IIEA Event on Europe’s Sovereign Debt Crisis

The Institute of International and European Affairs recently held an event on the European sovereign debt crisis. The event featured Dietmar Hornung of Moody’s Sovereign Risk Group, Lee C. Buchheit, a legal expert on sovereign debt issues and Ann Pettifor of Advocacy International who is known for work on sovereign debt and international finance such as the Jubilee 2000 (Drop the Debt) campaign.  Podcasts of the presentations and slides are available here.

Baltic Dry Index

David McWilliams mentioned the decline in the Baltic Dry Index in his column last Sunday: there is more on the topic here.

New Central Bank Strategy for Banking Supervision

The Central Bank has published a strategy document outlining a new approach to banking supervision. The document as well as two speeches from senior staff in this area are available here.

A Fiscal Council for Ireland

The idea of establishing some kind of fiscal council seems to be gaining momentum.  Minister Lenihan expressed interest in this idea last week; it featured in speeches by Eamon Gilmore and Joan Burton last week; it is also Fine Gael policy. An editorial in today’s Irish Times also endorses the idea – you can read it here.

Irish Times Article on September 2008 Guarantee

Following on from my post last week on the September 2008 guarantee, here‘s an article I wrote for today’s Irish Times on the same subject.