Michael
Dec 9th 2009, 07:40 PM
As economic indicators have improved, concern about the financial crisis has abated. But the next big problem could be approaching. Greece's public deficit is skyrocketing and the country may become insolvent. The effect on Europe's common currency could be dire.
Josef Ackermann, the CEO of Deutsche Bank, has given the all-clear signal many times in the past. He has repeatedly said that the worst was over, only to see the financial crisis strengthen its grip on the world economy.
Last week, however, Ackermann was singing a completely different tune. Although many indicators are once again pointing skyward, he said at a Berlin summit on the economy, Chancellor Angela Merkel, the assembled cabinet ministers, corporate CEOs and union leaders should not to be deluded. He warned emphatically that the financial situation could deteriorate once again. "A few time bombs" are still ticking, Ackermann told his audience, noting that the growing problems of highly leveraged small countries could lead to new tremors. And then, almost casually, Ackermann mentioned the problem child of the European financial world by name: Greece.
Source (http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,665679,00.html)
This does look nasty. And it highlights what was one of the primary critiques against the adoption of the Euro - that Europe contains too much diversity with less-than-first world quality members (with economies to match). The pressure on a common economic policy from economies that are at different stages of development is a nightmare of complexity.
We are just about to witness the EU's ultimate political challenge.
Josef Ackermann, the CEO of Deutsche Bank, has given the all-clear signal many times in the past. He has repeatedly said that the worst was over, only to see the financial crisis strengthen its grip on the world economy.
Last week, however, Ackermann was singing a completely different tune. Although many indicators are once again pointing skyward, he said at a Berlin summit on the economy, Chancellor Angela Merkel, the assembled cabinet ministers, corporate CEOs and union leaders should not to be deluded. He warned emphatically that the financial situation could deteriorate once again. "A few time bombs" are still ticking, Ackermann told his audience, noting that the growing problems of highly leveraged small countries could lead to new tremors. And then, almost casually, Ackermann mentioned the problem child of the European financial world by name: Greece.
Source (http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,665679,00.html)
This does look nasty. And it highlights what was one of the primary critiques against the adoption of the Euro - that Europe contains too much diversity with less-than-first world quality members (with economies to match). The pressure on a common economic policy from economies that are at different stages of development is a nightmare of complexity.
We are just about to witness the EU's ultimate political challenge.