http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/rss/11 This feed contains all new content on the Chatham House website related to International Economics. http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1008/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1008/ 13:00, 9th December 2008 - African civil society has been successful in forging global connections through an ever-growing diaspora. Against this background, this book - Development and the African Diaspora: Place and the Politics of Home - sheds light on the diaspora networks whose economic contributions are being used in development. Despite the fact that the flow of migrants' resources back to Africa now outweighs official development assistance, the relationship between the flow of capital and social and political change are still poorly understood. Fri, 28 Nov 2008 10:33:46 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1006/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1006/ 10:00, 3rd December 2008 - Co-hosted by Chatham House and Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, this research seminar will provide a unique opportunity for leading experts to discuss how the current economic and financial crisis may have changed the way sovereign wealth funds operate. In light of the recent economic developments, cash-rich SWFs could potentially play a large role in the solution to the crisis. But are they large and liquid enough to act as the much needed global saviours? And would they be willing to do so given their mixed record of success and the crisis intensifying in their own countries? If so, how would they overcome these concerns and public criticisms of their potential political agendas? Attendance is by invitation only. Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:37:11 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1003/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1003/ 00:00, 13th November 2008 - Global Futures: The Chatham House Annual Conference 2008 Global Futures: The Chatham House Annual Conference will focus on issues of global importance each year. Drawing on Chatham House's extensive range of contacts and its adventurous thinking on international political, economic and geopolitical issues, this annual event offers you the opportunity to hear from, and engage in debate with, leaders from governments, business and international organizations as well as expert commentators. Chatham House has traditionally held an annual members' conference. This annual event, primarily for Chatham House members and Chatham House Foundation Fellows, will take a forward look at future trends in international affairs. Taking advantage of our independent stance and unparalleled convening power, it will provide new insights and high level debate on the most crucial issues facing the world today. Is Globalization in Crisis? Global Futures: The Chatham House Annual Conference 2008 will ask whether the most recent wave of globalization - the growing interdependence of societies and economies through the opening of markets and borders - has reached a turning point, marked by the crisis in financial markets and an increase in protectionist rhetoric. The arrival of a new US administration in Washington, new questions about globalization in the EU, the continuing rise of China and India, combined with financial instability in the West, and increased competition for resources globally, make this a significant moment to review the likely future course of this third wave of globalization of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Most of the speeches were held under the Chatham House Rule. Transcripts which are available are attached below. Previous Chatham House Annual Conferences >> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:03:55 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1844/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1844/ How is a country rated in the democracy stakes? Freely-cast votes are one crucial sign, in the case of Iraq official language may be another. Iraqis have voted several times since the end of Saddam Hussein's regime and provincial elections are on course for January 31. But have the ingrained habits of dictatorship really been erased? Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:22:56 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1842/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1842/ A new climate is likely at the United Nations climate change conference in Poland early this month and not just because of the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States. The international financial crisis has highlighted the cost of poor policies and the scale of banking bailouts has made dealing with climate change seem less formidable. Besides, such schemes could create new jobs and give an edge to the competitive economies of tomorrow. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:18:35 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1840/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1840/ Only one African country - South Africa - was invited to the Washington summit in response to the global economic crisis. The continent fears being left out, just as it is growing economically and adjusting its position in world trade. What impact will the crisis have on Africa? Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:12:54 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1839/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1839/ Is the world ready for a new Bretton Woods agreement? As the economic crisis deepened in recent months, a rising chorus of voices began to call for the replacement of the financial architecture put in place in 1944 at a small resort village in New Hampshire. In response, twenty governments hastily gathered in Washington in mid-November hoping to try to replicate the success of the original conference. Should we be surprised that little was achieved beyond the affirmation of a gaggle of lofty principles? Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:11:02 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1837/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1837/ The race is on to ensure that relations between the United States and its European allies are set on the right track from the outset of Barack Obama's presidency. Although they may not like it, the main responsibility for ensuring that the transatlantic relationship does not stumble into a series of disappointed expectations in its first critical year lies more in European capitals than in Washington. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:59:49 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/999/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/999/ 17:30, 15th December 2008 - The editors and authors of a new Chatham House book The Gulf Region: A New Hub of Global Financial Power will form a panel to discuss and debate the extraordinary emergence of the Gulf states, and the outlook for the world economy in 2009. How will these states deploy their financial might over the coming year and what implications could this have for the slowing developed world? It has been a year of shifting fortunes for the global economy and financial markets; what new patterns and paradigms are forming in the year ahead? Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:43:52 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/982/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/982/ 14:00, 13th November 2008 - As part of a major study on Tokyo's competitiveness, this workshop aims to engage key experts and practitioners in a debate about the issues Tokyo faces in its attempt to be a first-class and globally competitive financial centre - and the question of whether Tokyo can cope with the current global financial crisis. This is a Chatham House-JEF research workshop. It will be held under the Chatham House Rule. This event is invitation only. Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:51:31 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/980/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/980/ 08:00, 3rd December 2008 - The talk will focus primarily on likely directions of US foreign policy under the new Obama administration. It will explore those areas where change is most and least likely to take place. It will also place US external policy within the context of the deep domestic economic challenges faced by the United States over the coming few years. This event is strictly by invitation only. To enable as open a debate as possible, this event will be held under the Chatham House Rule Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:54:25 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/979/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/979/ 08:00, 25th November 2008 - John Micklethwait will use this opportunity to share his thoughts on the turmoil in the financial markets. This event is strictly by invitation only. To enable as open a debate as possible, this event will be held under the Chatham House Rule Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:47:10 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/976/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/976/ 10:15, 19th November 2008 - In the midst of continuing uncertainty regarding the resolution of the financial crisis and the impact on the economic outlook for 2009, this roundtable seminar will present the latest IMF forecasts and examine evidence from previous episodes of financial stress. What should we expect in terms of economic consequences and what are the possible remedies and paths to recovery? This will provide a timely opportunity for leading experts from UK, US and Europe to share their views on the global outlook in the face of significant financial stress - and to discuss the possible ways forward. For more information please see the attached agenda or contact Amalia Khachatryan. This event is by invitation only. Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:00:20 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/473/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/473/ Chatham House experts offer their perspectives on the key foreign policy and economic challenges facing the new administration. The following quotes and comments from Chatham House are available for immediate use. Dr Robin Niblett, Director, Chatham House Mr Obama's first job will be to keep Americans safe and not to please the international gallery. This does not mean that Europeans should resign themselves to be disappointed. Read full comment >> Alex Vines, Research Director and Head, Africa Programme: Reining in stratospherically high expectations both from within Africa, and from within his own administration, will be a principle pre-occupation for the first years of Obama's Africa policy. Read full comment >> Dr Gareth Price, Head, Asia Programme: Barack Obama, whose formative years were spent in Indonesia, in some ways brings greater cultural awareness of the diverse region than any previous president. Read full comment >> Dr DeAnne Julius, Chairman, Chatham House: The downward lurch of the US economy during the final month of the campaign undoubtedly helped Mr Obama win the election. Can he now return the favour by arresting the economic decline? The fundamentals are against him. Read full comment >> Dr Paola Subacchi, Research Director, International Economics Cries for the end of US economic hegemony may be premature. Despite being badly hit by the credit crisis, the US may still show great resilience. Read full comment >> Robin Shepherd, Senior Research Fellow, Europe There are many unanswered questions on Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel-Palestine and Russia. Obama needs to put meat on the bone now. Read full comment >> Dr Claire Spencer, Head, Middle East Programme: The main headaches for the US administration will remain the three 'Is': Iran, Iraq and the lingering Israel-Palestine conflict. Read full comment >> James Sherr, Head, Russia and Eurasia Programme: It is important for the USA that Russia regain respect for its competence, interests and the judicious use of American power. Read full comment >> Notes to Editors Read all comments in full >> More information on the Chatham House Project, 'Rethinking the United States' International Role' >> Forthcoming event:Monday 17 November 2008 The Whitehead Lecture: Major Foreign Policy Challenges for the Next US President The 2008 Whitehead Lecture will be given by Dr Zbigniew Brzezinski, National Security Advisor to the President of the United States (1977-1981). Contact: Nicola Norton Media Relations Manager ++ (0) 20 7957 5739 ENDS Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:48:08 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/ia/archive/view/-/id/2342/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/ia/archive/view/-/id/2342/ Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:50:22 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/ia/archive/view/-/id/2330/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/ia/archive/view/-/id/2330/ The downturn in relations between the UK and the US under the premiership of Gordon Brown presents an interesting opportunity to analyse the nature of the relationship between the two states. Brown's policy of creating distance between his approach and that of his predecessor, Tony Blair, and between himself and President Bush, offers a case-study in whether it is possible to be cool towards an incumbent leader while remaining close to the state he leads. In other words: is it feasible to be anti-Bush and pro-American? It also provides an opportunity to analyse the role of political timing in inter-state relations. By appearing driven by reaction to the events of 2003 despite taking office in 2007, Brown put himself out of step with the prevailing mood of the time. By also acting as if the Bush administration was a lame duck counting out its time to retirement in 2009, Brown allowed himself to be outmanoeuvred in his bid for America's attention by the conciliatorily pro-American new leaders of France and Germany. By acting as if the Bush administration is a political interregnum, the Brown government has invited the United States to treat his own administration the same way. The result is a dual interregnum in UK-US relations, with each incumbent leader awaiting the political demise of the other before better relations can be resumed. Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:16:38 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1836/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1836/ More time and money is spent on nuclear power than any other form of energy. Yet its generating capacity - even with new reactors - and potential contribution to cutting greenhouse gasses, is much less than other methods. The funds should follow trieMore time and money is spent on nuclear power than any other form of energy. Yet its generating capacity - even with new reactors - and potential contribution to cutting greenhouse gasses, is much less than other methods. The funds should follow tried technologies offering greater returns. Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:04:07 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1835/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1835/ Nuclear power has often been a disappointment: extra safety precautions and officialdom have produced delays and extra expense. Now a new generation of plants seems to offer part of the answer to the urgent need to replace ageing power stations. Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:01:51 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1832/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1832/ An air of lassitude pervades the Iranian nuclear talks. Will things look different after the American election? What should be done to raise the chances of a good outcome? Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:56:17 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1831/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1831/ The global economic crisis is accelerating processes of change, whereby economic - and ultimately political - power is shifting away from European and North American states which have dominated the world for most of the past two centuries. These dramatic changes will have significant impacts in many sectors, including on development and humanitarian activity. Any decline in the west's economic and strategic power means that in future there will be less financial and political capital to back international interventions based on human rights. Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:54:19 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1830/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1830/ It is an old public policy adage that, before you can decide where you want to go, you first have tounderstand where you have come from. The present crisis - no longer is this too strong a word - might be taken to imply that the matter is too urgent for the luxury of a post mortem; and certainly, it will be decades before a definitive assessment is in. But at the same time, it was the failure of the $700 billion package designed by US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson to address even all the known key issues that led investors to judge it inadequate. Once they had reached that judgement, mistrust of the financial system spread so fast, and sentiment deteriorated so substantially, that a basically unified set of policy actions was urgently needed, across all major countries, to address all the main identified causes of the present situation. Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:52:28 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1829/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1829/ Russia is caught in the global crisis and cannot escape its impact. The crucial question is how the Dmitri Medvedev-Vladimir Putin leadership will respond. Putin has presided over a steadily strengthening economy; he now appears ill-equipped to handle crisis and contraction. The signs are not encouraging. Trust and confidence, two essential ingredients vital to resolving any financial crisis, are in short supply. The public could pay a heavy price for the hubris and schadenfreude of their leaders, still 'dizzy with success' from years of economic revival and what they perceive as a successful reaffirmation of the country's great power status. Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:50:06 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1828/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1828/ Japan is an abject lesson in how not to handle a major banking crisis. During the 1990s, its banks were technically insolvent following the bursting of the late 1980s bubble and the implosion of land and stock prices. Since land was the collateral for many loans, banks were saddled with massive bad debts. This festered as banks and the government dithered and temporised for nearly a decade when the country was in collective denial about the severity of the bad loan debacle. Myopia was facilitated by fuzzy accounting practices and the government's failure to exercise proper oversight. Sound familiar? Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:45:12 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1827/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1827/ A butterfly flapping its wings in New York may eventually cause a storm in Beijing. Well, how about a devastating tsunami in New York? In the last month, the world has watched the American financial crisis unfolding day-by-day. Ripples from Wall Street spread to each corner of the global economy. When this financial tsunami finally hits China, should we expect the earth to shake and a collapse of the Chinese economy? Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:43:18 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1825/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1825/ This is a pdf of the entire magazine. Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:19:51 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1824/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1824/ This is a pdf of the entire magazine. Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:18:18 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1823/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1823/ This is a pdf of the entire magazine. Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:14:50 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/963/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/963/ 17:30, 26th November 2008 - The speaker will argue that an 'Age of Ageing' is upon us as we move now towards decades of a significant demographic shift, and that the resulting economic, social and political challenges will affect living standards and the quality of life for everyone. Governments have been slow in preparing for these challenges but the 2008 financial crisis may well set such preparation back considerably. The speaker will argue that one possible benefit is that the debt culture of the last 20 years may be over for a generation. Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:43:12 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/960/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/960/ 18:30, 18th November 2008 - The last decade has seen a dramatic shift in the relationship between central banks, notably the ECB, and the public. Regular updates on monetary policy decisions and transparent reporting of inflation targets have replaced the secrecy of the past. The speaker will argue that a return to less effective ECB communication would risk higher, more volatile levels of long-term interest rates and potentially threaten the economy as a whole. This meeting is held in association with the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:25:39 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/955/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/955/ 12:30, 5th November 2008 - This event will begin with insights from the authors of a new book, Emerging Powers in Global Governance: Lessons from the Heiligendamm Process, which recognizes the centrality of emerging powers and pushes for their inclusion in discussions on the new global architecture. Meanwhile, the spread of toxic 'Frankenstein' products through global markets has precipitated a major crisis and uncovered significant and large-scale regulatory and risk management failures. This has prompted many to claim that "laissez-faire is over". This recognition presents regulators and international institutions with an unprecedented opportunity for reform, to review the systemic shortcomings of the current architecture and devise a new model of governance suitable for today's global economic realities. The results of this brainstorming roundtable should feed into the G8 agenda in 2009. For more information contact Amalia Khachatryan. This event is strictly by invitation only. Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:40:15 +0100