How Long Will China’s Slowdown Hurt U.S. Markets?
China’s economy, after prolonged signs of weakness, now appears to be stabilizing. Good news? That is not clear, because it is stabilizing at a lower rate of growth. The great, big boom years—14.2 percent growth at their rosiest, in 2007—may…
Why China’s Telecoms Should be Kept Out of the U.S.
Last week’s report from the House Select Committee on Intelligence appears to be a good example of China bashing. After a yearlong investigation, lawmakers recommended that two Chinese telecom companies, Huawei Technologies and ZTE, be kept out of the U.S….
EU Crisis: Protect the Euro or Ensure Stability?
Most of us thought the crisis in Europe had to do with holding the euro together. It is not so simple after last week’s tumult—in Greece, in Portugal, in Spain, even in Germany. What is at issue now is not…
Europe Got the Buyout but Will It Get the Buy In?
The best that could be hoped for: That is the obvious way to look at the European Central Bank’s new plans to buy up the bonds of troubled members of the European Union. The markets loved the announcement last Thursday:…
As Merkel Goes, So Goes the European Union
The European Union is likely to take a step to finalize the Continent’s economic and financial recovery strategy. And make no mistake: We all have an interest in this phase of Europe’s protracted struggle to reshape itself. This Thursday, Mario…
China, Dying for Growth, Is Paying a High Price
You may have read about the bridge that collapsed in northern China this past weekend. It was all of nine months old. Four trucks went down with the 330-foot span that gave way: three deaths and five injuries. Poor design,…
Three Global Hotspots that Can Damage the Recovery
Wories to the west of us, worries to the east. It is hardly the kind of August to encourage us to head for the beach and try to get through Proust for the 16th time. There are signs we are…
At Last, a Smart Life-Saving Plan for Europe
Whatever it takes” seems to have acquired a totemic meaning among the world’s central bankers. It has long been among the favored market-calming phrases uttered by Ben Bernanke, chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve. Now Mario Draghi, head of the…
Europe’s Juggling Act: Cuts, Tax Hikes, Bailouts
On the face of it, last week did not look like a very good one for Europe—not if you think it is time to push growth as well as fiscal discipline. Just days after Spain announced a $79 billion package…
China’s ‘Command Economy’ Rebound Depends on Jobs
Western observers are more nervous about China’s economic slump than the Chinese seem to be. We have had a raft of first-half numbers from Beijing over the past week or so as Prime Minister Wen Jiabao toured several eastern and…
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