We make the case here for an economic constellation that fosters increases in productivity and innovation. This would be one marked by a stable and, at the same time, dynamic financial system and based, fundamentally, on growth in domestic or regional demand among the world’s nations, driven by increases in income and thus able to prevent major current account imbalances. The world economy should be linked to a system of relatively stable exchange rates, which could be adjusted to redress any emerging major imbalances.

A stronger role for the state in a ‘good capitalism’, with a fundamentally new regulatory framework, calls for measures to ensure that the state has the equitable and sound revenue base it needs to prevent any rise of public debt as a share of gross domestic product. Tax policy here serves, on the one hand, to correct imbalances in income distribution and, on the other, to enable investments, in particular in education, research and development, infrastructure and social security.

Purchasing power, the central source of demand in developed economies, should be based on a relatively balanced distribution of income, and not on an expansion of consumer credit. Several measures are needed to achieve a balanced distribution of income: first, a reversal of the long-term trend towards a falling labour share of income, which is due chiefly to the financial system’s growing power, virtually uncontrolled proliferation and increasing hunger for risk and profit. Second, the wage structure would need to be modified in such a way as to raise lower-bracket wages.

Financial systems are, in a manner of speaking, the ‘brains’ of the economic system. And while they are of key significance for dynamic economic development, they can also wreak havoc on an economy. In fact, a smoothly functioning financial system has, in a modern economy, at least four tasks essential for any sustainable growth process. First, by supplying businesses – and innovative businesses in particular – with newly created credit, the financial system sets the stage for investment and successful production processes.

Good capitalism is the title of a book written by Prof. Dr. Sebastian Dullien (University of Applied Sciences in Berlin), Prof. Dr. Hansjörg Herr (Berlin School of Economics and Law) and Dr. Christian Kellerman, Director of the Nordic Office of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Stockholm.

Hereafter is what the authors say

There are about 1,500 assistants who assist MEPs . Their tasks vary enormously: they can range from secretarial tasks to acting as a full blown political advisor. Usually it is a mixture of several roles so assistants are often a sort of secretary-advisor-press-officer-tour guide (for visitors) all rolled into one.

Icelanders angry with the slow pace of the country's economic recovery threw eggs to members of parliament and other policians as they headed to mass in Reykjavik last Saturday 1st October.

Ms. Dorritt Moussaief the wife of the President of Iceland Mr. Olafur Ragmar Grimsson climbed over a barricade to mingle with protesters. It's a positive sign that this lady wanted to speak to the protesters and show that the leading class was not perched on the top of its ivory tower with contempt for the population.

European Business Organisations outside the EU are essential in the internationalization process of European companies in foreign markets. They defend and foster European business interests in the host country, mainly through advocacy and trade policy initiatives. In South America, bi-national chambers and trade offices offer information services, workshops, networking activities, trade missions and fairs.

Noteworthy is

Ms. Patricia Baroni who runs her Paris-based consultancy ATINUM organized an important event colloqium in Juan-les-Pins on the French Riviera bringing together 150 persons on the subject of sustainable marine development in the presence of Ms. Maud Fontenoy a French sailor known for her rowings across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and Founder of the Maud Foundation 'Save Marine Biodiversity'

AALEP has entered into a Protocol of Cooperation with the European Business Group in India (EBGI) Country Council, whereby AALEP joins EBGI as an Associate Member and reciprocally EBGI joins AALEP as an Associate Member. It should be pointed out that Associate Membership does not confer any right for either organization to vote at annual meetings but it does provide entitlement to participate in meetings, events, projects and programmes.