Climate chaos concerns could affect exports

 Economy, Environment, Europe, Malaysian finance/business, United States  2 Responses »
Aug 172009
 

Ever notice how we have blissfully buried our heads in the sand when it comes to the effect of climate chaos on our economy and our country?

It is obvious that the prospect of climate chaos doesn’t figure prominently in our economic planning. Why, it’s just business as usual – though there is some recognition that our economy is too dependent on exports. For the most part, however, we are still stuck in the mould of trying to increase our exports to places like the US and the EU.

Well think again, those of you who think climate change has nothing to do with the way we do business. To cope with higher transport costs and to reduce their carbon footprint, firms in the West are now turning to suppliers closer to home. This is a major development, considering Malaysia’s traditional reliance on export-oriented manufacturing to drive our economy.

Continue reading »

 Posted by Anil Netto at 12.54am  Tagged with: , , , ,

The recession is biting; how are you coping?

 Development issues, Economy  17 Responses »
May 052009
 

The recession has reached our shores, with the IMF forecasting that the Malaysian economy will shrink by 3.5 per cent this year.

Is it affecting you? Is your job secure or have you been laid off? How are you coping? Have you stopped eating out?

Continue reading »

 Posted by Anil Netto at 11.31am  Tagged with: , ,

Economist: Deep recession won’t bottom out this year

 Economy, United States  2 Responses »
May 022009
 

Economist Nouriel Roubini says that an L-shaped near depression may be avoided given the policy measures undertaken by the Obama administration. All the same, in his RGE Monitor, he is now predicting that the current protracted U-shaped recession will not bottom out in the third quarter but will instead continue until next year:

One should recognize that US policy authorities – as well as the authorities of many other countries looked into the abyss of the risk of a near depression – given the free fall in global economic activity in the last two quarters – and decided to start using most of the weapons in their arsenals – bazookas, missiles, rockets, artillery, etc – in a financial policy equivalent of a Powell doctrine of overwhelming force in order to avoid a near depression. This is why now the risks of an L-shaped near depression – like the one that hit Japan after the bursting of its real estate and equity bubble – have been reduced.

Continue reading »

 Posted by Anil Netto at 12.00pm  Tagged with: , , ,
Page 1 of 41234