Peak demand for oil is the big new thing. True, the International Energy Agency, in the annual World Energy Outlook it released earlier this month, didn’t envision a peak coming before 2040 barring a big acceleration in anti-climate-change efforts. But at least it’s talking about the possibility, and forecasting a slowdown in demand growth in the meantime. Others think ...
Read More »The enrollees who didn’t even need Obamacare
With Trump’s election, there is suddenly a lot of question about the fate of Obamacare. Will it be repealed, in part or in whole? And if so, replaced with what? One place to look for answers is in a new article about Obamacare’s coverage expansion. Learning more about what has already happened with Obamacare turns out to provide some ...
Read More »TPP sans United States better than none
Republican and Democratic leaders in the U.S. Congress seem willing to let the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal languish, and if anything’s certain about President-elect Donald Trump, he won’t push for it once in office. But even if the U.S. isn’t smart enough to share in the benefits, the pact is worth saving. The 11 other signatories should implement it ...
Read More »Modi’s demonetization initiative caused chaos
More than a fortnight ago Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that country’s 500- and 1000-rupee notes were no longer legal tender. The decision was taken purportedly to curb black money menace. Initially, this was hailed by some as a masterstroke against endemic corruption. But, signs are emerging that it may hit the economy hard. Also, there are murmurs ...
Read More »Europe can’t keep its open-border promises
The European Union is going through painful contortions to put off keeping its promises of visa-free travel to neighboring countries. The promises were made in rosier, pre-Brexit, pre-Trump times. Now they’re a liability. One of the main reasons poorer countries in Europe want a closer relationship with the EU is for the opportunity of borderless travel. It’s a coveted ...
Read More »Fact-free Black Friday hype is here to stay
Nov. 25 marked Black Friday, which once was considered the beginning of the holiday shopping season, though the start these days is even earlier thanks to endless hype by the retailing industry. News reports today are filled with tales of increased traffic, decreased spending, tremendous discounting. As was widely reported, sales fell because of deep price cuts, even as ...
Read More »Put your faith in constitution, not ‘democracy’
When my colleague Lawrence Lessig argued at Medium that members of the Electoral College should break faith and vote for Hillary Clinton instead of Donald Trump, I chalked it up to the brilliantly contrarian Larry being brilliant and contrarian—even if wrong. But when, over the holiday weekend, the Washington Post published his op-ed making the same argument, it made ...
Read More »UAE remains resilient to drop in oil prices
Abu Dhabi / WAM On the occasion of the 45th National Day celebrations of the United Arab Emirates, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) issued a series of reports regarding the achievements of the state over the past year. In part five, we examine the state of the UAE economy. 2016 saw a sudden drop in oil prices that took ...
Read More »ADP, Kuwaiti company sign pact to build AED10mn manufacturing plant in KIZAD
Abu Dhabi Emirates Business Abu Dhabi Ports (ADP), the master developer, operator and manager of the Emirate’s commercial and community ports as well as Khalifa Industrial Zone, and Integral Plastic Industries Co. LLC on Tuesday signed a Musataha agreement to build a new manufacturing plant in Khalifa Industrial Zone (KIZAD) with an investment of AED10 million. The agreement was ...
Read More »Vice President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay Visits The Sustainable City
Dubai / Emirates Business The Sustainable City received the Vice President of Uruguay, H.E. Raúl Fernando Sendic RodrÃguez recently, the region’s first fully sustainable community hosted a big commercial delegation that included, H.E. Dr. Nelson Yemil Chaben Ambassador of Uruguay to the UAE, Mr. Daniel Fernández, Vice-president ´s Chief of Staff, Mr. Carlos Fagetti, General Director of the Ministry ...
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