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January 24, 2007
Davos 2007
The World Economic Forum has begun its 36th annual meeting in the eye-popping backdrop of Davos, Switzerland. Designed to be a forum for dialogue and problem-solving between some of the world's top economic and political leaders, critics of the forum have denounced the week as fluff meetings coupled with chic soirees that are more conducive to corporate lobbying and deal-making than eliminating world poverty or other global woes. Will 2007 dispel the criticisms?
Posted by Michelle Smith at 03:51 PM | Comments (0)
January 01, 2007
China Too Hot, Can't Put Out Flames
The words "overheated", "sizzling" and “red hot” have been used so many times recently to describe China's economy that you would think economists have developed a peculiar new penchant for TV cooking shows. These harsh warnings about future economic gloom in the country of 9% growth rates started as whispers in academic journals, were then pushed to newsprint by the media and are now being bellowed by politicians in the form of global conference agendas and altered foreign policies.
For a while Chinese authorities played deaf, relying on the unprecedented wealth pouring into their country as the decidedly universal solution to all future problems. Now, awakened by the realization that the gluttonous inflow could not only have an end but a devastating backwash of recession and job loss, they're starting to sweat.
Posted by Michelle Smith at 07:26 PM | Comments (0)