Drive improvement in public finances in Europe. The 17 euro zone countries have reduced their cumulative deficit to 4.1% of GDP in 2011 against 6.2% in 2010, Eurostat reported Monday. It is however still far from pre-crisis level: in 2007, the deficit of the euro area amounted to only 2.1%.
Throughout the European Union, "the largest government deficits high, relative to GDP were recorded in Ireland (-13.1%), Greece (-9.1%), Spain (- 8.5%), UK (-8.3%), "Eurostat reported. France, it has reduced its deficit from 7.1% in 2010 to 5.2% in 2011. It's better than expected initially, the first estimates assuming a gap between revenue and expenditure of -5.7%.
This is especially out of belt-tightening that 17 countries have successfully reduced by more than 2 points the hole in public finances. Government spending has in fact fallen faster than revenues have increased, to reduce the deficit. The first shrank by 1.6 points, to 49.3% of GDP, against 0.5 points for second, with 45.2% of GDP. Throughout the European Union, "24 Member States recorded an improvement in the deficit (including France, Ed), deteriorating two and one remained stable," leading the European Institute of Statistics.
Although the deficit in the euro area has narrowed, the public debt, it has continued to swell. Certainly, at a slower pace than previously. Debt rose by almost two percentage points, to 87.2% in 2011, exploded after nearly five and a half points in 2010 and almost ten points in 2009, as a result of the crisis. Still, the observed level, 14 states have had their debts exceed the bar 60% of GDP limit set by the European Treaty. Among them, Greece (165.3% of debt), Italy (120.1%), Ireland (108.2%) but also France (85.8%) and Germany (81 , 2%).
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Now that he has eliminated all its competitors in the Republican nomination for president – has abandoned Santorum, Gingrich and Paul are too far behind – Mitt Romney has a new challenge before him: catch Barack Obama in the race for dollars. In this respect, the Republican can boast of a successful month of March. With nearly 13 million collected, he never raised much money. But the delay is very clear with the outgoing Democrat, who has earned almost $ 35 million over the same period.
Result, at nine months of the election, relations between the two candidates are from one to ten in terms of "cash" available. Barack Obama has $ 104 million when Mitt Romney, who had to spend lavishly to remove tough Santorum, no longer "only" 10 million in the bank. A bad sign, if one remembers that in 2008, with the same period, the ratio was similar between Barack Obama and John McCain, who ended up losing the election.
As in 2008, therefore, spending on U.S. presidential promise this year to reach record highs. Experts even suggest the sum of one billion dollars a camp, which supasserait the record set four years ago to 1.6 billion in all. By contrast, French law allows a maximum ceiling of 20 million per candidate, set in 2007 by Ségolène Royal and Nicolas Sarkozy.
Super PAC: advantage to Romney
The responsaibilté this runaway overseas rests with the change of election financing rules, which were imposed in the game a new player: the super PAC, support committees with permission to spend without limit (provided that it remains formally disconnected from the official campaign). One area where Romney camp knows how effective. Roamed this land, the former governor of Massachusetts has the advantage over Barack Obama in March, "Restore Our Future" raised him to $ 8.5 million, when "Priorities USA" harvested 2.5 million for Democrat. The outgoing president owes his advance as individual contributions.
This imbalance is not without worrying about the Democrats, as the super CAP seem to play a crucial role during the campaign. Indeed, it is up to them to the "dirty work" of producing spots decrying, sometimes extremely virulent opponents of their champions. And Mitt Romney has yet to benefit from the reinforcement of "American Crossroads", probably the most powerful Super PAC Republicans, whose co-founder is none other than Karl Rove, former adviser and electoral strategist for George W. Bush. The committee plans to spend this year $ 300 million, almost exclusively in attacks against the Obama camp.
Another factor to watch: the entry into operation of the National Committees of each party. CNR, for the Republicans, and the CND, for Democrats, allow candidates to receive donations for their respective parties, the amount can legally be much higher than that paid to the official campaign committees. And both have already started to build their war chest.
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Announced the surge does not occur. With complete freedom of movement since 1 May 2011, workers from eight Eastern European countries have not crossed the German border en masse. To the chagrin of a country in need of labor.
