Turmoil exposes Indonesia’s economic vulnerability
For many Indonesians, the soy-based tempeh is a poor man's meat, so when tempeh makers went on a three-day strike this month to protest rising soybean prices, low-income people were…
German business confident as China shifts gears
Confident or complacent, German business executives are bullish about their chances of profiting from China's transition to an economy fired by consumption rather than investment. As China deliberately dampens its…
An elitist Pakistan
The sufferings of Pakistani poor and less privileged classes will not end unless elitist structures are dismantled and the society is restructured on the principles of equity, fairness and justice…
Italy red-faced over deportation of Kazakh dissident family
The Italian government has been embarrassed by allegations that police illegally arrested and hastily deported to Kazakhstan the wife of an opposition leader and critic of the oil-rich regime, along…
Pakistan and leadership transition in China
Since the 1990s, China's top leaders serve a maximum of two five-year terms. With the last batch of leaders having reached the end of their second term last year, there…
Muslims need a new road map
Dry academic debates hold as much charm for me as they do for most readers. But when Dr Tariq Ramadan speaks, you cannot help but pay attention. One of the…
Pakistan’s economy – II
Lessons of experience Positive policy actionsThe above brief economic history narrative suggests several points. Political leaders, both civil and military, have had a major impact on the course of economic…
Everything’s almost free in Spain’s parallel barter economy
It can be argued that extra-judicial interventions first by Ghulam Mohammad as Governor General in 1951 and later by military regimes and disregard of the Constitution - facilitated by either…
Emerging economies
Since long, Pakistan is locked up in a situation of economic volatility, infrastructural deficit, financial disaster in public sector entities and growing poverty. Reformatory policies undertaken by different sectors of…
Make-or-break month for Merkel’s deputy Roesler
Germany's deputy chancellor, Philipp Roesler, faces a make-or-break month as head of the Free Democrats, with a key speech to his pro-business party Sunday and elections in his home state…
