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Modern Magazine
Occident al Revendic ating Justice
Digitally Signed By Central Offices Official 1451 Brookedale AVE Suite A201 Cornwall Ontario Canada
Alain Lalonde Official Document ORJ Central Offices Monday 01 December 2008 10:40:45 AM -08:00
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Modern Magazine
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P a g e | 5 Index Table Of Contents
1. Index
Page
5
2. Introduction
Page
7
3. Revisions
Page
9
4. Preamble
Page 21
5. Modern Magazine July 30, 1999 The Euro Hammer
Page 27
6. Modern Magazine July 30, 1999 The Need For A New Regulatory Board
Page 30
7. Modern Magazine July 15, 1998 Economic Controlling Interests
Page 38
8. Modern Magazine January 23 2000 Financiers Finance Ministers In Regulatory Board---Bribe denied
Page 44
9. Modern Magazine February 7, 2000 Irrational Exuberance---Only In Certain Cases
Page 53
10. Modern Magazine May 8, 2000 Poverty Rules
Page 57
11. Reference
Page 60
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Introduction
Modern Magazine is a source of information and elucidation for interested members of the society. It has striven to fulfill this need and continues to endeavour to be a clear unabridged accounting of relevant issues of Modern times. It is with this in mind and in keeping with widely dispersed factors of world affairs, that synthesis without denigration of important issues and items/sectors/relevant segments, which we strive to communicate to others who may be able to further evolve our place in relation to our strength. The goal is still the interest of the individual, and the duty of the whole apparatus of modern times is still to create a climate of prosperity and empowerment. Let us not forget that all great politico‐socio and philological conspirators have given rise to or have been given rise by irrelevancy of large portions of the strata of life that culminated into relevant issues by which those very people were thus placed beneath and subservient to remedies in contradiction to their very fibre and essence.
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P a g e | 9 Revisions
These Revisions should act as a means of viewing issues as they are with a tinge of the obfuscation they were allowed to carry their validity with. It should be where merited be a judgment of the writer, and in turn a judgment on the protagonists, and in turn a judgment of the actors of today which were not on the scene then. In the article dated July 30, 1999, The Euro Hammer there is this paragraph:
“It would certainly not be the goal as they and everyone say, to let it become anterior to the value of the Dollar; superior neither for superiority promulgates trade protectionist measures, and mefeance. They would like it to be at an even par or slightly better than the American Dollar. And it would make perfect sense.”
This has for all intents and purposes occurred with one differentializing item of interest. While they are the same market pressures as they have not experienced a regional meltdown in the tech sector.
The Reckoning Of The 1970s (Diane Lindstrom) A reckoning came for U.S. businesses in the 1970s. Other nations closed the technological gap. They built new, more modern and efficient factories and staffed them with workers earning low wages, especially in comparison with U.S. workers. American manufacturers began to face withering competition from foreign producers who not only could make goods cheaper, but also could often make them better. And these foreign companies were eager to penetrate the
P a g e | 10 world’s largest market, the United States. Not only did they peddle their wares in the United States, increasingly they assembled them there as well. American business responded in a number of ways. Some sought subsidy and tariff protection from the U.S. government. Others became more efficient and dediversified—that is, they sold off many of their subsidiaries in unrelated industries. They also reduced their labor forces in the United States and abroad, shedding layers of management and laying off thousands of production workers. Rather than produce the entire product within the firm, more and more work was outsourced—that is, purchased from other businesses in the United States or abroad.
Foreign competition was not the only challenge business faced. Beginning in the 1960s and continuing in the 1970s, Americans demanded still more government regulation of business. Reformers secured more than 100 laws to protect the environment, ensure on-the-job safety, and guarantee employment opportunity to women and minorities. New agencies were created such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to enforce the new more stringent laws.
The Reagan Era
The 1980s, however, saw a reaction to increased governmental regulation. President Ronald Reagan capitalized on the widely shared belief that government had become too intrusive. Deregulation, begun in the airlines and public utilities, spread to other industries, notably banking and energy. Antimonopoly cases in the courts all but disappeared. Government seemed to become more lenient with the realization that American firms now had to compete with large and successful foreign businesses. Federal, state, and local governments enacted tax cuts on both businesses and wealthy individuals to encourage investment in American business.
They have not been imperilled by a crisis in the financial sector and their area of i
trade hegemony is expanding, not contracting. (Read)
P a g e | 11 At the same time, the U.S. has seen their completion drive the IMF into South America with a vengeance, while the devaluation of the S.A.’s currency has created several gigantic crises.
The logistical impoverishment of collectivism, through denigrating cerebral equity
It is uncertain whether these are sound postures in an international market economy, as it is ubiquitous and uncertain. Foreign interests will compete with these, and with a high degree of probability simply rebuke them out of hand. Their principle causes in casting them out of their realm of influence will either be fear, or minimalized impression as to their ultimate objective: prosperity. It would be far better had they engaged in an outward aggression…hostile or otherwise, with this objective of proffering idea and cause, rather than simply selling greed. Now it is too late as can be evinced by these vacuous vulgarities.
(Kojima, 2005)
As stated by National Institute For Research Advancement (NIRA) Akira Kojima said that the 1997 financial crisis robbed Asia of the self-confidence that the region had started to enjoy as a result of rapid economic growth and development. The way that the IMF had responded to the crisis invited strong criticism and prompted calls for a review of the entire Bretton Woods machinery. At the centre of the accusation was the view that the IMF had made a diagnosis based on the "60 years old" economic model and issued an outdated prescription in disregard of the structural and qualitative changes that had taken place in the global economy. Critics noted that
P a g e | 12 this prescription in fact aggravated the Asian crisis, throwing Indonesia's politics and economy into a critical condition. Malaysia rejected the IMF's prescription and tightened its control over capital transactions. The IMF traditionally encourages capital liberalisation and financial deregulation as a basic policy. The IMF and the U.S. government, its de facto administrator, rebuked Malaysia strongly for its counterliberalisation measures. However, they began to adjust their positions as the problems with a "cyber" market of global capital entered the discussion and as Malaysia relaxed its restrictive measures after the critical stage had passed. The IMF is thus gradually revising its prescriptions, which are becoming more in agreement with current economic realities. However, the IMF also has argued that the institution's policy has remained consistent and that it was the economic conditions that had changed. The bitterest critic of the IMF was Joseph E. Stiglitz, then Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of the World Bank, who said that in the Asian crisis, the IMF had become part of the problem, not part of the solution. The lesson was that the IMF became incapable of responding to the advancement of monetary and capital markets that no one had anticipated when the institution was established: the birth of a global economy backed by capital and financial liberalisation, the cyber transactions of money and capital through the Internet accelerated by revolutionary advancement of Information Technology, and the separation of the real economy from the virtual "money economy" in response to these two fundamental changes. At the time of the Asian crisis, Japan advanced a plan to establish the Asian Monetary Fund (AMF), an Asian version of the IMF. However, strong opposition from the IMF and the U.S. government effectively blocked this plan. Turning to the WTO, Kojima said that China's entrance into the WTO in 2001 was symbolic and historic in two ways: (1) it transformed the WTO into a genuinely global organization, and (2) China had now become part of the global economy.
P a g e | 13 There are presently 148 WTO members and this unwieldy number has rendered it difficult for the WTO to agree on any given issue. Coordinating member interests in the course of new rounds of multilateral trade talks has become increasingly complex. Given these circumstances, the number of separate free trade agreements (FTAs) is increasing at an explosive pace. According to the WTO, there were a total of 114 FTAs in force worldwide with approximately 30 additional FTAs pending as of November 2004. Many FTAs were said to supplement the WTO. However, an imbalance is clear when new WTO rounds of discussions yield no progress, while FTAs continue to multiply. Professor Bhagwati of Columbia University, a strong free trade advocate and multilateralist, fears that the network of FTAs may turn into what he refers to as a "chaotic spaghetti bowl." Whether this will take place remains to be seen. We know that there is wide variation among FTAs. We also know that these agreements tend to discriminate against non-signatories. There is no guarantee that more FTAs will strengthen the WTO regime. There is also a real possibility that FTAs will apply the brakes to narrow-minded nationalism, which is arguably more dangerous than regionalism. However, international trade based on FTAs will become a destabilizing factor in the global economy if it forces countries to swim with this tide into poverty. The U.S. is currently the largest IMF investor and this position gives it the same de facto veto power as at the UN. This system has become remote from global economic reality, just as the UNSC is in dire need of reform. The IMF is unable to increase its capital or to ask China to supply funds in proportion to the latter's capacity to do so, due to a system that pegs member influence to proportionate stake. In spite of a shortage of funds that prevents it from playing its assigned role, the IMF cannot take either step, because both would require members to readjust their stakes and thus dilute their relative influence.
