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Economy

This tag is associated with 87 posts

More Greece, Russian films, and German potholes

By Jason Margolis ⋅ March 16, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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More news from Greece on this edition of the Global Economy Podcast. The country in the middle of its “worst crisis” in modern history, as the Greek finance minister put it. How are the Germans feeling about Greece? And how are the Greeks feeling about Greece? Also on this edition of the podcast: potholes in Germany, film in Russia, and a new trade route through the Himalayas. Also, is it better to give charitable donations of money or goods to help rebuild Haiti? Download MP3

Greece’s crisis and the generational divide

By The World ⋅ March 11, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Greece saw another day of nationwide strikes today. Tens of thousands went out to protest drastic wage cuts and pension freezes. Those government cuts are aimed at pulling Greece out of a debt crisis that’s threatening other countries in the Eurozone. But the Greek public says the plan is threatening Greece’s middle class. And as Joanna Kakissis reports from Athens it’s leaving a bleak future for young Greeks. Download MP3

Iceland’s debt clouds country’s future

By The World ⋅ March 2, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Iceland’s population is only about 317,000 people. Many are worried that the country’s current debt crisis will force the best and brightest to leave Iceland in search of work. Unemployment in Iceland has risen from one to ten percent just in the last year. But some young Icelanders, like Oern Haroldson (pictured), aren’t waiting for the government to get its economic house in order. The World’s Gerry reports. Download MP3

How to fix Haiti’s economy

By The World ⋅ February 26, 2010 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

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In the aftermath of January’s devastating earthquake there’s a lot of talk about finally getting things right in Haiti, a sense that the opportunity to rebuild means the opportunity to fix what’s been wrong. That’s as true of the economy as anything else. Still many experts are wary of solutions that have been tried and failed in the past, as The World’s Jeb Sharp reports. Download MP3

A Cross-Border Comparison of Stimulus Spending

By Jason Margolis ⋅ February 26, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Just over a year ago, President Obama and Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, better know as “The Stimulus.” It was a $787 billion shot-in-the-arm to the U.S. economy, a mix of tax cuts and expenditure spending.

The U.S. wasn’t the only country to take such action. On the Global Economy Podcast, we look at how the stimulus plans in different countries have fared and compare the actions taken by the Canadian and U.S. governments.

International stimulus packages

By The World ⋅ February 17, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Katy Clark talks with economist Simon Johnson about how OTHER countries’ stimulus packages have fared.

Comparing international stimulus plans

By The World ⋅ February 17, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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When the world’s economies were collapsing last year, governments across the globe passed stimulus plans to help jumpstart their economies. Is it possible to say if one county did a better job than another? The World’s Jason Margolis has been in British Columbia where he looked at one area of the Canadian and U.S. stimulus plans — stimulus money for home renovations.

The Financial Problems With Greece

By Jason Margolis ⋅ February 15, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Eurozone leaders say they will come to Greece’s rescue. But Greece’s Finance Minister wants details as to how exactly other eurozone nations will bailout his country. In this podcast we explore what went wrong with Greece and what it means for the rest of us.

Also, an update from Haiti: How to bring jobs to the millions of unemployed. And a small flower shop near Vancouver that is putting together 1,800 bouquets for all the Olympic medal winners.

Selling Olympic flowers

By The World ⋅ February 11, 2010 ⋅ 9 comments ⋅ Transcript

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Selling Olympic flowers

When the Olympic winners take the podium over the next two weeks, they won’t just get a medal. They’ll also get a flower bouquet. All those bouquets had to come from somewhere, of course, and it turned out to be “Just Beginnings Flowers” owned by June Strandberg (pictured). The World’s Jason Margolis visited the little flower shop that could in the Vancouver suburb of Surrey. Download MP3 (Photo: Jason Margolis)

German pensioners ‘kidnapped financial adviser’

By The World ⋅ February 9, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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It sounds like a plot line for a movie. Four disgruntled senior citizens kidnap and hold hostage their financial advisor after losing a bundle in the US property market. Except it’s not a movie: Two married couples in the German state of Bavaria are accused of the crimes. They’re now on trial (Courtroom photo: Jörg Koch/AFP/Getty Images). Marco Werman finds out more from Bavarian Radio reporter Annette Kuglar. Download MP3

BBC coverage
Deutsche Welle story about the case

The Costs of the Winter Olympics and Toyota

By Jason Margolis ⋅ February 4, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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It took seven years of planning, construction, hassle and heartache. Finally, the party is about to begin. Starting February 12th, British Columbia will host the Winter Olympics for 17 days. (And the Paralympics to follow.) Canadian taxpayers are on hook for CDN $6 billion, by some estimates. What did British Columbia get for all that money? Was it all worth it?

Also on this edition of the podcast, news about Toyota and Moscow McDonald’s turns 20. (Photo credit: © VANOC/COVAN)

Olympic Buzz

By The World ⋅ February 3, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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The Olympics are just nine days away. It took seven years of planning and preparation to get ready for 17 days in February, then the Paralympics to follow. But people involved with the Games are hoping the Olympic glow will last a lot longer than just a few weeks. Their rosiest projection: A flawless Games will bring in an extra 4 million visitors to British Columbia over the span of two decades. Jason Margolis has more. Download MP3 (Photo credit: © VANOC/COVAN)

Was it worth it?

By The World ⋅ February 1, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Vancouver, BC

Was it worth it? That’s the question many people are asking in British Columbia with the Olympics just days away. Seven years of planning, construction, and hassle. All told, Canadians will have spent about $6 billion Canadian dollars just to build the infrastructure to prepared for the Games. That’s about $5.6 billion American dollars. The World’s Jason Margolis visited British Columbia to ask. Download MP3 (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)

Haiti’s Chances for Long-Term Growth

By Jason Margolis ⋅ January 22, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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The earthquake in Haiti has taken a terrible toll. But out of the rubble, there is some hope. The earthquake offers that country a chance to rebuild its economy from scratch, and develop the infrastructure its been sorely lacking.

Also on the podcast, two stories from Europe: Problems with the Euro and Iceland on sale.

Birth, Death, and Shopping in Japan

By Jason Margolis ⋅ January 6, 2010 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

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Prices for real estate are sky high in Tokyo, not just in life, but in death too. It’s not just expensive to die in Japan, it’s expensive to be born. At least there’s deals to be had for New Year’s shopping in Tokyo.

Also on the podcast, Russians, Indians, and Israelis have arrived in Mississippi. And they may no longer be going for Olympic gold in Australia.