On 4 December, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the citizens of his country in his traditional speech on the state of the nation. This annual address, which can be divided into three parts – Economy, Foreign and Defence Policy – is intended primarily for the Russian people and describes the medium-term strategy of the Kremlin. According to the Russian President, the next four or five years are going to be very difficult and critical for Russia. Given the popular belief that the Russians are a nation of survivors who thrive in difficult situations and never give up, Putin proclaimed that they must face the challenges and win and, presenting himself as the only man capable of ensuring the stability of country, proposed 'not waste a good crisis like this one.'
The Prime Minister of Japan, conservative Shinzo Abe, announced last November 18 the dissolution of the House of Representatives of the Diet (lower house of the Japanese Parliament) and called for early general elections to be held on December 18. It is highly unlikely that the Japanese political landscape will change in such a short period of time as much as to make the coalition government headed by Abe, made up by the historic Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Buddhist party Komeito, lose their majority – currently overwhelming – in the House of Representatives. According to the polls, the LDP would reduce its parliamentary representation by 55 seats maximum, allowing for the comfortable survival of the ruling coalition.
As already mentioned, the external sector of the Spanish economy has recovered during the crisis, but unlike what happened in previous crises, in this case it has not been the result of competitive devaluations undertaken by the Government. The competitiveness gains observed are due other factors, including the positive behaviour of labour productivity.
The good news is that the publication of the comprehensive assessment results conducted by the European Central Bank and the European Banking Authority over the last year certifies the successful completion of the restructuring process of the Spanish banking system. An ambitious and complex exercise that has lasted for a year involving more than 6,000 professionals to audit the value of assets (Asset Quality Review, AQR) and measure the resilience of balances (stress tests) of 130 European entities before hypothetical adverse scenarios up to 2016.
The fact that the serious crisis that has hit world economy and which, in line with some forecast economic indicators, such as IFO or ZEW, both referring to German economy, still has some time ahead of it, complicates a recovery of the Spanish economy exclusively relying on domestic demand. Thus, foreign demand and competitiveness are key elements that require special attention.
The Spanish economy has a strong degree of momentum in terms of economic growth (above the European average) based on the significant expansion of domestic demand. Over the year and a half in which the present government has been in power, not a single significant economic measure has been introduced, although the effects of previous reforms continue to be felt.
12.11.2014. On 4 December, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the citizens of his country in his traditional speech on the state of the nation. This annual address, which can be divided into three parts – Economy, Foreign and Defence Policy – is intended primarily for the Russian people and describes the medium-term strategy of the Kremlin. According to the Russian President, the next four or five years are going to be very difficult and critical for Russia. Given the popular belief that the Russians are a nation of survivors who thrive in difficult situations and never give up, Putin proclaimed that they must face the challenges and win and, presenting himself as the only man capable of ensuring the stability of country, proposed 'not waste a good crisis like this one.'
11.28.2014. The Prime Minister of Japan, conservative Shinzo Abe, announced last November 18 the dissolution of the House of Representatives of the Diet (lower house of the Japanese Parliament) and called for early general elections to be held on December 18. It is highly unlikely that the Japanese political landscape will change in such a short period of time as much as to make the coalition government headed by Abe, made up by the historic Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Buddhist party Komeito, lose their majority – currently overwhelming – in the House of Representatives. According to the polls, the LDP would reduce its parliamentary representation by 55 seats maximum, allowing for the comfortable survival of the ruling coalition.
11.17.2014. As already mentioned, the external sector of the Spanish economy has recovered during the crisis, but unlike what happened in previous crises, in this case it has not been the result of competitive devaluations undertaken by the Government. The competitiveness gains observed are due other factors, including the positive behaviour of labour productivity.
11.13.2014. The good news is that the publication of the comprehensive assessment results conducted by the European Central Bank and the European Banking Authority over the last year certifies the successful completion of the restructuring process of the Spanish banking system. An ambitious and complex exercise that has lasted for a year involving more than 6,000 professionals to audit the value of assets (Asset Quality Review, AQR) and measure the resilience of balances (stress tests) of 130 European entities before hypothetical adverse scenarios up to 2016.
11.11.2014. The fact that the serious crisis that has hit world economy and which, in line with some forecast economic indicators, such as IFO or ZEW, both referring to German economy, still has some time ahead of it, complicates a recovery of the Spanish economy exclusively relying on domestic demand. Thus, foreign demand and competitiveness are key elements that require special attention.
12.20.2005. The Spanish economy has a strong degree of momentum in terms of economic growth (above the European average) based on the significant expansion of domestic demand. Over the year and a half in which the present government has been in power, not a single significant economic measure has been introduced, although the effects of previous reforms continue to be felt.