P a g e | 14 The deficient perspicacity lends itself to the following counterpart of woeful projections as relevant before as is now. (Mitchell, 1994) Instead, many entrants are existing firms that already operate businesses in other product markets (Dunne, Roberts, and Samuelson, 1988) and are diversifying by entering a new market, while many firms end their participation in a product market by selling their businesses to other firms (Aldrich and Auster, 1986).
The problem is that this is double jeopardy, as the United States of America has previously de‐diversified, and abandoned the Asian emerging markets when the corrupt accounting practices melted down the Asian financial markets during the Asian flu of 1997. This coincided with an interesting blip in monetary value and High Technology production. But first let us examine what effect diversification has upon emerging technologies, and diversified companies. (Mitchell, 1994)Dissolution is likely to destroy some of the new capabilities that a business introduced to the product market. Although other companies might have learned from the entrants' experience, any organization-specific elements of the businesses' routines are lost. By contrast, when a business is sold, capabilities are transferred to a new owner and continue to be part of commercial practice (Nelson and Winter, 1982; Freeman, Carroll, and Hannan, 1983; Wernerfelt, 1984). Business entry by start-up firms and diversifying entrants and business exit by dissolution and divestiture thus play important roles in the introduction and retention of capabilities within a product market.
Furthermore alarm bells should sound a clarion call within this respectful paradigm:
(Mitchell, 1994)Although other companies might have learned from the entrants' experience, any organization-specific elements of the businesses' routines are lost.
P a g e | 15 Their (the U.S.) monetary policy truly is “anterior to the value of the dollar”, for it is””superior neither for superiority”. They (The EU) can also afford to proselytize and invest in their own respective sphere of influence. Namely eastern Europe and the far East without fear that it “promulgates trade protectionist measures” Opposite to these concerns, the American financials have precipitated an spin off of aggressive monetary policy, and reinvented a Adam Smith economic model of protectionism against America, instead they have supplanted British shop keepers for American shop keepers, and as well supplanted Asian shops for American shops, doing themselves a great disfavor indeed. As can be seen in the historical review of the Launch of the Euro, pre Euro monetary policy in Europe, the Asian flu, and the information technology or high tech sector. This information as seen in the document provided in PDF form entitles NSF Trends In High Technology Industries revealed in a ubiquitous fashion data to this effect. In chapter or bookmark High‐Technology Industries the numbers were extrapolated. What informations reveal are a time period tantamount to a blip as delineated. This blip shows the impact stratagem and confirmative prevalence of U.S. involvement.
NSF Trends In High Technology Economie
(Asia’s Rising, 2007) Growth was largest in 1996 to 2000 with $2 600 478 Asia had a growth in that period of $247 165 (2000) $338 797 (1996) for a total within that period of $585 962 million (1997) Dollars. EU15 had a growth in that period of
P a g e | 16 $169 558 (2000) $216 794 (1996) for a total within that period of $386 352 million (1997) Dollars.
Growth from any other time period was by and large static But from 2000 to 2003 Asia had a growth in that period of $378 080 (2000) $338 797 (1996) for a total within that period of $716 877 million (1997) Dollars.
EU15 had a growth in that period of $222 000 (2000) $216 024 (1996) for a total within that period of $438 024 million (1997) Dollars As is observable the accelerated growth of new technology and lax monetary policy in Asia (The cause of the Asian flu) created the greatest growth. It is therefore no coincidence the world share at this exact time was the sole instance Both Asia and EU15 grew. This is further enforced by the general growth which continues at a steady rate minus the continual acceleration of growth in the United States and without maintenance of the share of world value added. It was here where monetary policy was more stable, static, and countervailed by investment in new technology and combined with competitive retention of new technology.
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For confirmation of this see table 17 highlighted by MM. It would be a mistake to assume this is due to the EU 15 retaining their technological resource because it was wise of them. It is more likely they have failed to take advantage of the previous highlighted graph, due to the monetary policy effective upon market share and affected by competition with the American dollar. This trend will reach a tipping point, if it doesn’t cease in other aspects altogether of the economy. If this was false, the EU would not be the only region left out of the cold. This is a reapportioning of the flux of either growth or diminution. By observing the growth period at issue of the parameters of this economy observations conclusions grant ascendency of a European model, or an American model of economy. As observed in the percentile share of world total the U.S. has had after an initial growth of rapid accession to the forefront of initial innovation, a transitory to a static growth. Yet the total output has continued to grow by 511 316 in 2003 from 426 802 in 2000 for a total accrued ascendency of 938 118. Far more than the EU. Yet the indicator of growth or shrinkage is a reapportioning of percentile which is a diminution of the European Model. China has also seen a comparable growth to that of the U.S. model. This affects the stability and viability of a market to handle new technology and to expand companies holdings, and profit as well as all operable integers within its economic strategy. This triangulation of political, economic, and technological has spurred one of the three far in advance than the others. However only in this reapportioning, China has grown a total of 7.9 percent in its share (of world total). Why? The years of growth for the EU has been solely exclusive to the years surrounding the Asian Flue of 1996 to 2000. The only exceptions are Singapore and Malaysia. However the total growth has not diminished. The direct correlation is unavoidable: investment slowdowns in Asian democracies have been cut off due to the market abuses in Asian democracies, or emerging democracies. This removes multinational firms based out of either the U.S. from the picture, as well as those based in the EU community. Without investment or implication, the abandonment has left both models in abandoned flux, with no prospect of entering into the greatest emerging market
P a g e | 18 of all. It is for this reason alone we have witness a drain of the Western tech sector, since their sole produce is innovation and new technologies. These however are not based upon creative production of new founded business but rather simply because of productivity as in “productivity in durable‐goods manufacturing apart from computers, and in the manufacturing of non‐durable goods, actually grew more slowly in the most recent period than during the "slowdown" years of 1972‐95” as related in the Modern Magazine issue of July 30, 1999 The Need For A New Regulatory Board. This has also been reflected in the stability of these economic models, for productivity is linked to production and incorporation of production. The disastrous scenario which our leaders have not had the foresight to avoid is the loss of Jobs due to our isolation and usages of our own advancements and the breaking of business routines due to our own cannibalization, and the advancements of the Dictatorial system of China. This storm will have to be weathered by the most contiguous and best positioned economic model, which can weather and increase when others fail. As it happened during the Asian Flu, the European Union will advance when the U.S. can no longer sustain competitive levels of production and all nations are producing at great volume. These are technological. They are as is said, much less of more of a economic than a technological paradigm. Or if one wishes to engage in the arcane or reverse Integration; either difference necessitates reintegrating business models within sound economic policy. Yet this is hard to see‐‐‐how this can occur beyond a tipping point. We will know this tipping point will have precipitated all engagements once there is a huge spike in unemployment with interest rates already at unsustainably low levels. Monetary policy cannot at this point re‐equilibrialize trade imbalances or investitural exuberance without repatriative progress in these respective sectors.
