Politics Roundtable

Politics Roundtable

Political blogs of interest to economists.

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Emirates Economist (John Chilton)

"Economic analysis of events in the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf”


July 21, 2008, 10:19 am, 322665
It's all here. Thanks GM.


July 20, 2008, 2:19 pm, 322371
There's a shortage of large bills in Zimbabwe. The newly introduced $1 billion note will buy 4 oranges.

Maybe they should just print more money. Without withdrawing smaller bills from circulation. Heh.


July 19, 2008, 8:18 pm, 322162
One thing a westerner living in the UAE quickly notices is that in many places there is no concept of a queue. And if a queue is formed sometimes individuals will jump to the front of the line and demand to be served next.

The Abu Dhabi flagship paper, ...


July 15, 2008, 2:19 pm, 319852
These shortages are caused by something like price controls: state-owned retail fuel companies that are not willing (and, perhaps, able) to meet market demand at the price they have set, but are also not willing increase price to stave off shortages.

Story 1

Employees at petrol ...


July 10, 2008, 4:19 pm, 317723
You read that right: export, not import.

Financial Times

[T]he Abu Dhabi initiative aims to provide a lucrative export opportunity for the UAE as it seeks to diversify away from oil production, while also helping safeguard the future of the endangered species.

Bin Salem Group and ...


July 9, 2008, 4:19 pm, 317174
What's that rumble?

Kipp Report

Though nobody dares deviate from the official 'all is well' line, Dubai hotel occupancy is at record lows.
...
Reliable sources told Kipp Report that average occupancy in city hotels at the end of June was 56%; the swanky new Raffles was ...


July 9, 2008, 10:19 am, 317015
Well, not so new. She's been blogging since August 2007.

Out and About in Dubai. Check it out. Because.


July 9, 2008, 10:19 am, 317014
Don't pay; get paid:

"We're motivating people to know the value of their urine," said Marathi Subburaman, who came up with the novel idea. "The urine that is collected goes into fields for paddy crops, and of course the feces becomes good compost in a matter of months."

Via


July 9, 2008, 12:19 am, 316761
The Financial Times answers the question

Countries such as the UAE cannot simply adopt a floating exchange rate, however. They are too small, and dependence on a volatile commodity makes it all but impossible to predict what their purchasing power will be the year after next, and what ...


July 8, 2008, 10:19 am, 316481
From a post entitled, "Defense of Oil Speculators" Mankiw points us,

Here and here and here and here.


By the way, there's No Futures in The Onion. Thanks to Gerald Ford. Since 1958.