• Global goal to end poverty by 2030 unlikely – World Bank — Newsverge NewsvergeGlobal goal to end poverty by 2030 unlikely – World Bank — Newsverge Newsverge

    World Bank enables private capture of profits, public resources

    The World Bank insists private finance is needed for economic recovery and the Sustainable Development Goals but does little to ensure profit-hungry commercial finance serves the public interest.

  • IPEF regime

    IPEF: New Cold War weapon backfires

    U.S. President Joe Biden’s Indo-Pacific Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) is the economic arm of his administration’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, aimed at countering China’s influence in the region.

  • The World Bank (Image Courtesy: Anadolu Agency)

    Debt-pushing as financial inclusion

    Ajay Banga was anointed World Bank president for promoting financial inclusion. Thanks to its success and interest rate hikes, more poor people are drowning in debt as consumer prices rise.

  • World Bank out of Climate Finance

    World Bank climate finance plan little help, unfair

    The World Bank plans to use public funds to subsidize private finance, ostensibly to mobilize much more capital to address the climate crisis. But the new plan is not the solution it purports to be.

  • Back to the future? Health and the World Bank's human capital index. (Photo: The BMJ)

    Government health financing for all, not insurance

    To achieve universal health coverage, all people need access to public healthcare. This should be an entitlement for all, regardless of means, requiring adequate long term sustainable financing.

  • The Quest for Economic and Monetary Sovereignty in 21st Century Africa

    Open veins of Africa bleeding heavily

    The ongoing plunder of Africa’s natural resources drained by capital flight is holding it back yet again. More African nations face protracted recessions amid mounting debt distress, rubbing salt into deep wounds from the past.

  • Planet C This photo of Earth was taken a few frames after the famous Apollo 17 "Blue Marble" image but is my favorite in the sequence shot by Harrison Schmitt

    Rich nations doubly responsible for greenhouse gas emissions

    Natural flows do not respect national boundaries. The atmosphere and oceans cross international borders with little difficulty, as greenhouse gases (GHGs) and other fluids, including pollutants, easily traverse frontiers.

  • A general view of the opening meeting of the UN Conference at the Folkets Hus in Stockholm

    Limits to growth: Inconvenient truth of our times

    Ahead of the first United Nations environmental summit in Stockholm in 1972, a group of scientists prepared The Limits to Growth report for the Club of Rome. It showed planet Earth’s finite natural resources cannot support ever-growing human consumption.

  • Can Universal Basic Income End Poverty in Developing Countries?

    Developing countries need monetary financing

    Developing countries have long been told to avoid borrowing from central banks (CBs) to finance government spending. Many have even legislated against CB financing of fiscal expenditure.

  • Federal Reserve System Headquarters, Washington, DC

    Stop worshiping central banks

    Preoccupied with enhancing their own ‘credibility’ and reputations, central banks (CBs) are again driving the world economy into recession, financial turmoil and debt crises.

  • The S&P 500 has fallen by a fifth since the start of the year / Image: Public Domain

    Central bank myths drag down world economy

    The dogmatic obsession with and focus on fighting inflation in rich countries are pushing the world economy into recession, with many dire consequences, especially for poorer countries. This phobia is due to myths shared by most central bankers.

  • Going for broke

    Ideology and dogma ensure policy disaster

    Central banks (CBs) around the world–led by the U.S. Fed, European Central Bank and Bank of England–are raising interest rates, ostensibly to check inflation. The ensuing race to the bottom is hastening world economic recession.

  • Declining productivity growth, 1990-2021

    Inflation targeting farce: High costs, moot benefits

    Sep 20, 2022 (IPS). Policymakers have become obsessed with achieving low inflation. Many central banks adopt inflation targeting (IT) monetary policy (MP) frameworks in various ways. Some have mandates to keep inflation at 2% over the medium term. Many believe this ensures sustained long-term prosperity. 

  • Elizabeth II dancing with Nkrumah, 1961

    Africa struggles with neo-colonialism

    After a quarter century of economic stagnation, African economic recovery early in the 21st century was under great pressure even before the pandemic, due to new trade arrangements, falling commodity prices and severe environmental stress.

  • America's real 'debt dilemma' - Philosophers for Change

    1980s’ redux? New context, old threats

    As rich countries raise interest rates in double-edged efforts to address inflation, developing countries are struggling to cope with slowdowns, inflation, higher interest rates and other costs, plus growing debt distress.

  • Stealing Resources - en.PermaCultureScience.org

    How NOT to win friends and influence people

    After four years of Trump’s ‘America first’ isolationism, U.S. President Joe Biden announced “America is back”. His White House has since tried to find allies against China and Russia.

  • Stagflation Fears Are Excessive If Break-Even Curve is Right

    Stagflation: From tragedy to farce

    SYDNEY and KUALA LUMPUR. Half a century after the 1970s’ stagflation, economies are slowing, even contracting, as prices rise again. Thus, the World Bank warns, “Surging energy and food prices heighten the risk of a prolonged period of global stagflation reminiscent of the 1970s.” 

  • A hunter offering a French gentleman three 'hottentot' (steatopygous) women

    Neo-colonial currency enables French exploitation

    SYDNEY and KUALA LUMPUR. Colonial-style currency board arrangements have enabled continuing imperialist exploitation decades after the end of formal colonial rule. Such neo-colonial monetary systems persist despite modest reforms.

  • Neocolonialism in Africa - Youth Voices

    Africa taken for ‘neo-colonial’ ride

    SYDNEY and KUALA LUMPUR. Like so many others, Africans have long been misled. Alleged progress under imperialism has long been used to legitimize exploitation. Meanwhile, Western colonial powers have been replaced by neo-colonial governments and international institutions serving their interests.

  • FTA = Death (Photo: citizennews.org)

    Weaponizing Free Trade Agreements

    Long seen as means to seek advantage on the pretext of providing mutual benefit, free trade agreements may increasingly become economic weapons in the new Cold War, disrupting earlier globalization.