New economic crisis engulfing South countries
By Martin Khor
A new economic crisis is engulfing several developing countries which face sharp currency depreciation and capital outflows. This is caused by the boombust cycles in capital flows originating in profit-seeking investor behaviour in developed countries. (more…)
When Foreign Investors Sue the State
By Martin Khor
The investor-state dispute system, whereby foreign investors can sue the government in an international tribunal, is one of the issues being negotiated in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement and other free trade agreements.
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When Foreign Investors Sue the State
By Martin Khor
The investor-state dispute system, whereby foreign investors can sue the government in an international tribunal, is one of the issues being negotiated in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement and other free trade agreements. In the recent public debate surrounding the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), an issue that seems to stand out is the investor-state dispute settlement system (ISDS). It enables foreign investors of TPPA countries to directly sue the host government in an international tribunal. (more…)
New Threat to Economic Role of the State
By Martin Khor
The economically successful developing countries are characterised as having a strong “developmental state”. But this role of the state is coming under attack in new global rules being created. Two new trade agreements involving the two economic giants, the United States and European Union, are leading a charge against the role of the state in the economy in developing countries. Attention should be paid to this initiative as it has serious repercussions on the future development plans and prospects of the developing countries. (more…)
Why the US and Europe Have Not Managed Their Economic Crises Properly
By Yılmaz Akyüz, Chief Economist, South Centre
This is the first in a series of articles by the South Centre’s chief economist on the current global economic situation. This first article analyses why the economic policies of the US and Europe have been inappropriate in getting these major economies out of the crisis. The next few articles provide more details of this. Further articles will deal with how the developing countries’ economies are experiencing the adverse spillover effects of these major economies’ policies.
Winds of change blowing in Asia
By Martin Khor
The APEC and TPPA summits in Bali recently showed the winds of change are blowing in the region, symbolised by the US President’s absence but also reflecting the aptness or otherwise of policies.
‘Obama must apologise for NSA snooping’
By Shobhan Saxena
The following is an interview with former Brazilian President, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, which was recently published in the Indian daily newspaper The Hindu. The interview covered a range of topical and interesting issues.
SouthViews is reproducing this interview. The copyright is with The Hindu.
No respite, 5 years after Lehman
By Martin Khor
Five years after the Lehman Brothers collapse triggered the global financial crisis, there are still no effective financial regulations in developed countries, while the developing countries face big new challenges.
Development-led Globalization Requires De-colonizing the MDGs
By Manuel Montes
The big attraction of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), or at least the first seven of these, was their near universal acceptability. It mobilized both resources and politics, both nationally and internationally, in pursuit of reducing poverty, hunger, gender inequality, malnutrition and disease.
50 years of Development Planning in Africa: Retrospect and Prospects
By Carlos Lopes
A new era of development planning is emerging in Africa, says the new head of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, in this wide-ranging review. He gave this opening speech at the 50th anniversary conference of the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP).
Africa Has Entered A New Season of Planning and Long-Term Development Thinking
By Adebayo Olukoshi
This article, originally a background note for the “IDEP at 50” Conference, traces the history of economic planning in Africa and concludes that there is now a “new season” of planning and long-term development thinking in the region. This analysis is by the Director of the United Nations African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP).
G77 on Food and Agriculture: Subsidies of Rich Countries and Commodity Speculation Must Be Curbed
The G77 and China made a statement on SDGs and food security and sustainable agriculture as well as health, stressing the need for developed countries to cut rich countries’ agriculture subsidies and for curbing speculation in commodity markets that result in price volatility. Many developing countries that were self sufficient in or exporters of food now depend on imports. Below are excerpts of the statement presented by Ambassador Peter Thomson of Fiji, Chair of the G77 and China, on behalf of the Group, at the third session of the UN working group on SDGs, on 22 May 2013.
