ECB Press Conference

The introductory statement from Mario Draghi is now available.  The ECB have also posted some additional notices following today’s Governing Council meeting.

IMF Completes Seventh Review Under the Extended Arrangement with Ireland and Approves €0.92 Billion Disbursement

IMF press release here.

End-August Fiscal Data

4-9-2012 Analysis End August Tax Receipts
4-9-2012 Analysis End August Net Voted Expenditure
4-9-2012 End August Exchequer Statement
4-9-2012 Information Note End August Exchequer Statement

Whingeing

We have a narrow definition of whingeing in this country, it appears.

You might think that someone who represents a rich constituency complaining about value-based property taxes “punishing people for their address” could be fairly described as whingeing. Indeed, you might think that such a person should be reminded that “The country’s in crisis. We can’t put our fingers to our ears and pretend it’s not happening”.

Apparently not. Whingeing, it seems, is a concept that only applies to people complaining about cuts to the public services on which poor people rely, not to people complaining about higher taxes on people in expensive neighbourhoods.

Jackson Hole Symposium 2012

The papers are here.