Last spring, there was a lot of hope and concern. The bosses were rejoicing the arrival of a highly skilled labor force required, the unions were alarmed competition for low wage costs. Frank-Juergen Weise, head of the Federal Employment Agency, estimated at 140,000 the number of workers from the East who would cross the German border. A year later, in an interview with the Rheinische Zeitung, there were fewer than half, 61,000.
Since 1 May 2011, nationals of eight countries of the European Union (Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia) have the right to come and work freely in Germany and Austria. "It's a pendulum swing of history, Timo J. Bass, of the Institute on the labor market (IAB). We Germans, who need so much labor and skilled young, we shot in the foot. "
When Europe has expanded to twenty-seven members in 2004, Berlin, Vienna and Brussels had negotiated with a further period of seven years to fully open their labor markets payday loan. Meanwhile, workers from the East who want to improve their living conditions have already emigrated. Location: England, Ireland, Scandinavia and Switzerland, with more attractive salaries.
Wages less attractive
Germany, however, suffers from the image of a country with low wages and poor career prospects. "Employers also require a perfect knowledge of the German language," says Timo Bass. In the globalized market and highly competitive "Best Minds" Germany is a party with several lengths behind.
Today, the sketch of immigrants came from Eastern Germany is Poland (67%), works at a temp agency or in the building sector, in one of the richest regions of the country as Bavaria. Those who cross the border rather are those who do not find work at home. Therefore: competition weighs more on low wages.
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And five! The Prism – which includes 600 companies of all sizes and interim accounts for 90% of turnover in the sector – has released disastrous figures for temporary employment in February. This further decline – the fifth in a row, after years of uninterrupted growth – reached 6.8% last month compared to same month last year. Worse, there is an accelerated decline after a month of January 2012 which showed a decline of 3.9%. In total over the first two months of 2012, the decline already exceeds 5%. Bodes ill for the rest of the year, temporary employment are a leading indicator of general labor market
.
All sectors have plunged last month: -5.2% for temporary staffing industry, -5.4% in services and even -14 guaranteed online payday loans.4% in construction. Again bad news for "when the building goes, everything goes, especially employment," the saying goes … Except for executives and professionals (who posted a 3% increase), all other occupational categories are decline: -6.1% for skilled workers, -9.6% for unskilled and -9.7% for employees, these three categories represent 87.8% in temporary.
Apart from the Midi-Pyrenees (3.2%), all regions have been affected by the contraction in February in temporary. And, sometimes violently. Folds have well exceeded 10% in four regions (Picardy, Ile de France, Champagne-Ardennes and Alsace). About two months, only the Franche-Comte and Limousin combine a double-digit decline.
Alert at Total. The gas leak occurred Sunday afternoon on his Elgin gas field, 240 kilometers east of Aberdeen in Scotland is growing. Tuesday afternoon, the authorities decided to ban flights within 3 nautical miles (5.5 km) from the Elgin platform and navigation within 2 miles (3.7 km).
The latest information provided by a spokesman for Total in Aberdeen, the gas does not ignite. The 238 employees of the platform were evacuated by helicopter Monday, without being able to stop the leak. And for good reason, Elgin is nicknamed "the pit of hell" because of the pressure and temperature "extremes" in the words of the website of Total, prevailing in the gas tank, buried 5000 meters below seabed. Total According, the pressure is of the order of 1100 bars, the equivalent of one tonne concentrated on the surface of a fingernail. By comparison, the pressure in the well Deepwater Horizon, in the Gulf of Mexico, scene of the worst oil spill in U.S. in 2010 was 800 bars.
Two fireboats are on alert at the limit of two miles, ready to intervene. Tuesday afternoon, experts from Total does not always explain the reasons for flight. Among the possible operations is discussed drilling a relief well which would reduce the pressure of the leak in the original well. An intervention that would take six months, admits it at Total.
According to the spokesman of the French company in Aberdeen, 20 tons of gas may have leaked. Moreover, the condensate-oil-sprawled on Tuesday 4.8 km2. A plane with the dispersant on board was ready to take off. The company Shell has reduced its staff on its neighboring platforms and Noble Hans Deul Shearwater.
Total shares fall
At the Paris Bourse, the action of a number of CAC 40 lost 8% to 14.30. At Total, the oil slick from the Deepwater Horizon BP in 2010 is on everyone's mind. The company has launched a website dedicated to the incident.
