Comment
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Thursday, February 16, 2012 , by
Lino Spiteri
Likelihood of default by Greece
I am beginning to wonder whether Greece can or should stay in the eurozone, even if the troika on whom it depends for fresh financing to roll over the maturing part of its massive national debt play ball. It is not enough that the political class...
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Thursday, February 16, 2012 , by
Josette Grech
The European Foundation
A foundation is a set-up intended to pursue objectives benefiting the public at large, a set-up which is largely recognised in the domestic laws of the EU member states. Indeed, according to the European Commission, the flourishing foundation...
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Thursday, February 16, 2012 , by
Svetlana Borg
Implications of maternity leave extension on micro enterprises
A study investigating the implications of the extension in maternity leave as proposed in the Estrela Report (European Parliament, 2010) on Maltese micro enterprises has shown the proposals would negatively affect the majority of them.
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Thursday, February 16, 2012 , by
John Cassar White
Ireland’s lost generation
Ireland has once again become a country of emigrants. Following the collapse of the Irish Tiger economic model, thousands of young Irish are emigrating mainly to English speaking countries like Australia, Britain, Canada and the US. Some are also...
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Thursday, February 16, 2012 , by
Mario I. Blejer and Eduardo Levy Yeyati
The eurozone’s fork in the road
Many observers have recently declared that the eurozone debt crisis is practically resolved, or at least on hold for a few years. The falling yields at the Italian government’s last bond auctions in 2011 suggested a significant reduction in the...
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Thursday, February 16, 2012 , by
Barry Eichengreen
Europe’s Tobin tax distraction
At last, European leaders have revealed their top-secret plan for solving the euro’s crisis. And it is – drum roll – a version of the “Tobin tax,” a levy on financial transactions first suggested in 1972 by the Nobel laureate economist James...
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Thursday, February 16, 2012 , by
Laura Tyson
America’s three deficits
This year began with a series of reports providing tantalising evidence that economic recovery in the United States is strengthening. The pace of job creation has increased, indicators for manufacturing and services have improved, and consumption...
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Thursday, February 9, 2012 , by
Jacob Zuma and Tarja Halonen
Seizing sustainable development
The world is on an unsustainable path, and must urgently chart a new course forward, one that brings equity and environmental concerns into the economic mainstream. To do so, we must put sustainable development into practice now, not in spite of...
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Thursday, February 9, 2012 , by
Lino Spiteri
Not quite like striking gold
The Prime Minister lost no time in presenting to the House of Representatives the first reading of a Bill to amend the Constitution to incorporate the decision taken by eurozone leaders last week to embed a provision to ensure that national...
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Thursday, February 9, 2012 , by
Mariosa Vella Cardona
Reform of data protection rules
European citizens ought to shortly enjoy greater protection of their personal data. Similarly, the business community ought to be shortly rewarded with less bureaucracy when complying with data protection rules. These are the two objectives that...
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Thursday, February 9, 2012 , by
Jayanta Roy Chowdhury
The Commonwealth: A free trade area?
“I believe the Commonwealth is uniquely placed to make the case for trade and to catalyse an increase in investment and trade which quite frankly is the single biggest and most important stimulus we can give our economies right now”,...
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Thursday, February 9, 2012 , by
John Cassar White
Management of the family’s energy bill
Tough economic times are ideal for making resolutions that will hopefully make our lives better in the coming year. Frugality and prudence have once again become fashionable and some families will be thinking on how to stretch their pay cheques...
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Thursday, February 9, 2012 , by
Edmund S. Phelps and Saifedean Ammous
Blaming capitalism for corporatism
The future of capitalism is again a question. Will it survive the ongoing crisis in its current form? If not, will it transform itself or will government take the lead? The term “capitalism” used to mean an economic...
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Thursday, February 9, 2012 , by
Andrew J. Zammit
Attracting the ‘Best of Breed’ to Malta’s financial services
Managing growth Malta has attracted much media attention as an up-and-coming onshore financial centre, particularly since the 2008 economic slowdown. It has become widely acknowledged as an EU jurisdiction where things get done...
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Thursday, February 9, 2012 , by
John A. Consiglio
Away from economic history
Iregularly bump into individuals who ask me why is it that many of my articles have an economic history bias, rather than strict focus on current happenings, especially from our midst. The reasons are obvious: experientia docet (time is the best...
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Thursday, February 9, 2012 , by
Celia Mifsud
New 2012 Overtime Regulations in force
On January 31 the Ministry of Justice, Dialogue and the Family published Legal Notice 46 of 2012 entitled “Overtime Regulations 2012” which entered into force on the same day. This law introduces a new system within our employment...
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Thursday, February 2, 2012 , by
Lino Spiteri
Smaller end of a big thing
Running a business is never easy. Taking care of a small-to-medium one can be more difficult still. That is one reason why there exists a Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises – GRTU, as the former General and Retailers’ Union is now called. Th...
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Thursday, February 2, 2012 , by
Josette Grech
Employment: Past and upcoming developments
Well into the new year, it is fitting to review some of the key legislative and case law developments from the EU during 2011 and touchbase on what 2012 may bring in the constant evolving world of employment law. Last year saw moun...
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Thursday, February 2, 2012 , by
Javier Solana
Austerity vs. Europe
It is now increasingly clear that what started in late 2008 is no ordinary economic slump. Almost four years after the beginning of the crisis, developed economies have not managed a sustainable recovery, and even the better-off countries reveal...
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Thursday, February 2, 2012 , by
Algirdas Šemeta
Financial Transactions Tax: Re-balancing the debate
A European Financial Transactions Tax is moving ever closer to becoming a reality. There is a steady convergence on many aspects of the Commission’s proposal, and constructive input into resolving the sticking points. In parallel,...
