Sweden
Run by social democrats for 65 of the last 76 years, Sweden’s economic fortitude has persevered thanks to private enterprise and entrepreneurs. Still, pro-business reform would need to address a bloated public sector and unemployment the IMF reports at up to 20%, despite an official rate of just 5%.

HongKong
A new agency created to investigate anti-competitive business activities threatens to cloud Hong Kong’s already competitive free-market economy, as opponents point to vague guidelines used to determine which companies qualify for investigation.

Ireland
After putting the Treaty of Lisbon to a referendum, the Irish vote down a proposal to centralize power within E.U. through strengthening of the presidential role and creation of a new foreign-policy post.

Finland
A center-right government, elected in April 2007, plans to combat declining investment and labor shortages through tax cuts, budget increase for government-funded research and development and the merger of three Helsinki universities.

US
The weak U.S. dollar continues to weigh on global commodity prices, though the Federal Reserve has signaled plans to leave interest rates at current levels, if not higher, in the coming months as the domestic economy sputters.

UK
Inflation is a concern as recent figures cite an annual rate of 3.3%, well above the Bank of England’s 2% target. Yet similar to the U.S., changing interest rates to root out inflation risks damaging further its financial markets, a sector responsible for roughly a fifth of U.K. workers.

Canada
As export volumes fall amid the downturn in the U.S. economy and a strengthened Loonie, the Canadian government is pursuing a free-trade pact with Colombia just as support in the U.S. Congress waffles.

Singapore
Despite a 25-year-record rate of inflation (7.5%), tax-friendly Singapore has managed price fluctuations better than most of its neighbors by allowing exchange rates to guide policy, rather than adjusting interest rates.

Related posts:

1. Top 10+5 Best Business B-Schools / Management Institutes-India
2. Is Kerala Government Depending On Private Sector?
3. Selecting a Cell Phone Tariff
4. Small Toys Big Business!
5. China – A millionaire Nation

Filed under: Off-Beat News