tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3120478448417742445.post3680563133687136236..comments2024-03-24T06:35:14.281+00:00Comments on The Portuguese Economy: Can the public sector monster be tamed?Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16779405217168307855noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3120478448417742445.post-60932227537649420872011-07-05T02:43:33.827+01:002011-07-05T02:43:33.827+01:00Perhaps I should spend a few hours reading recent ...Perhaps I should spend a few hours reading recent past posts on this blog before asking my questions, but feel free to point me to articles already written if they answer my question(s). <br /><br />I'd like to ask the blog authors the following: <br /><br />1) Given the horrendous historic record of the IMF in successfuly restoring the economic prosperity of any single country that it elected to "help", why is Portugal considering IMF loans versus putting further pressure on the ECB and/or private lenders (i.e. China); or if I may have the audacity to suggest - why is there such little talk of just outright defaulting on its national debt... aside from the possibly political "suicide" such a decision may have in the near term for any government that suggests it. Iceland seems to have been doing pretty well since it's default. Also Argentina and Venezuela are all the better for it. A sudden heart attack that doesn't kill the patient might be preferable to a slow but agonizing death, no?<br /><br />2) To what degree can we attribute Portugal's economic failures to Socialist ruling parties over the past few decades? Is there any kind of direct correlation, given nearly every other more successful Western European country does not have socialist ruling parties?<br /><br />3) What if any industry present or near-future, do you think Portugal can ressucitate or elevate to assist in the ascendance of it's GDP and/or to contribute significantly to its debt repayments - assuming the national goal continues to be that as opposed to default?<br /><br />4) What do you see as the probability of Portugal experiencing severe civil riots in urban cities much like we've been witnissing in Greece?<br /><br />5) What do you believe might be some of the strategies the newly formed government might enact in order to attempt to rescue Portugal from the brink of economic collapse?<br /><br />6) Can the European Union minimize the acceleration of a Euro collapse by restricting/stoppping or minizing the impact of CDS (Credit Default Swap) derivative international players? (Forgive me if this is a naive question - but it seems at a glance these vigilantes or perhaps should I call them monetary 'vultures', appear to be making a bad situation much worse when the going gets tough).<br /><br />7. To what degree do you attribute the difficult Portuguese economic situation to rencent historic corruption and misuse of national funds - as compared to other richer European countries. I.e. France, Germany.<br /><br />That's enough for now. Looking forward to reading more in your blog.<br /><br />Best Regards,<br />LuisLuishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08043107694256546693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3120478448417742445.post-62518486098354022152011-07-05T02:22:57.739+01:002011-07-05T02:22:57.739+01:00Just a quick note to say thank you for such an exc...Just a quick note to say thank you for such an excelent blog about the Portuguese economy! As a Portuguese ex-patriot, I look forward to visiting this site more regularly. Keep up the great work. :-)Luishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08043107694256546693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3120478448417742445.post-85888444791693812032011-07-04T13:54:18.917+01:002011-07-04T13:54:18.917+01:00The title of this post lends itself to the more pr...The title of this post lends itself to the more pressing question: Can the IMF monster be tamed?Stephanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01963650071969867405noreply@blogger.com