies, argues that his primary performance shows he has leadership capabilities. Further, claims that race will lose him votes seem overstated -- and in any case, he's proven he can bring new voters to the polls. While a well-balanced editorial in its own right, the real highlight is the reasoned and articulate debate in the site's comment section involving readers from around the world.
Posted 10:02, 13 May 2008
This abstract was written by
John Lister
and edited by Brijit.
in The Economist
by
The Economist, 1 May 2008
On his first anniversary as French president, The Economist dubs Nicolas Sarkozy a disappointment. He's certainly come across better on the global stage than predecessor Jacques Chirac, but his domestic reforms have been patchy at best. To some extent that's the inevitable result of worldwide economic problems, and his loss of popularity over the Carla Bruni affair hasn't helped. But at heart he's enacting contradictory policies, championing economic competition while intervening to protect local firms and jobs. The column reads a little like a school report, but it's clear the writers know their stuff and have given the subject plenty of thought.
Posted 10:17, 5 May 2008
This abstract was written by
John Lister
and edited by Brijit.
in The Economist
by
The Economist, 1 May 2008
On the face of it, China's attempts to boost its world status with the Olympics have motivated citizens into a shared anger against what they see as Western hostility to the nation, particularly over Tibetan politics. But fueling such passions simply increases the risk that the Chinese population will turn its rage on the government over corruption, environmental recklessness, and land-grabbing. Nobody is expecting Western nations to ease up on the political pressure, but eventually China's rulers will no longer be able to deflect the public's blame overseas. The writers don't tie the piece up neatly, but that's more a reflection of political complexity than poor reporting.
Posted 10:50, 4 May 2008
This abstract was written by
John Lister
and edited by Brijit.
in The Economist
by
The Economist, 1 May 2008
Britain’s Competition Commission and Office of Fair Trading are both following America's lead in cracking down on increasingly sophisticated cartels. The four dominant grocery store chains are feeling the heat, with the latest in a string of investigations centering on claims stores used food companies as intermediaries in fixing prices. Theoretically it should be difficult to manipulate branded goods in this way -- which makes it even more important that regulators get to the bottom of the allegations. The piece reads well but struggles to reach any real conclusion because the investigation is at such an early stage.
Posted 7:16, 4 May 2008
This abstract was written by
John Lister
and edited by Brijit.
in The Economist
by
The Economist, 1 May 2008
With markets stabilizing and gold prices coming back down, it seems financiers have passed the panic stage -- perhaps in relief at the Bear Stearns bailout, which showed the Fed wouldn't allow systemic collapse. But the outlook is still shaky: banks still must pay uncomfortable premiums to borrow cash, corporate bond defaults are becoming a familiar sight, house prices are still slumping, and consumers are facing real pain from fuel and food hikes. This clearly written leader article offers a wealth of evidence to support its assertions.
Posted 4:20, 2 May 2008
This abstract was written by
John Lister
and edited by Brijit.