According to Frederic Hauge of Bellona Norwegian environmental NGO that monitors the production of hydrocarbons in the North Sea, quoted by Reuters, "the staff has seen the sea boil. I am very concerned about the situation. It can only get worse. "
Since it was set afloat, ten years ago by three friends in Colorado, Crocs has sold more than 150 million pairs of shoes in 90 countries. Right in her funny shoes, this American company shows $ 1 billion in revenue in 2011, up 27%. 112.8 million and net income, against 67 million in 2010. The hilarious crocodile brand has regained its bite.
At the NYSE, the action hovers around $ 20. It was not worth even at a low point in 2009. In 2007, she had already sold 100 million pairs. She posted $ 168.2 million profit. After a flash of sales growth between 2005 and 2008, its accounts have fired that year in the red: it lost 185.1 million in 2008 and 42 million in 2009, before returning in 2010 to profits.
Crocs has been the victim of the crisis on its first market, the United States, which now represent less than half of its sales. Victim, too, its single-product strategy and the strength of his shoe aesthetics controversial. Crocs lost momentum, if not renewed by their fans. "The Crocs shoes are indeed a life of ten years on average," says Mustafa Sadik, head of the brand in France.
But the restructuring, fought on all fronts, product development management through logistics and supply sources, has borne fruit. The Canadian plant closed. Manufacturing has been focused on China.
The Croslite: a lightweight resin
This is taking the offensive on diversification, international and opening stores as she now has more than 169 – that picked up Crocs. Without abandoning his favorite material: colored and perforated, the shoe – called "Clog" – was forged in a patented material, the "Croslite", lightweight resin, antibacterial, waterproof and flexible. Hooves, dominated by the model "Cayman", weigh only 50% in sales volume, but also offers Crocs shoes to more traditional sole "Croslite". Fabric or leather dress patterns for women, men and children, from sneakers to high heels compensated, covered with cork, to sandals, ballet slippers and boots for the whole family. The colors are often flashy, but the forms were assagies. The brand, which also sells shoes filled, at the same time has reduced its dependence on seasonality: the items were accounted for only 65% of sales. Ready-to-wear this summer, with shells and sleeves for smartphones tablets, scheduled for 2013 in France, a slew of new products will accelerate diversification.
If the shoe of Colorado is still nearly half of its sales in the U.S., sales there rose by 19% in 2011, but have surged 34% in Europe and Asia. In Europe, where Crocs aligns 34 stores and 92 franchises, an offensive was launched in France, where the brand has opened two stores, after closing at all its difficulties. Its third store will open its own in France in Nice on March 22. This will be his first major "Crocs Store" in Europe. A new store concept, where 250 models will unfold in both healthy, shelves and large digital displays.
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After a week of rumors, the announcement is, this time, official: the General Motors made its entry into the capital of the French group PSA Peugeot Citroen, according to an official. GM takes and 7% stake in PSA, which carries a massive increase in capital of around one billion euros. GM is now the second largest shareholder of the French group behind the Peugeot family.
The alliance will focus on platforms and components and provides a joint venture in purchasing. The first vehicles from a common platform GM-PSA will be marketed from 2016. Expected synergies from the two manufacturers totaled $ 2 billion annually within five years.
This alliance gives rise to a powerful global industry leader with over 11 million vehicles sold per year worldwide.
First French carmaker, PSA is currently experiencing serious financial difficulties. Its net debt rose in 2011 from 1.2 billion to 3.4 billion euros. Leaded by Europe, sales of Peugeot and Citroen fell 1.5% last year while the global market progressed by 3%. The group announced last October a comprehensive plan of saving 800 million euros that could cause the elimination of 4,000 positions this year saving account pay day loan.
With his new partner, the Lion brand will achieve greater flexibility for financial resume investment as an upmarket in Europe and the creation of a new plant in India.
GM weighed down by its European subsidiary Opel
For his part, General Motors has certainly taken over in 2011 the title of world number one Automotive Japanese automaker Toyota. But the American could benefit from expertise of PSA to finally leave the red Opel, its European subsidiary. It announced in mid-February to have lost $ 747 million in 2011.
Peugeot confirmed Feb. 21 that he "consider [ed] the cooperation projects and alliances (…) as part of its globalization strategy and performance improvement." Without specifying with whom, but rumors already evoked release of GM. Last night, the Financial Markets Authority (AMF) had called PSA to communicate "as soon as possible" on the alliance, while multiplied rumors of a capital increase.
