In reality, the likelihood that the Rajoy scandal will force the collapse of the current right-of-center government is slim. But investors are right to be concerned, because political stability involves more than the survival of a country’s government — it also requires the trust of the electorate in the institutions that govern them. Allegations of corruption at the highest level are corroding that trust in Spain. Article
Women face persistent discrimination when they apply for finance for their business or self-employment and are often concentrated in unsafe, insecure and low-wage work…article
Using taxes already in place to do fiscal devaluation and build the economy. Video
The first thing to say is that Bangladesh has an energy problem the scale of which tends to be, like the country as a whole, hugely underreported. According to the World Bank, there is no country where businesses find it more difficult to get electricity than Bangladesh. In its latest “Doing Business Survey”, the bank ranks Bangladesh an unflattering 185 out of 185 in this category. More than 60% of people do not have access to electricity. Article
The Commission has today adopted two proposals to reinforce the EU’s existing rules on anti-money laundering and fund transfers. The threats associated with money laundering and terrorist financing are constantly evolving, which requires regular updates of the rules.EC_PressRelease_AML_5.2.13
Techniques for giving girls confidence in math and science can also be applied to finance. Article
Are the BRICs out as investments? Jim O’Neill, Mr. BRIC, is still high on China, but it looks like he will now spend his time at Manchester United football games. Read in Reuters
The cost of government borrowing has eased in Europe, but take a look at Spain. With an unemployment rate of 26 percent — about one in three of all jobless people across the euro area — Spain is entering its fifth year of recession and the pace of contraction is actually accelerating. The country’s austerity-first approach to budget policy is a main reason. Article
The Spanish prime minister, and his People’s Party (PP) seem determined to bluster their way past the growing weight of evidence that, for a long time, they ran a double accounting system designed to dodge party funding laws and used it to pay senior party members regular cash extras which they may, or may not, have declared to tax authorities. Article
For the first time in its history, the International Monetary Fund has censured a member country for the poor quality of its economic data, after the Fund announced Friday it was issuing a “declaration of censure” against Argentina.
There is an overall tendency by numerous governments to provide false or misleading data in order to prevent sanctions for non-compliance with international agreements….Press Release No. 13/33 – Statement by the IMF Executive Board on Argentina