English Articles

Deficit aim ‘credible’

The Government decided to raise the target deficit for 2013 from 1.7 to 2.7 per cent to be more credible and realistic in its projections and would now have to face the European Commissioner to give him a detailed explanation of the €70 million increase in expenditure, which inevitably affected the deficit.   "The Government will be ratifying the Fiscal Compact"   Winding up the debate in the second reading of the Budgetary Measures ... [+]

From ‘good performer’ to laggard

Only four years ago an EU official had gone on record saying that Malta had managed to learn the ropes of a complicated and highly bureaucratic system very well and was performing much above its weight. He was referring to the absorption of funds under the 2000-2006 financial programme. It ... [+]

Cyprus: a lesson for life

There is nothing more undignified than the sight of a bankrupt person begging for assistance. The contrasts between the cosy and sometimes sumptuous living before the event and the state of helplessness and destitution soon after are stark indeed. While generous persons may come forward to offer their help, they ... [+]

THE ECONOMY, PUBLIC FINANCE AND THE ELECTIONS

One tends to recall that the economy and elections are very much related. The famous statement “the economy stupid” was coined with this in mind. Leaders of contesting political parties can only ignore the economy at their own peril argues Prof Edward Scicluna. Let’s unearth why...Incumbent governments know how important ... [+]

Our Plan for Economic Growth

There is no doubt that, since the Second World War, it has been the desire of every parent that his or her children should enjoy a better life than he or she had. Back before the early industrial revolution, in an agrarian society, dire poverty was accepted as a way ... [+]

Our surreal situation

I reckon that both the divorce issue and the forthcoming election will be noted in our future history books as the two events that shook Maltese society out of its slumber. For the past few decades, Maltese society has accepted the dictum “do not fix if it ain’t broken” and ... [+]

Government’s debt legacy

The debt issue is not just a Labour issue, it is a national issue. In actual fact I find it more of a concern among the business community which knows only too well its repercussions. Business persons know that debt burdens once incurred can only be transferred, as say from ... [+]

The politics of stooping to conquer

"If until then, Scicluna hadn't caught my attention, he certainly did on that occasion." - Michela Spiteri I was in Brussels last December, around the time Edward Scicluna was being persecuted by that insufferable anti-abortion NGO, Gift of Life, who have that very rare ability to make me think, say and do ... [+]

Stagflation is not a Virus

According to Eurostat, at 4.2 per cent, Malta has reached the highest inflation rate in the eurozone and the second highest in the whole European Union. In fact, it is almost double the average in both cases. In economics, inflation can be considered as a Hydra, a multi-headed beast which once ... [+]

Recall Mintoffianomics

Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher are remembered for their own brand of economics, Thatcherism and Reaganomics. But what about Dom Mintoff’s own particular economic creed and style which too had indelibly left their mark on his government’s administration? Although not an economist by profession, and never taking over the Ministry of ... [+]