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And while countries vie for competitive rates with the mighty dollar, the Euro can act from a high ground both of inner stability, stability of their side of the “globalization triangle” and lower prices of their competitors, before and after being ravaged by Dollar competitiveness. “And it would make perfect sense.”….with or without Africa. Although some components would appear at face value not to be of immediate issue, one would be able to compare the changes in the American interest rate policy, the burgeoning trade deficits, and the lack of Asian rebound as a happy coincidence Or maybe an unhappy one ? In the issue of Modern Magazine July 30, 1999 The need For A New Regulatory Board, the following In the edition of the economist it was remarked recently that ‘the improvement in moored productivity since the mid 1990s is surprisingly, extraordinarily, concentrated in one small sector of the high‐tech economy: computer manufacturing. Robert A. Gordon, a Professor of Economics at Northwestern University and one of America’s leading authorities on productivity, has carefully broken down the aggregate numbers. He finds that, as prices collapsed, productivity growth in computer‐manufacturing improved at a staggering 42 % a year between the fourth quarter of 1995 and the first quarter of 1999. Even though computer manufacturing is just 1.2% of America’s output, that improvement was big enough to cover the figures for the whole of the private non‐farm economy. Indeed allowing for other factors as well, productivity in durable‐goods manufacturing apart from computers and in the manufacturing non‐durable foods, actually grew more slowly in the most recent period than during the ‘slowdown’ years of 1972‐95”
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P a g e | 21 PREAMBLE
In reality is that the usage of financing for American companies have begun to break, and will continue to be undermined. These take the form of many functions, such as the primary devaluation, reacquisitions, inventiveness, and creative fudging around with sound orthodox business practices by financial institutions. These cause inherent weakness in the market, and the economic model itself is to blame. America cannot exist in a financial deficit or vacuum all of its own making, and call it reality, whilst ignoring its deficits, unless these new market practices are built about the foundation of wealth. No country can enact financial institutions which effectuate this, then, centering upon these institutions borrowing to sustain companies that do not really compete, but rather exist out of principle. This is not money; this is hubris, to think America alone can counter its own economic model. They camouflage and hide it. There has been an incredible fixation with this leading economic indicator. Indeed it borders on mania. It was in fact warned by the federal Bank chairmen Alan Greenspan that mania or irrational exuberance would burst a bubble, yet there is one caveat which must be mentioned. This caveat seems to be a small detail yet it plays a giant role if one considers the implications to integrity. “Is it really irrational, or is it just investitural exuberance.” Clearly, there was and there is as is attested by action, the need for a new regulatory beard. In the following passage Different times lend it to different strategies, and modes change. As good example as to how this can occur is the very of global economy itself, with every nation feeling the brunt of every other nations prosperity and woes. A further examining upon basic trade principle will lend a solution to many problems, but diversification through divestiture and appropriations will create a situation where all schema of future action is seen under a microscope of further market
P a g e | 22 expansionary possibility. It is a quagmire that in good times are borne corrupt practices saluted by the rich, yet condemned by the poor, in all times. It is clear, that aside from productivity levels rising, and people blaming job losses on robots and computers, the Global Economy must be run by sober men. And intelligent men, and men with integrity. The questions is, how do poor people in bad times, have a voice, when the vacuum they inhabit is filled with productivity minded CEOs with only their portfolios to judge them THIS IS WHY WE NEED A NEW REGULATORY BOARD, (RIMERIME) Reverse Minor Repression Of Integration Microeconomics “a small company being newly placed under the umbrella of a larger company, would be able to see if it will encounter difficulties…”. This is the single most imperiling item in our country today. We must realize that economies function apart from the prosperity of a few, and the tranquility of the many. We must realize as is delineated perfectly in the following passage, that More than considerations purely of shareholders, this also encompasses company profits through expansions in cross industries as per conglomerates are resourcefully capable of. We have seen this put before us in crystal clear manner during the past year. We are still imperiled, and the danger lies not only in a few, but the many, who invest in these companies, without regard, to how they received their capital, both outwardly and inwardly, both in the first party, and the second instance. In the article dated Modern Magazine July 15, 1998 Economic Controlling Interests. I referred to the need for a new definition of protectionism. The Bush administration seemingly doesn’t quite see things from the same point of view as they have become overtly aggressionist rather than protectionist. In fact, they have not only changed the manner in which they protect themselves in a Global Economy, but they have reinvented the term imperialist as well, and invented the term proterrorist economy. A proterrorist economy is the kind where all citizens are aware of the terrorist threat while protecting their interest rates from the government, enjoin in a world war, with only America fighting it, and watching it on TV while Coke flashes commercials as the official sponsor. (This does not bode well since the last official mascot of Coke was the Polar bears, and we know what fate awaits them.)
P a g e | 23 Seriously however, and I wish I could be, but let’s revert to a previous time momentarily. In a Global Economy however, protectionism has been seen as outdated. Perhaps it is, but at least, if something does go wrong, it will arguably be a shield. Or is it that it is to be changed as a strategy, like everything else must adopt new styles and approaches. Perhaps this is the key to proper monetary policy. Perhaps large sweeping strategies never really reach their full relevant practice. Perhaps conflicts and hurdles are overcome with a little protectionism, a little proactivity, a little free trade regulation. Something like the carrot before the stick or the carrot after the stick. But these are conspiracy theories. Actually, we have practices hostile acts of overbearing financial gamesmanship with serious objectives, and found the future waiting for us to respond with qualitative investing. It was never built into the equation how three separate economies, closely linked together could be split apart by three geographical heterogeneous zones of trade, and three separate monetary Units. These are the Yen, the Euro, and the American Dollar. Unfortunately we never saw the future of the impact t of the Yuan, and how it would force the Japanese to purchase Euros, in order to defend itself from a competing market for good, the failure of the Americans to purchase more expensive Japanese goods, and how these would devaluate the dollar, whilst keeping the parity with it endures if only temporaneously, with the American Dollar, and all competitions which it suffers in this troika struggle of currencies. Clearly, those were different times, but the idea of a new form of protectionism makes more sense than ever. It is why as clearly demonstrated by the events of September 11 2001, that the best sense is within your own hemisphere. The carrot can only be the lead of the donkey if the elephant likes carrots too, and with such vacillations in political drama (as expressed in the conclusion) it is hard to see how the U.S. can ever lead us into prosperity, if we do not allow our own hemisphere to like us. Fast track was once the answer, now a new style of protectionism is the only answer, protect the American political house, but having a consensus, and be prospering within our own hemisphere. The next article of January 23 2000, Financiers Finance Ministers in Regulatory Board‐‐‐Bribe Denied, Modern Magazine shows clearly, how
P a g e | 24 detached the various politicians, and Regulatory Boards were, for indeed, “How laissez faire must one be before one becomes a derelict.” It is quite unconscionable. It reminds me of the movie Once upon a Time I The West when Tucow is trying to get the name on the grave and he says , except we could say it now his way, it’s over for you now oh cruel fate just when we finally have the big fishes the World Trade Centre was blown up. The following developments with WorldCom etc., and the loss of most of the value of AOL Time Warner, have gotten quite frivolous. There have been few examples in economic times where uncharted waters proved truly uncharted. We desperately need to find a man who can lead us, and very soberly, into the next Global upswing, since the reality of colleges and universities seems to only grant capitalization through reams of credit and financing. An article on MSNBC summarized this perfectly, when it elucidated the benefits of productivity. In this article, they described how America was going to get out of this recession because the ingenuity of small companies allowed them to export, more goods, and reduce costs‐‐‐they failed to mention the adverse effects such as trade deficits, incompatible exchange rates, artificial interest rates, out of their order financing, and stagnated wages. Many years ago, back in the 1950s, people were proud to work in order to accomplish a goal that had never been achieved before. This goal was to own land or a home, and be self reliant, even affluent. This was in the backdrop of two th
world wars, and in the 19 century. Now we have accomplished this, yet no one seems to notice the reliance on financing, and the stagnation of the job market for the students who have a much greater opportunity. Accomplishing this seems to be redundant, but it is an attitude that is far worse, it is being relinquished to th the past, and subservient to a future which is the past‐‐‐not much unlike the 19 century, when people suffered for freedoms to change, to be as equal as the upper classes. What aspirations art her today. Who are our leaders, what standards are there, where is the excellence. The economy without leaders will languish in mediocrity and status quo.
