Bernd Scheifele, CEO of HeidelbergCement—one of the world’s largest producers of construction materials with nearly 55,000 employees at 2,500 locations in over 40 countries—lashed out against European politicians and their inability to bring budgets under control. But he reserved the most devastating judgment for the euro itself.
Euro
Russian “Black Money” Threatens To Boot Cyprus Out Of The Eurozone
by Contributor • • Comments Off on Russian “Black Money” Threatens To Boot Cyprus Out Of The Eurozone
German Bailout Chancellor Merkel, who is trying to avoid any tumult ahead of the elections, has a new headache: Cyprus might default and exit the Eurozone. Using taxpayer money to bail out the corrupt Greek elite or stockholders, bondholders, and counterparties of banks, or even privileged speculators, is one thing, but bailing out Russian “black money” is, politically at least, quite another.
The EU Bailout Oligarchy Issues A Report About Itself
by Wolf Richter • • Comments Off on The EU Bailout Oligarchy Issues A Report About Itself
On Friday before Christmas when nobody was paying attention, when people were elbowing their way through department stores or heading out for vacation, the European Commission issued its report on bank bailouts in the European Union—a dry document with mind-boggling numbers that left out the most important fact.
A Revolt Against Corporate Welfare Programs For Multinationals In France
by Wolf Richter • • Comments Off on A Revolt Against Corporate Welfare Programs For Multinationals In France
“Paradox” is what the New York Times called France’s ability to attract more foreign investment than any country other than China and the US. A paradox because it shouldn’t. Investors should be scared off by labor laws, tax rates, the cost of labor, and mud-wrestling bouts over nationalizing some industrial plants. But turns out, multinational corporations pay practically no income taxes in France. And it has reached the boiling point.
The Price Of “Collective Trauma”: Greece At The Brink of Civil War
by Wolf Richter • • Comments Off on The Price Of “Collective Trauma”: Greece At The Brink of Civil War
“I’m wondering how much this society can endure before it explodes,” said Georg Pieper, a German psychotherapist who specializes in treating post-traumatic stress disorders following catastrophes, large accidents (including the deadliest train wreck ever in Germany), acts of violence, freed hostages…. But now he was talking about Greece.
Germany’s Favorite Rabble-Rouser Economist Lashes Out
by Wolf Richter • • 2 Comments
Hans-Werner Sinn, President of the German Ifo Institute and a thorn in the side of bailout politicians and eurocrats: The longer you delay the needed “radical measures,” the more banks and other private investors will be able to sell “their toxic paper without haircut to governmental bailout funds, and then hightail.” Taxpayers, retirees, and savers “in sound countries” will pay the price.
Sweden’s Euro Hostility Hits A Record
by Wolf Richter • • 3 Comments
As the Eurozone flails about to keep its chin above the debt crisis that is drowning periphery countries, and as the European Union struggles to duct-tape itself together with more “integration,” that is governance by unelected transnational eurocrats, Sweden is having second thoughts: never before has there been such hostility toward the euro.
Serial Government Defaults In The Eurozone
by Wolf Richter • • 2 Comments
“Private sector” is a rubbery term. Most of the bondholders that lost their shirts during the first Greek default last March, and during the second one currently underway, were banks, including banks in Greece, Spain, and Cyprus. They are now getting bailed out by the public. After nearly all of Greece’s debt was shifted to the public, a third haircut was announced. Now Portugal wants the same deal. The can has been opened.
Ten Big Fat Lies To Keep The Euro Dream Alive
by Wolf Richter • • Comments Off on Ten Big Fat Lies To Keep The Euro Dream Alive
Every country in the Eurozone has its own collection of big fat lies that politicians and eurocrats have served up in order to make the euro and subsequent bailouts or austerity measures less unappetizing. Like in 1999: “Can Germany be held liable for the debts of other countries? A very clear No!” said the CDU, the party of Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The Relentless Eurocratic Power Grab
by Wolf Richter • • 5 Comments
“The euro has profound economic advantages and is the most powerful symbol of European integration,” said not some wild-eyed dude with a joint between his lips, slouching in a café in Amsterdam, but the “Final Report” by the Future of Europe Group, composed of 11 European foreign ministers. It remains uncertain what they were smoking.