Category Archives: European Union

EU Bans Iran from Trading Gold and Other Precious Metals

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Les Jones

Reuters report that the EU has agreed to freeze the assets of the Iranian central bank and ban all trade in gold and other precious metals with the Iranian Central Bank and other public bodies in Iran. According to IMF … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, European Union | Tagged gold, iran, silver | Leave a comment

Charles Smith on the the Euro as 21st Century Colonialism

Posted on November 1, 2011 by Les Jones

Charles Smith – EU Leaders Throw Europe a Plutonium Life Preserver: A slightly more formal model for understanding the increasingly unstable dynamics of the EU is the post-colonial “plantation” model I’ve described here before. The key characteristics of the Colonial … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, European Union | 1 Comment

S&P Downgrades Greece Two Notches

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Les Jones

Bloomberg – Greece Joins Belarus as Europe’s Lowest-Rated Country After S&P’s Debt Cut: Greece‘s credit rating was cut two levels to B from BB- by Standard & Poor’s, which said further reductions are possible as the risk of default rises. … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, European Union | Tagged debt, greece | Comments Off

Irish Central Bank Printing 51 Billion Euros

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Les Jones

Central Bank steps up its cash support to Irish banks financed by institution printing own money: A spokesman for the ECB said the Irish Central Bank is itself creating the money it is lending to banks, not borrowing cash from … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, European Union, Politics, Polls | Tagged inflation, what could possiblie go wrong? | Comments Off

“How Likely Is Greece to Default?”

Posted on October 14, 2010 by Les Jones

“It Would Be a Downright Miracle If They Didn’t!”

Posted in Economics, European Union | Tagged greece | 1 Comment

The EU’s Web of Debt

Posted on May 6, 2010 by Les Jones

The New York Times – In and Out of Each Other’s European Wallets: Like the alliances that drew one country after another into World War I, a default by a single nation would send other countries tumbling. If that message … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, European Union | Comments Off

Albert Edwards’ uncheerful thoughts on the world economy

Posted on February 15, 2010 by Les Jones

Zero Hedge – Albert Edwards: At 500% Net Liabilities To GDP, It Is Too Late To Prevent The Collapse Of The G-7; Greece Is Irrelevant, We Are All Now Insolvent: For Greece, with on and off balance sheet liabilities at … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, European Union | Tagged greece, inflation, we're doomed | Comments Off

England vs. France

Posted on September 16, 2009 by Les Jones

Since I’m not up for much blogging, here’s some more Theodore Dalrymple, this time discussing his decision in 2004 to leave his ancestral home in England for France. Escape from barbarity:

Posted in European Union | Tagged theodore dalrymple | Comments Off

Eric Posner on American Exceptionalism

Posted on November 7, 2008 by Les Jones

“There are two versions of American exceptionalism. American-American exceptionalism is “we’re richer because we’re better.” European-American exceptionalism is “you’re better because you’re richer.” Both sides agree on exceptionalism, and just see different causes and implications. The Europeans expect us, on … Continue reading →