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Modern Magazine Articles
Integral
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Modern Magazine July 30, 1999 The Euro Hammer
The day which the European countries decided to get together, and make a union out of their great nations has been quite the change. For ever and forever is a long time, they have been at each other’s throats as vying competitors for regional and pan European superiority and hegemony. Now since the modern age, it as been possible, and after two world wars as a result of their dignity, perhaps lessons have been learned. The Euro pan community. Illusions need not be made concerning the Euro. A monetary unity is only as good as the policy behind it. But I have no doubt the Europeans can find the people who are able to steer it in the right directions. Would it not be an interesting observation to make however, that since its inception, they have indeed seemingly missed a step, by letting it drop from beyond the scope they wanted its range in respect to its value vis a vis the American Dollar. So much so that The Japanese have had to intervene by buying into it and sell off American values to prop it up. The Euro has however, only been in existence for a short time. A few months of life is no time at all to see what can be a expected from a new progeny. It would not be any stretch of conclusion to think they are watching to see what other nations policies will be, and also, what actions would be taken if it were to fluctuate in various respects. It would certainly not be the goal as they and everyone say, to let it become anterior to the value of the Dollar; superior neither for superiority promulgates trade protectionist measures , and mefeance. They would like it to be at an even par or slightly
P a g e | 28 better than the American dollar. And it would make perfect sense. Having this accomplished, they will be able to utilize its stability rendering effect for practices of trade as the Europeans are always a great hub, between the West and the East. It will in essence help to shape the changing of European trading practices, and approaches. Profiling from this, great strides could be made to expand relationships with Eastern developing nations including perhaps Africa. This would benefit the regions concerned along with Europe itself. Now however, we enter a new stage. A good indication of the practice they will employ to rectify the Euros position is the present day situation in the European community. Although what happens on the the international scene is secondary, it will always be an interest to Europe's proud nations. Perhaps they will indeed, finally become less reliant on the United States Of America. But of Primary issue is the cause of trades and domestic economies. Indeed, they will not be able to follow through with the vision of a better stronger Europe when both the European union whose reliant greatly on its principal project the Euro fail to be realized. It will thus be a necessity to build the Euro to the place where it was first envisioned at its inception.
We have to remember that it was not a prognoses of the value it would hold; it was in fact a mark to set from which it would be of value to the world markets, and then the markets themselves. This is now a priority. We can expect that in the week or two ahead, there will be a tightening up on trading approaches, which will send a signal to the rest of the world that the Euro is a sound investment. This in turn will say the same of the countries who espouse the euro as their currency. On top of being a necessity for its success, it also has to be a source of desire for the United Kingdom, which as yet has to adopt it as their currency. Needless to say, the American dollar will be caught in a
P a g e | 29 bind, which will force the federal bank in the United States of America, to increase interest rates, to offset the demand placed upon the yen to buy American dollars to keep the Euro from assailing it on both sides. For the present, the managing of the Euro is not too much far sweeping change, but later we will start to see the effects of greater influence. Due to its stabilizing effect. The Europeans will be able to venture into areas of finance and investment, which they were not able to as individual units. This will open doors unheretofore opened in the Asian markets. If, this were to coincide with the rebounding economies in Asia, then it could spell great competition for American interests in the region. The competition could become fierce, and furious, and fast paced. If, on the other hand it does not coincide with a rebound of Asian economies it will necessitate the modifications and different remedies. One such remedy could be stages of assistance and policies of favor for developing countries. The Europeans would see that even if Americans find it difficult to freely invest as before in Asia (due to the lack of regulation) it would be good for them to create liquidity for investment to be possible. Under proper management and adjustment, it could in turn even send the Euro considerably stronger in relation to the American dollar. Then the Americans would have to buckle down which means lower interest rates to minimize trade losses and increase investment at home. This could hasten any protectionist views which are bound to come as it did in the booming 80s. That was when the U.S. saw great trade deficits with Japan. Compared to then, the U.S. will have to deal with a slew of other Asian countries not just one. Isolationism in that case would in deed and practice, be wise.
P a g e | 30 Modern Magazine July 30, 1999 The Need For A New Regulatory Board
Many years have passed since the market economies of the world saw a unified system which brought all various parts into homogenized control. Have they returned now. What differences may be present to make us wonder at whether or not it actually is a global economy. The main idea which springs to mind is, the presence of economic systems world‐wide, not only in Europe with a hub in America, not only in Asia with a hub in Japan etcetera. What is this global system.
One perfect example of this is the selling off of gold. Another example is the selling off of oil, which since then has been rectified somewhat for the most part. These were unthinkable 20 years ago. All this furthermore, has been done within the midst of uncertainly and a brewing turmoil, with half the world believing the worst is over, and the other half, not yet over.‐‐‐I don't have to say that for those who believe the worst is not over, the once better times are getting worst even still. Those who invest are always positive. But why sell Gold reserves, and over supply the market with your practically unique form of principal revenue. . Plainly, this is unsettling. It doesn't take the head of the American Central Bank to make the economies of the world hot action tepid to see it. But what is it that is brewing. Is it really irrational, or is it just investitural exuberance. It would be silly to say it is both. Investors will always invest, and the cautious will always side with the leaders of various intuitions when they warn them of impending doom. Recently
"Other OPEC countries are said to be nervous about oil prices rising
P a g e | 31 above $21 a barrel. Why would OPEC countries worry about oil prices getting too high? Some fear that higher prices will make oil reserves elsewhere more profitable to produce ‐‐creating more competition from non‐OPEC producers. 'The thinking is that there is some price point that will keep new production from coming ostreum,' said Bill O'Grady, and oil industry analysts at A.G. Edwards. 'The guess OPEC is making is that below $20 a barrel, new production is not going to come ostreum quickly.'
In fact, the industry is in the midst of consolidation that is expected to make the remaining major oil companies more efficient ‐‐and make large oil reserves profitable at levels far below $20 a barrel.
'They are beginning to see themselves as competitors with the large OPEC government‐controlled oil companies,' said O'Grady. 'So part of this merger mania is an attempt to get big enough where they can drive their marginal production cost to levels now seen by Saudi's ARAMCO and other government‐controlled oil companies.' Oil prices have also fallen as the threat of an oil dumping action by U.S. government has eased. A coalition of independent producers calling itself Save Domestic Oil filed a petition with the Commerce Department two weeks ago claiming that Iraq, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela are illegally selling crude oil at unusually low prices on U.S. markets.
But big oil companies opposed the action, and administration officials have offered only lukewarm support. If pursued, those claims could have added several dollars in tariffs to oil prices in the U.S., helping to support higher prices worldwide." In the edition of The Economist it was remarked recently
P a g e | 32 that "The improvement in measured productivity since the mid 1990s is surprisingly, extraordinarily, concentrated in one small sector of the high‐tech economy: computer manufacturing Robert Gordon, a professor of economics at Northwestern University and one of America's leading authorities on productivity, has carefully broken down the aggregate numbers. He finds that, as prices collapsed, productivity growth in computer‐manufacturing improved at a staggering 42% a year between the fourth quarter of 1995 and the first quarter of 1999. Even though computer manufacturing is just 1.2% of America's output, that improvement was big enough to move the figures for the whole of the private non‐farm economy. Indeed, allowing for other factors as well, productivity in durable‐goods manufacturing apart from computers, and in the manufacturing of non‐durable goods, actually grew more slowly in the most recent period than during the "slowdown" years of 1972‐95.
and says Robert Gorden "the productivity performance of the manufacturing sector of the United States economy since 1995 has been abysmal rather than admirable. Not only has productivity growth in non‐durable manufacturing decelerated in 1995‐99 compared to 1972‐95, but productivity growth in durable manufacturing stripped of computers has decelerated even more." It has been remarked several times by Alan Greenspan " innovations in information technology...have begun to alter the manner in which we do business and create value, often in ways that were not readily foreseeable even five years ago." This shows that there is a prevalent mood which goes roundabout towards the expansion of the boom in the United States Of America. But even they say that this is temporary. The important thing to note would be what resolution do they have in mind. It would seem that they believe it will be as is reflected in the following statement spoken
P a g e | 33 by Secretary of Commerce William M. Daley National Trade Education Tour June 7, 1999 Louisville, Kentucky (As prepared for delivery)
"To be honest, too many people are wary about trade. In fact, recent polls say 60 percent of Americans do not believe it is good for jobs. They see our trade deficit soaring ‐‐because of a slowdown in world growth ‐‐and they are afraid. They see people losing jobs, sometimes because of trade and sometimes not. But, who are you going to blame if you lose your job? You are not going to blame a robot ‐‐or technology. You blame trade. We need to shift gears. We need a new public approach to trade and to build a pro‐trade majority in this country. If we don't, I worry the trade deficit will spawn protectionist pressures that will prevent us from opening new markets, whether in China, Latin America or Europe. So, we are going around the nation to talk up trade with normal people ‐‐people outside of Washington. Our message is simple: "Trade Globally, Prosper Locally." We want every man, woman and child in America, in every community to understand what this means".
