Dear All,
The US Department of Commerce's "Bisnis (Business Information Service for
the Newly Independent States )Bulletin" October 2001 includes this, a small
extract from a longer article that I post just to illustrate that even
serious analysts are using the rule of thumb techniques to assess
development and the impact of development policies.
What Are They Buying [in Russia]?
Although determining the size and characteristics of Russia's new consumer
class is difficult, a key indicator of its existence (and importance) is its
ability to purchase food, consumer goods, travel, cars, apartments, and a
more comfortable life-style. A great deal of anecdotal evidence indicates
that Russians have greater buying power now than at any other time in the
last three years, and that they are spending money on optional and luxury
items. Sales of new food items and services are increasingly popular. Among
the industry sectors that are seeing some growth are furniture and home
furnishings, do-it-yourself (DIY) items, cosmetics, clothing and footwear,
restaurant equipment and accessories, and the automotive sector.
The rest of this article is on line and anyone can subscribe to this
bulletin: see http://www.bisnis.doc.gov; and whilst the bulletin is aimed at
American businessmen who are looking for investment opportunities, it
contains some useful stuff. There are links, too, that you might find useful
for student projects, or just to update your own notes: country reports,
industry reports, finance, exchange rates and more.
And if anyone's interested in Georgia, well, it can happen, here's a link to
the National Bank of Georgia's Bulletin of Monetary and Banking Statistics
http://www.nbg.gov.ge/doc_eng/macro/mb_en.pdf ... the latest on line report
is for Jan-July but the Jan-Aug hard copy is already in my sticky hands!
Anyway, that's it for now.
Duncan Williamson
----- Original Message -----
From: "Finbarr Carter" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2001 2:38 PM
Subject: Re: Development and theory
> HI
>
> I don't know the Friedman book you refer to but there is an excellent new
> book from New Internationalist entitled 'The No-Nonsense guide to
> Globalisation' by Wayne Ellwood.
>
> This excellent little book traces the journey to a borderless world. It is
> writen in a very accessible manner and has an excellent chapter on how
they
> suggest the global economy needs to be redesigned.
>
> It would be interesting to hear more about your experiences in Morocco -
do
> you think globalisation can help poorer nations of the 'South' like
Morocco
> ? What as economists can we suggest to help alleviate global poverty IF
the
> present system is only worsening the situation ?
>
> Thanks
>
> Finbarr Carter
>
> At 18:22 29/10/2001 +0000, you wrote:
> >I know this is a bit late following the recent thread on development
issues
> >but it may be useful. I visited Morocco this summer and found some of the
> >living issues we are all aware of - the gap between the westernised
wealthy,
> >the global chain stores etc and the "poorer parts" with constant
recycling of
> >materials down to the lowest level, Western europe medieval period
workshops,
> >no health and safety, child labour etc. The non economic social factors
like
> >family ties, attitude to community awareness/society were very different
from
> >the UK, as indeed was the underpinning role of religious belief and
practice.
> >Anyway, if anyone has specific qs on this do let me know.
> >I've really written this to recommend
> >"Small is Still Beautiful" by Joseph Pearce 2001 Harper Collins
> >which updates Schumachers ideas, draws on commentators such as Paul
Ormerod
> >"Economics is Dead" and puts standard Development Economics as well as
> >standard economic theory under a critical appraisal, especially in these
days
> >of "Globalisation".
> >Non technical language, sometimes simplistic but suitable for motivated A
> >Level students. Knowledge of economics would get the most from this but
> Modern
> >Historians/Sociologists might also.
> >Does anyone know a similar resource for the case for "Globalisation"
> /Economic
> >Growth at the right level. The Friedmanns book of some years ago updated
is
> >the kind of thing I am thinking of.
> >Thanks
> >dave milner
> >
> >
>
>
> Finbarr Carter / Stephen Fairbrass ([log in to unmask])
> 'Just Business'
> Norfolk Education and Action for Development
> 38 Exchange Street, Norwich, NR2 1AX
> Tel: 01603 610993
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
> Registered Charity: 1010853
> Registered company: 2237 424
|