Category Archives: Uncategorized

A Tale of Two Frances:Marine Le Pen 6.2 % in Paris, 27.5 % in Vaucluse

Posted on April 24, 2012 by haroldchorneyeconomist

When one analyses the first round French presidential election results in detail and examines the vote in the major cities and compares it with the regions some very striking differences emerge which illustrate the divide in French society today. For … Continue reading →

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France votes:Hollande 28.5 %; Sarkozy 27.1%;Le Pen 18.2%;Mélenchon 11.1%;Bayrou 9.1%;Joly 2.3%

Posted on April 22, 2012 by haroldchorneyeconomist

France the bastion of democracy has voted in the first round of the Presidential elections. As the polls suggested François Hollande of the Parti socialiste has finished just ahead of the President Nicholas Sarkozy of the UMP. In third place … Continue reading →

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More violent clashes in Quebec between student demonstrators and police over proposed tuition fees increase

Posted on April 21, 2012 by haroldchorneyeconomist

Both yesterday and today there have been further violent clashes between demonstrators opposed to the fee increases and the police in Montreal. Malicious property damage , personal injury to both protestors  and police and innocent bystanders have resulted. One has … Continue reading →

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Canadian inflation falls to 1.9 % below the 2 % target rate of the Bank of Canada: raising interest rates would be a big mistake

Posted on April 21, 2012 by haroldchorneyeconomist

Statistics Canada has announced that the inflation rate for March fell to 1.9 %. This is exactly opposite to what a number of conventional economists including those who hold influential positions at the Bank thought would be the case. The … Continue reading →

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French election heats up: Hollande and Sarkozy neck and neck with Mélenchon in third Le Pen close behind

Posted on April 15, 2012 by haroldchorneyeconomist

The French Presidential election taking place amidst the turmoil and deprivation unleashed by the crash and failed austerity approach of the European leadership is turning into a very interesting contest. It would seem with only a week to go before … Continue reading →

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Vive le Québec social et progressif ! : the conflict over higher university tuition fees in Québec

Posted on April 14, 2012 by haroldchorneyeconomist

There has been a significant clash over values and higher education taking place in Québec over the past few weeks. There is an on going student strike and there  have been daily demonstrations at many of the university campuses in … Continue reading →

Posted in austerity, Canada, fiscal policy, full employment, progressives, Québec, Uncategorized, unemployment | Leave a comment

Australia and unemployment rate significantly lower than North America and most of Western Europe

Posted on April 13, 2012 by haroldchorneyeconomist

Australia has always been a country I have followed with interest. I had Australian teachers in grade school who were among my favorites and my primary school principal was a kind and wise Australian from Tasmania. I also have some … Continue reading →

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On Debt follies and deficit hysteria:intelligent voices from the past

Posted on April 12, 2012 by haroldchorneyeconomist

Among the many 1000 books in my library is a macro economics text, Macroeconomics:The measurement,analysis and control of aggregate economic activity, 3rd edition from 1968 written by Thomas Dernburg who was then  Professor of Economics at Oberlin college and Duncan … Continue reading →

Posted in austerity, deficit hysteria, deficits and debt, European debt crisis, Greek sovereign debt crisis, Italian debt crisis, J.M.Keynes, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

American unemployment rate drops to 8.2 % but job creation still unsatisfactory

Posted on April 9, 2012 by haroldchorneyeconomist

The U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics reported last week that the unemployment rate fell to 8.2 % . But the total number of new jobs added was a disappointing 83,000 below what the market had been expecting so bearish sentiment … Continue reading →

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Canadian unemployment rate falls from 7.4 to 7.2 %

Posted on April 5, 2012 by haroldchorneyeconomist

There was some good news on the Canadian unemployment front today. Statistics Canada released the March labour force survey which showed further progress in lowering the unemployment rate to 7.2 %, a welcome development. Unemployment fell in Ontario to 7.4% … Continue reading →

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