Yet is there a possibility that the world's economies will diversify further into more elaborate or less obvious areas of their economic interests, and take an approach unheretofore taken.
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Different times lend itself to different strategies, and modes change. A good example as to how this can occur is the very nature of a global economy itself; with every nation feeling the brunt of every other nations prosperity or woes. A further expanding upon basic trade principal will lend a solution to may problems, but diversification through divestitature and appropriations will create a situation where all schema of future action is seen under a microscope of further market expansionary possibility: In an article by Walter Russell Mead "Investors who bought Coca‐Cola last July, when shares were trading at a peak of 55 times earnings, thought they were betting on Coca‐Cola's formidable marketing and management skill and the prospects of big sales gains in Asia and elsewhere. They were, in part ‐‐but to succeed, Coca‐Cola must have the freedom to convert its earnings in yuan, rupiah, and won into dollars at market‐exchange rates and then repatriate those dollars. This makes an investment in Coca‐Cola more of a bet ‐‐a much riskier one ‐‐ on the health of the world order than on the company alone. "
Sec 1 This would needless to say, be a situation which would feed upon itself for the short term, and almost in essence be a tool which could be employed to secure profits before matters get worst. Needless to say this would be in the form of a correction which although far short of a crash makes people who are unwary poor. Well, too bad for them I suppose, far be it from me to say who can and cannot make money. It also would bring about a form of glory seeking, where certain parties though not colluding with each other would all to much know what his neighbor is up to. Now I do not mean this to be interpreted as neighbor as in foreign neighbor, I am talking about Corporations and Conglomerates, who can in this day and age due to liquidity and multi‐disciplinary investments portfolios, have a day to day effect on markets, and stock exchanges in specific.
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Further dwelling upon the mechanism of these dynamics would be unnecessary and simplistic. It would appear to be sufficient to make this point with a caveat being those who shape the present day economy through influencing aspects of the market put themselves into a position of danger and possible detriment. However, a global adjustment rests upon the known fact, that markets will take some time to react, in a homogenate, and by then further modifications can be made to shelter the company which began the movement. I do not have to name names, they know who they are. Ergonomically‐‐‐‐far be it from back support, the curve fitiing apparatus to performance and stability, lends a helping hand to qualified sectors, which them profit greatly from changing modes of operation, to make up for whatever perceptible problems arise. The only question which then need be asked is, how profitable is it to make some aspects of the markets stronger, and others weaker. Now, the first born of a global market entity symbiosis is put into the world. I would not be surprised if we do not see one of these made into existence within the next six to twelve months. You may ask yourself: How do I recognize one of these, what appearance might they have, who are they akin to. Very interesting questions. All one can do is look for the signs to be revealed. This is not the end of the world by increments, nor a newer world order in advance of the present one which has not yet reared its abominable imperialist head, rather is a tool to be utilized by the hungry CEO who wished to leave his place in the world for better days to come. As a result of the nature of people.; motivation of greed vindictiveness selfishness, and resentfulness not to mention opportunism, corporations who are not related from other corporation half way around the world, will want to take heed of fluctuations occurring on a day to day basis.
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Others do not wish for their own reasons to participate in these affairs, and as a result a new form of monitoring power will have to be implemented. This should operate somewhat like that which governs the stock exchanges of the world, ensuring trading practice and their counterpart. Will remain for the time honest and clean. This means that someone along the way will break the rules. More than considerations purely of shareholders, this also encompasses company profits through expansions in cross industries as per conglomerates are resourcefully capable of. Also, there is the continual concern of liquidity which also would be assisted by the former. Did you buy shares in that company ? be forewarned they're out there‐‐‐somewhere‐‐‐they always are. Whenever a complicated system of precautionary measures and loss modifications are put in place, one can only wonder if life will ever be the same again. CEO's will be getting up before dawn and questioning their performance not in the boardroom but on the portfolio management of their respective companies investment. As can be seen in Sec 2 This has never before been seen. Will the trickle downness which will lend itself to such a system be good for us, will it actually trickle down. How much so
When we call in some stock purchases we will ask the advisor if he knows anything. But we are not all involved in a solitary investment mode‐‐‐we rarely are. The country's themselves are going to have to navigate through this mesh mash world and see their way through it. I do not have to harp upon the overused phrase of Goepoliticks, and I will never use the word Real Politick again for it does not become us‐‐‐ever. Practical though we are we are going to have to navigate through a situation not unlike that at the onset of the great
P a g e | 37 depression‐‐‐this time without he depression‐‐‐reverse minor repression of integration micro economics. Analyze the phrase and you've got the answer. In short: reverse the effects which the economic investitatures of companies be profitable for them in relation to the people who are trying to make it. As a result of the lack of great change which accompanies any boom and bust which used to occur in the cycles of expansions, booms, and depressions, and busts with their accompanying repositioning of practices and goal alignments with shifting reality; the international biodiversity of investment opportunities render the companies who drive those economies behavior are in themselves part of the lack of growth for people. (Reverse minor repression of international micro economics). That being nebulously said I will add to the greatly verbiaged concept that it will mean as a result that countries will be less independent in choosing their way because they will no longer be able to rely as much on their intermediary companies and corporations.
Some can afford to ignore these threats. The United States Of America doesn't need to worry too much, about being shut out of impending trade practice, they have good people working to keep it that way. Others also have good people. And they will keep their interest in good working order. It is not a matter of catastrophe to say beware. Also when life becomes more difficult the tough get going, but where can they go. A leopard cannot change its spots, and an antelope can jump high, but can't lose its horns. This is not Zoology 101 but it is survival of the fittest as never heretofore seen. Do we have confidence in our countries management skills. Can we afford to go on without making specific preparations. surely not. Even as we speak preparations are being made. We have all seen the changes take place in Europe, leading the way for a North American European, Asian Triangle which will be
P a g e | 38 inescapable. This was done when the European union adopted the Euro common currency. Other countries are talking about common currencies also such as the one in the U.S. Are there any plans in Asia. Hong Kong has been assimilated with China, China didn't feed the goose that lays the golden egg to its regionally aspirant dedicated class. Clearly work is being done more and more to work more and more together. How far will they get before it actually becomes a part and parcel of every day business. It is for that reason that we must all be prepared to deal with it with the best equipment we can have.
Modern Magazine July 15, 1998 Economic Controlling Interests
It seems that whenever economic changes take place, someone has to pay the consequences somewhere else. What exactly the factors are that make this a realistic happenstance, recurring through time and all market fluctuations, are revealed post haste rather than preventively. It has been seen that this is much more grave when it occurs, at a time of the people themselves. The Asia flue, now most likely
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all out depression, has become, something from which we will pay resources time and effort, with personal incomes donated and lost along the way. Are there not men who are able to foresee this, and prepare us better, for it. Yes, and some have, and some have not.
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Whenever we reach a situation of crises; that is the time we put into place plans that will more a or less alleviate the problem, but sometimes, the plans are too late, and the wake up call, although it has been commanded, was not heard. The handling of monetary policy is underestimated in importance. The nations which have good economies, find it plays second fiddle to other market policies, while it is the reverse, for countries whose economies aren't doing well. This is due to the resources which the respective economies expunge, and furthermore, they become either stagnant in the case of struggling economies, unable to readjust quickly, and complacent in the case of well profiting nations, who do not act in a way conducive to other countries trading opportunities. In a way, in a simplified sense, this could be blamed upon, capitalism‐‐‐and say that central government, systems would render this form of competition inactive as of itself not being competitive minded; but real politick speaking, and realistically speaking, it is individual interest, and greed; not economic systems: when all is said and done, we are responsible for the chickens coming home to roost. Other questions: how much foresight is necessary, to what extent must other nations involved take the blame, where does all this bring us to in order to set things back on track.
