MADRID | Dennis Lockhart, president of the Atlanta Federal Reserve: “Why couldn’t we grow by a higher rate? Because people still are in the middle of a deleveraging process, which makes it near impossible that consumption takes off again.”
According to Alexander Golts, the Munich Security Conference marks the lowest point in US-Russia relations for the past 20 years.
By Revista Consejeros | Roberto Higuera, deputy president of Banco Popular: “When they had trouble with Hypo Ryal more than €100 billion were needed, whereas in Spain it turned out that we could do with less than €40 billion. What marked the difference is that Spain had to ask for help, while Germany put the money from its own pocket.”
LONDON | Heathrow company said it will deliver £248 million of savings to minimise airline charges by improving operational efficiency. It will retire old facilities such as Terminal 1 and invest in new facilities.
Ronny Patz | We seem far from having only technocratic European debates. We seem far from only hearing national politician’s views on the national aspects of European politics.
By Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, analyst at XTB | For all the noise these scandals bring about, the pressure on Merkel should not abate. The eurozone needs that Germany relaxes its stand on public investment cuts, and efficient measures to deal with sovereign debt should be agreed by core country members.
By Ralf Grahn, lawyer | Political agreement among the heads of state or government is not the end of the EU budget story. According to Article 312(2) Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), the Council needs the consent of at least 378 MEPs (a majority of the 754 members).
MADRID | By Carlos Díaz Guell | “Certain judges and prosecutors without recognized political affiliation have begun to consider the need to undertake a reform against corruption like the one that took place in Italy more than one decade ago.”
China’s economic miracle was possible thanks to three decades of cheap manufacturing and exports. Thousands of workers left their villages to become the cheap labour force of China’s southern cities. Now this is a thing of the past.
LONDON | By Jeremy Beckwith, chief investment officer of London Wall Partners LLP | “In contrast to the jobless recoveries seen in many Western countries after the 2001 downturn, the UK is experiencing a job-creating recession that is the cause of great head-scratching amongst economists.”