"China is probably the biggest loser in the Ukraine war after Ukraine itself." - Zeihan

"Because they're the last country in the kick line, everyone else gets their stuff first." (Energy, Food from the Russian space)

#China #Globalization #Zeihan

The Boliviano is not fixed in exchange to the USD. Their exchange was established over 10 years ago when the authorities there injected dollars into the countries reserves. The money came from great wealth that came from nationalizing petroleum production (Bolivia still has a state monopoly in petrol and distributes it to the country, and this has totally absorbed the impact of changes in gas price). It reduced costs of imported products. Bolivia ALSO produces most of the products Bolivians consume.

Bolivia also has certificates of exportation granted by government. When that product is not available in proper supply for the internal market at a price the government considers appropriate, the government can deny a certificate for exportation.

For this low inflation, Bolivia is considered by some to have a lot of debt.

Is it a disincentive to production in Bolivia? Does the State spend more than it brings in? Will the country just consume its reserves?

The government isn't going to change policy. It says that would be to translate the burden of inflation onto the majority of the population.

Bolivia is said to be the only Latin American country that is controlling inflation.

#Bolivia #Globalization

-Said by a Berlin resident who didn't move out of an apartment building, although they want him to move out (as every other tenant already has) to make room for them to demolish the building and build new apartments. He received threats and had his car set on fire, reportedly.

Rents have skyrocketed as global investments have poured into Berlin real estate.

A recent large referendum had 57% vote in favor of (who? the State? the city?) buying out companies who hold more than 3000 units. ("The most successful referendum in Berlin's history")

There's a line in Article 15 in the German Constitution that says property can be expropriated when it's for the public good. (There are lots of other options to fix the problem besides expropriation, however.)

It's a pattern that exists in most European cities. Demolishing old buildings and building new ones. Prices rising. Long term residents left with not much choice but to move elsewhere.

How can we contrast 'a public good being turned into a commodity' with having enough money to satisfy the market and the possibility of lack of such money being treated as sufficient excuse to seize property without consent (which, you could argue, is frequently done by governments during land development)?

#Housing #Germany #Globalization