P a g e | 41
Why don't the goals include helping a region of the country that's in recession? Often enough, some state or region is going through a recession of its own while the national economy is humming along. But the Fed can't concentrate its efforts to expand the weak region for two reasons. First, monetary policy works through credit markets, and since credit markets are linked nationally, the Fed simply has no way to direct stimulus to any particular part of the country that needs help. Second, if the Fed stimulated whenever any state had economic hard times, it would be stimulating much of the time, and this would mean higher inflation
As seen in the document above, written by Ronald Labonte PhD Communitas Consulting Adjunct Professor, Central Queensland University There is a naive commodity in economic theory and application, today, on each hand; not the ones adopting their views, but the ones listening to them, and not the ones implementing them but the ones for developing them with a sense of detached ignorance of real application. In essence, realpolitiks isn't the culprit, it is political reality.
There are occasion when a different approach is necessary, and at times essential. The European Community (EU) has seen this or at least, responded as much according to this principle. This is yet another system which has been developed too facilitate stability, in their respective monetary policy. We do not have that in Canada. The stretched out nature of the Canadian economy, places emphasis on technology and computing. However, if the stretched
P a g e | 42 segments, become threatened all at once, what monetary policy can give it back its vigour. Countries have long depended on rocks of stability and certitude to help it plough along; in depending on the guarantied growth of the market of technology, Canada has made it impossible to focus on any region or segment, as a whole, to stabilize it.
Sec 2
It is interesting to note, that while some countries find priority in developing trading strategies, others are much more protectionist, and geopolitical in their approach. A country may build greater and greater ties with the nations and trading regions around them, or it may close itself off to certain ones. In a global economy however, protectionism has been seen as outdated. Perhaps it is, but at least, if something does go wrong, it will arguably be a shield. Or is it that it is to be changed as a strategy, like everything else must adopt new styles and approaches. Perhaps this is the key to proper monetary policy. Perhaps large sweeping strategies never really reach their full relevant practice. Perhaps conflicts and hurdles are overcome with a little protectionism, a little pro activeness, a little free trade regulation. Something like the carrot before the stick, or the carrot after the stick.
The necessary changes brought about by NAFTA and GATT and WTO, are reflective only of the undeveloped properties of the closed markets of North America. The real productive nature of Monetary harmonization however, is what constitutes binds that tie, into a stable trading relationship, one that can weather any geopolitical storm, since the troubles that can be worked out in any case are not closed, they are already open by the very nature, of a secure, non possibility of individual lack of depresionary remedies.
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Ask them, what significance the Euro has and why, it has been developed, ask them, why the NAFTA and GATT really do not produce any links to excessive pooling of resources, why they felt it was necessary to adopt this, in lieu of developed nations, being the source of resources for less developed nations. Why Huge markets, grow with free trade with small markets, and why it is not the exact reverse and opposite, that small underdeveloped markets do not grow out of protectionist, anti resource procurement, from larger developed markets, rather less procurement, necessitating their own self reliance. In the observation of the various strategies employed throughout the world, there can however, be noticed a homogeneity. A trained individual might be able to see it, if he was not preoccupied with his own margin of profit; a person who has acquired a sense of observation with training in eclectic reasoning, would forego such theories altogether. This evolution of ideas has therein, a very dangerous ingredient mix. It would take all the resources of the world working together to avoid falling into a chain reaction, if ever it were to take pace, as it has in all closed markets: but world wide recessions could occur. Of course, here are so many resources of wisdom, that the west or developed world will always be able to produce an individual who is able to lead into the proper and right direction.
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Modern Magazine January 23, 2000 Financiers Finance Ministers In Regulatory Board‐‐‐Bribe Denied
The First born of a Global Market Entity symbiosis has come to light upon our corporate landscape. Now we can be given all the benefits which we had been promised for years in the Information Superhighway. When AOL Merged with Time Warner there was a global market entity born which will be truly an entity on its own terms. The vastness of this new reaching entity will traverse the landscape of nations like a brush fire on a bone dry, parched prairie, crossing over any impediments of borders which the Global Market has in its way. The end result will not be negated by any competition which has in its interest to do so as it would shoot itself in the 80s style vehicle of market interests‐‐‐the gouchie shoes. Now Time itself will become transparent. It will open itself up to regulatory boards and controlling interests, in order to give a semblance of perpetuity to its market share. In the long run, this will only be a form of subsidiary, a token ramp from which crippled corporations will gain access to the Multimedia apertures of broadband technology services. There can be no valid argument made about the value of such a company. Information is something which lends itself to all men in all nations. It also must be given to them freely, without fear of loss of status or bearing upon those who disseminate it. Clearly the expansion of the Internet does this to a great degree. There is no opposition to this and so it will be approved of by all regulatory interests.
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This doesn't however, say that there is no effect upon the perception of concerned entities to the existence into the world of such an entity. It has been said that often the first born sets the temper of the house in a form of the parents who brought it into existence. This therefore should say a lot about the financial authorities who have signed off on precluding it from any of the bounds set forth by apparatus in place. This to me is precedent setting. As a result clarification will be needed as to the notions of interest various regulatory boards hold to on this matter. There does not appear to be any serious comment coming from elected officials on this theme. Indeed, there had been immediate voicing of the deal of media infringement on the free press through the mechanism of Anti‐Trust, but nothing else. This to me, seems to indicate that they are missing the point entirely, or that they have such faith in their institutions that they cannot even cast a side glance at the extrapolation which need be as a natural result of major events. I for myself can see no reason why they may not state their preference for a certain outcome one way or the other either approval of or disapproval of , said merger. This to me would not be a conflict of government powers with capitalist democratic freedom. This latter is for certain. There does not appear to be any serious approbation of the limits to which such conglomerate corporate activities can proclavicate. Indeed, there is the talk of the precedent setting nature of mega mergers through which time may cast a dissuading eye. It is not time we have to fear however. There have been occasions when corporations have merged in one form or another in the past. These forms be it corporate
P a g e | 46 restructurings, including mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, spin‐offs, joint ventures, leveraged buyouts, bankruptcy reorganizations and workouts, and recapitalizations. They have been advantageous to some disadvantageous to others. Rarely have they been the sort of affair where all the nations of the region of trade influence held their breath and ameliorated their portfolios to take advantage of or minimize its contagion. Now we wait as the mega corporations slip into conglomerates whose time is dedicated to the amelioration of single products because they all fall within the scope, of a sheltering umbrella. I am not referring to a product as per a brand of a product, but rather a product for the very nature of multinational affiliated industries produce multiple products. This, is greatly troubling so far. Do the various ministers charge d'affaires, presidents of government branches dealing with economies, not grasp the preponderant purpose of free markets. How laisez faire must one be before one becomes a derelict. Indeed how many derelicts do you know of who divest themselves from multi leveled, synchronal business interests to achieve enrichment‐‐‐‐professional career politicians maybe. It would right now, appear to be so. Must we really wait and see. Is that a prudent practice of investing.
To further grasp the lackadaisical manner in which events have transpired recently, one need not look further than the Asian crisis. However, let us not revisit what has not fully expired even, again, for we are in its very midst. Let us rather examine, the vacuity of leadership, of the heads of state foremost, and secondly their lieutenants, the ministers presidents etc., in charge of maintaining economic interests ( what I will call the ministers of finance). The position taken by these guardians of economies have been silent in terms of maintaining proper working order of the merger
P a g e | 47 trade. This cannot be and I cannot stress this enough cannot be due to oversight. We must remember ministers of finance have extensive staff and support, where their activities in the conduct of the government is a well oiled machine: all appointments booked relevantly, documents prepared, synthesized, and indexed‐‐‐time management at its best. Also, they have been elected ad chosen to their post because of great and sometimes extensive knowledge and experience. Why then, is it so difficult to at least state a governmental position in terms of the merger trade. We can fall back on the position that they have faith in their antecedent controlling interests and agencies, or they do not wish to impose governmental interference in democratic capitalist freedoms; but that would in fact be a simple countermeasure of responsive criticism of an elected government. It is safe to say one must have recourse only to what indeed they have commented upon. The only reference I could find about this issue was from the Bank for International Settlement in Basle, IMF and WMF joint venture. International Finance and Commodities Institute The slow moving process is very alarming in that it shows it is simply reactionary. A response was in the context of the Onex Corporations attempt to takeover the struggling Canadian airlines (Canada). The stratagem I think, is quite revealing. It entails the waiving for 90 days of antitrust legislation in order to allow the industry to find a solution. Primarily, they were hoping to get a friendly in country business entity, to take the company over and so on. However, What happened is surprisingly relevant to mega merger practices.
In November the intention to takeover the company was made by Onex in response to the suspension of the antitrust laws. Following that Air Canada; the competitor of Canadian
P a g e | 48 Airlines voiced their opposition. A wrench was thrown into the bid which was withdrawn, because of a link between a member of the Canadian government and Onex during the electoral Campaign. Then A Air Canada decided they would merge with its competitor Canadian Airlines. Ultimately no further comment was made by the ministers of the Government. A cursory look at Onex Corporation would show it is a very active and transient international entity, which in fact is so listed by the Toronto Stock Exchange (Conglomeration). Onex is a diversified global company operating on five continents in airline catering, foodservice distribution, electronics manufacturing services and automotive components. And again “We are an international trade brokering house, we mainly find buyers for suppliers, manufacturers, for transactions of 50.000 and over US$. We also have traders for any transaction amount for your products." In another revealing section taken from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's web site "Onex is listed as a conglomerate on the TSE. It's involved in airline catering through its ownership of Skychefs; electronics manufacturing through Celestica; and automotive parts through Hidden Creek Industries. It also provides management services through companies like ClientLogic. And it has interests in others ‐like Lantic Sugar." "Schwartz says he hopes his company will broaden in the areas it's already in and perhaps into the forest products industry, preferably a Canadian one. But its real goal is to 'sink its hooks into the technologic rocket ship that is currently taking off, so that Onex rides with it.'
Onex has already started its move into digital technology with Celestica. But it has also continued the direction by starting ClientLogic, a company involved in customer service and tech support‐‐essentially high‐tech call centers.
P a g e | 49 Onex is also interested in the telecom industry and has formed a $1 billion US telecom fund with partner Telefonica in an effort to learn more about the telecom area. They're putting up $150 million US, while Telefonica has put in $250 million. To play in the fund, investors will need shares in Onex. As for those somewhat flat share prices, Schwartz brags that if an investor had bought shares in Onex in any of the last 10 years, they'd have outperformed the TSE index and the conglomerate index every year. And if an investor had bought shares a full 10 years ago, they'd have outperformed the TSE by almost five times. Moreover, adds Schwartz, they've been up 50 per cent a year for each of the last three years alone, a solid performance." This guys really out there‐‐‐Yeeha. It would under similar circumstances, be advisable that hearings be public in the case of mega mergers but that can never happen. A new regulatory board is therefore necessary. The only question then is who will call for its creation. Can we leave it up to the ministers of finance. Will the present regulatory boards see their limitations, and improve their own range. We can only remain vigilant and hope so, because it is just a matter of time before precedent becomes an acceptable if not unsavory bending of the rules. There is another possibility. One which is far more perilous and megalomania cal. That being incompatibility. Once one begins to see the financial markets, it is easy to see dark devils hanging around the backs of every door in all halls. Again posing a very difficult solution. A solution however, that has to be arrived at whether intellectually in the international avenues, or personally, in the individual sovereign nations. Governments practicing the same monetary practices years in
P a g e | 50 and year out will eventually be surpassed by events. For an answer to this conundrum, we may look to Europe, where the EU is groundbreaking. Once a place where colonialism had been the ravager of time tested institutional practices in a post world war I 20th century; Europe is entering the twenty first in an avant garde of laissez faire economic hegemony. I say hegemony only because it can depend on the influence of the United States to play a counterbalancing role with the west with Europe being the middle. Or to put it another way Europe being the free market, the united states being the right with its wheeling and dealing, and the east being the left with its newly found IMF brokered bureaucratic conservatism. The apparatus for creating a more balanced if still imperfect regulatory board, is the Regulatory Board. Yes, that's what they call it. Nice and simple. It is summarized best in Article 81 and Article 82. SEC 1 (Article 81 prohibits anti‐competitive agreements which may have an appreciable effect on trade between Member States and which prevent, restrict or distort competition in the Common Market. The Commission can grant individual or group exemptions from this prohibition if there are overriding countervailing benefits such as an improvement in efficiency or the promotion of research and development. Article 82 prohibits the abuse of a dominant position insofar as it may affect trade between member states. There is no possibility of exemption. Under the existing rules a merger falls under the Merger Control Regulation when two tests are met: * The combined aggregate worldwide turnover of all of the undertakings exceeds ECU 5 billion.
P a g e | 51 * The aggregate community wide turnover of at least two of the parties to the merger exceeds ECU 250 million, unless each of the undertakings derives more than two‐thirds of its turnover within one and the same member state. As of March 1, 1998, an additional category of mergers will be subject to control under the MCR and will be notified solely to the European Commission. Four tests must be met if these mergers are to be assessed under the MCR: * The combined aggregate worldwide turnover of all the undertakings concerned must exceed ECU 2.5 billion. * In at least three member states, the combined aggregate turnover of all of the undertakings must exceed ECU 100 million. * In each of these three member states, at least two parties must have individual turnovers of ECU 25 million. * The community wide turnover of at least two of the undertakings exceeds ECU 100 million.) That being outlined we arrive at the core of the subject. What will the first born of a global market entity have as its progeny. We won't have to wait 20 years for it to mature to find out. Reverse minor repression of integration micro economics. A country which is ill equipped to deal with the industry competitive apparatus within its very own sphere of market influence. It will be even more hard pressed to deal with it in the Global Market Economy. Although the European Union seems to be on the right track, it still must contend with infrastructure building to be able to take advantage of superior positioning. But once it has done so, there is nothing that can prevent it from utilizing all the advantages of this sheltered liquidity. In other terms: Once a
P a g e | 52 market region has regulated its own corporate forces, it can deploy their resources in a coordinated way to invest in other market regions without the fear of their competition taking advantage of calamity‐‐‐a homoeostatic economic imperialism. The advantage which the ministers of finance are inadequately interpreting or utilizing: for make no mistake, the mechanisms are there to be employed. Why are there no political overtures towards realizing it. The US looks towards itself as a Global Power, but it seems to be giving and instructive reactionary role instead of a leading role as can be seen in the latest statements by Lawrence Sumers on Friday January 21 "In his meeting with Me. Obuchi, Me. Summers urged Japan to continue to deregulate its economy, including the telecommunications sector, to attract foreign investment and stimulate growth, Me. Mizoguchi said. Later, in remarks to reporters, Me. Summers stressed that bringing the Japanese economy back to its previous levels of cyclical economic growth won't be enough in a world where the U.S. economy has been expanding at around 4% for three consecutive years. And also "... He said the challenge before the group is to fashion a blueprint that will protect recent gains and establish a springboard that will see the economies of Japan and Europe emulate the astonishing prosperity currently being enjoyed by the Me. Summers said he wants to ensure that the economic rebounds in U.S. previously crisis‐hit parts of the world smooth‐out current‐account imbalances. That would bring down trade surpluses in the former crisis economies to the benefit of the U.S., which is tallying record monthly current‐account deficits." There are differences between market economies, and war economies. Yes a nation must be protectionist but not to the point of being isolated. On the other hand, the detractors of isolationism say a country must be the leader in exchanging goods
P a g e | 53 and assets in the market economy. Yes. First and foremost it must be the leaders in a global market economy the proper way.
Modern Magazine February 7, 2000 Irrational Exuberance‐‐‐Only in Certain Cases The Following three paragraphs are taken from a speech by Alan Greenspan Given at the Committee The effects of mergers Before the Committee on the Judiciary, U. S. Senate June 16, 1998 "More generally, it is concern over the lack of the leveling force of competition in highly concentrated markets that has fostered the fear of bigness. But, unless a relationship between bigness and market concentration can be more firmly rooted in anti competitive behavior, bigness, per se, does not appear to be an issue for national economic policy. Rather, it appears that bigness should be primarily the concern of shareholders whose returns could be muted by large company inefficiencies, and their customers who may face bureaucratic inflexibility." And "Through skill, perseverance, luck, or political connections, competitors have always pressed for market dominance. It is free, open markets that act to thwart achievement of such dominance, and in the process direct the competitive drive, which seeks economic survival, towards the improvement of products, greater productivity, and the amassing and distribution of wealth. Adam Smith's invisible hand does apparently work. " And "Still more difficult is the relevance of the effects on third parties from the actions of two individuals acting voluntarily, with or without conspiratorial intent, in their mutual interest through exchange. In the most general sense, all bilateral transactions, to a greater or lesser extent, affect the markets with which third parties deal for good or ill. Some actions open new markets for unrelated third parties. Other actions increase competitive pressure. Indeed, that is an inevitable
P a g e | 54 consequence of the division of labor in a society. But it is almost impossible in the vast majority of cases to judge with any confidence that one act creates wealth or another destroys it." Also "If competitors are excluded because of a company's excellence in addressing consumer needs, should such activity be constrained by law? Such a standard, if generally applied to business initiatives, would have chilled the type of competitive aggressiveness that brings efficiencies and innovation to the marketplace. Fortunately, that principle was subsequently abandoned by the Supreme Court. More importantly, antitrust actions of recent years have sought to enhance efficiencies and innovations. I leave it to others to judge their degree of success. But the regulatory climate in antitrust, indeed throughout government, has moved in a more market‐oriented direction. I believe that is good for consumers and the nation." Also especially: "To be sure, markets do not always work fully to the standards of our abstract notions of perfection, that in turn rest on particular notions of the way human beings do, or should, behave in the market place. There appears to be general agreement among economists that the test of success of economic activity is whether, by directing an economy's scarce resources to their most productive purposes, it makes consumers as well off as is possible. Moreover, it is generally agreed that the chances of achieving these goals are greatest if prices are determined in competitive markets and reflect, to the fullest extent that is feasible, the costs in real resources of producing goods and services. While relatively straightforward to state in theory, how such a standard should be applied in practice is often subject to dispute."
In observance of the methods employed by economists in acquiring the priority of economic factors, one can only but wonder. At other times, one finds themselves swamped with a prevalent sensation of them being themselves
P a g e | 55 overwhelmed. In attempting to remove this sensation, they take their emotional responses out, and the leave you cold numbers streaming as data. But there should be emotion in economics. Some people ignore it, by saying results are all that matter. They say to themselves, and to those seeking clarification, that the economy is doing well. We hear and see that it is true, and we do not ask any further questions. I say, wh not, ask the question, is the economy going well; and by who's standards. Which slot of data do you fit into. Are you upper middle lower. Do you function with industry, corporate, technology. Are you going up static or are you going down. And then you may ask whom listens when I muse, upon the data I have come across. My reply is. Te economy doesn't always go well. At the risk of seeming simplistic I ask a further question. Who makes decisions regarding our place in the stratum of econ o m y . Do we simply reside as per the place of compliance we are as we collect the duty from which our transgression has been profitable to someone else's commerce. Surely there would be answers to these questions. But I would rather not be simplistic. Instead. I ask, where do the investment priority go and from where does it come. And the great parlay of international financiers comes into audio phonic resonance, across the local bar where they relax, to have some drinks. Whenever we think of economists, we perceive them to be the wearers of ill fashioned optics, and clean white shirts. In fact, they are not any different than we are. Comprised of desires, lack of discipline, fear, foolhardiness, and over exuberance. This latter is a term Allan Greenspan, the most important economist of this time, guards against continually.
P a g e | 56 There are however, interwoven within the fabric of economists an common current which rums through all of us, humanity. Since we cannot escape it, we must deal with it s best we can. Human economics can be best broken down into two parts‐‐‐one as disparate as the other. 1. Manifest destiny 2. Confidence. : Every man believes he is in his own sphere of existence in order to accomplish a specific goal unique to himself or his group with he or that group predominating the avant‐garde, or he aspires to be. He therefore must have the confidence to leave his sphere of influence in order to escape the bearing of this knowledge of himself, and be confident he may realize it. But economics do not work in a world of only a given set of factors. Therefore, the sphere of an economist will be propensate only to its fullest extent within a given set of factors which can then work upon itself without being corrupted by other disparate distractions. This is best described as Propensate isolationism. The only problem is that the human side of us, rejects by nature, the boundaries that the artificial world embodies it; and instead attempts at the same time to adopt the natural speciousness which nature has given it. This is not bout technology, just the human condition. Henceforth we arrive to the issue of Irrational exuberance itself. What is it exactly that the maestro of the American machine means? Summarized to be sure within the human aspect , now we must turn to the actual overt meaning of the term. A. At face value. One would see the worry of technology stocks creating over investment in other stock portfolio
P a g e | 57 sectors . B. People who know nothing of the stock market investing in good times C. profitability from artificial mergers with phantom market inner workings. Should we worry ?
Modern Magazine May 8 2000 Poverty Rules
The biggest problem with the economy of the developing nations is the people who are still in excessive poverty. The ascendance of these citizens is to grow from the day to day menial tasks and low earnings, to education, intelligence and experience. But how can these nations, who are often corrupt deal with the providence of their own people. Especially since they do not realize this themselves. Great men can come along. But these come along in crisis. There is in fact, no need for crisis to develop since the battles forewarned of by the UN are always taken care of before, and, these generations of leaders do in fact take a generation to arise. It would then seem proper to take closer look at the reasons behind the lack of leadership, aside from the critical status quo of corruption. These being, 1. Ineptness, 2. Greed, 3. Infrastructure (the lack of), 4. And Finally Disillusion. It would in turn be a mistake to confine the problems to the nations proper whom these problems afflict. In other terms, in another sense, the UN and major political entities are the ones who deal
P a g e | 58 with these nations. I wouldn't want to be the one in charge of making a compendium of advisers and infrastructure forming apparatus personnel who are sent by the developed world. No It will be an even bigger mistake in the upcoming years. The propensity for greed is a major factor in two of these factors for 1. Ineptness can only be pervasive when only certain of the dominant sectoral properties produce. And greed as a result of disillusions permit potential leaders from doing what is right. The question remains whether or not the United States will be the leader of democratic aspects of freedom, that it was in the 20th century. We should all hope so. The EU as depicted by this writer isn't necessarily playing ball. This was even remarked in one of their own publications where they refer to isolationism as a thing to which nations may turn in a condition of great economic competition. If the US does end up being isolationist, we will have to do everything we possibly can to avoid this becoming a nationalistic pride hood.. We will all have to extricate ourselves from this isolationism eventually. However, I am not claiming isolationism is bad‐‐‐just its extended form.
In order to avoid this perilous trap it is not sufficient to carry on in our present manner of interconnected philosophical economic dealings. Neither is it justified to take half measures in the form of fast track temporary endeavors. We must be aware of the panacea of matters, issues, and technical aspects which make up the global economy. I m not being critical in any uncertain terms of the men who are at the helm of our times. Neither Greenspan nor proponents of fast track are wrong. But what else are they motivated by in these offerings. Should we worry. Modern Magazine Is. Thank You.
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Works Cited Asia’s Rising. (2007, May). National Science Foundation , pp. 34‐36.
Diane Lindstrom, B. M. (n.d.). "History of United States Business," . Retrieved February 3, 2008, from Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2007: http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_701610399_4/History_of_United_States_ Business.html?partner=orp#p86
Kojima, A. (2005). EU‐Japan Think Tank Roundtable “Next Steps in Global Governance”. Japan‐EU Think Tank Roundtable. NIRA Conference Room Japan Foundation International Conference Room Tokyo.
Mitchell, W. (1994). The dynamics of evolving markets: the effects of business sales and age on dissolutions and divestitures. (Dec, 1994 ).
Read, R. EU Expansion To The East. Prospects And Problems. In H. I.‐M. McKinlay, EU Expansion To The East. Prospects And Problems (p. Chapter 2 Page 23). Glensanda House Montepelier Parade Cheltonham, Gloss GL50 1UA UK: Edward Elgar Publishing.
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The eastward expansion of the European Union (EU) will include many, if not eventually all, of the former Soviet Bloc and/or their successor states. Enlargement therefore has a critical strategic dimension, but there are also important economic implications for both existing EU member states and the acceding countries. These encompass principally the interaction between the effects of trade and economic growth. Latterly, however, a key theme of EU policy has been macroeconomic convergence and policy coordination, leading to the introduction of the Euro in January of 1999 and the elimination of national currencies in euroland in 2002
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