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While the Lorraine steel industry is fighting for its survival, the region is to take advantage of its central location in Europe to attract Chinese companies. Monday, the company TerraLorraine presented in Thionville (Moselle) his plan to create an area of 130 hectares on which Chinese companies will be moving.
"We target medium-sized Chinese businesses, with between 5,000 to 20,000 employees, says Régis Passerieux, president of TerraLorraine. This is to welcome their branches, subsidiaries or representative offices in Europe. "This project, located Illange, between Thionville and Metz, will take place in five phases over a period of ten years. The first is about 245,000 square meters. "The building permit has been issued, said Regis Passerieux. The construction will start in September or October for delivery late 2014 or early 2015. "
Attempt to Chateauroux
The project proponents expect the creation of 30,000 direct jobs in ten years, including 3000 for the first phase. "We have already received numerous Stay Tuned! From Chinese companies," commented President TerraLorraine.
This subsidiary of an investment fund specializing in real estate business, Comex Holdings, is investing € 150 million directly in the first phase, without aid.
"A business center value-added"
Lorraine is not the only region to show interest in China. At Chateauroux (Indre), a former NATO air base and is already in work to attract Chinese companies. Launched with great fanfare two years ago, this area, which would accommodate 4,000 jobs, slow to see the arrival of Chinese companies.
"We want to make a business center TerraLorraine value-added, not just a center for retailers," says Regis Passerieux. Voices are raised to point the risk of these locations: the Chinese would simply assembled on site products made in China. They would get the precious label "Made in France". "It is better to be active rather than undergo massive imports", however, defends Passerieux Regis.
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Run for your lives! This is the response of the Greek youth graduated from the crisis and the stacking of austerity since early 2010. Examples abound. The Goethe Institute in Athens is facing a 70% increase in enrollment in German courses. A recruiting office in Northern Ireland offers young Greek, says Athens News, collect mushrooms or work in aquatic farms. A conference on migration to Australia by invitation only-recently gathered 1000 graduates (even though only 100 Greeks settled in the island-continent in 2010).
The Greeks want to leave their countries in crisis, but it is not seen in official statistics."Based on preliminary figures available, we observe no increase in emigration in Greece in 2010," notes Jonathan Chaloff, migration expert at the OECD, based on information provided by the U.S., Australian, Canadian or Swedish. "There is indeed a great desire to emigrate, but the obstacles are real: the language barrier, recognition of qualifications, etc..," Said he.
More border, more control
This is not the only reason why migration flows are difficult to perceive. "Young Greeks are mainly the countries of the European Union," Lois Labrianidis point, Professor of Economics at the University of Thessaloniki."But as there is no boundary or control, you can not count these departures." The researcher is a hint: the Greeks entered in the European Internet portal EURES CV exploded in 2011, reaching 15,500, two times the total recorded since its inception in 1993.
Young people fleeing a country they consider no future. "The dynamics of the labor market is worrying. The unemployment rate reached 16%, up 50% from 2010. And for young people is twice (30%), "notes Manon Domingues Dos Santos, migration specialist at the University Paris-Est Marne-La-Vallée. "In this context, the most qualified are the most mobile: they speak foreign languages and better meet the needs of labor in host countries."
The crisis accelerates a phenomenon of brain drain that affects Greece for at least 10 years.At the edge of recession, in 2007, already 12.2% of the most educated Greeks living abroad, or at least 876,000 people. This figure is just swell: already during this period, more than 4.5% of graduates were leaving Greece every year, according to figures compiled by Frédéric Docquier, a professor at the University of Louvain. This is much less than Portugal (over 12%) but almost twice as Spain, also in crisis countries. In comparison, only 1.31% of French graduates leave the country.
Herding phenomenon
View from the best-trained its elites to broader horizons, such is the fate of small countries like Ireland or Lithuania. "Greece, however, could prove to be a special case, said Frédéric Docquier. It is in near-bankruptcy.They may therefore develops a herd phenomenon: if the elites and the most qualified anticipate the crisis and with rigor, everyone will leave the country when you leave you too. "
Problem: well-trained elites are among the taxpayers most likely to pay high taxes. Leaving their country, they will not settle the affairs of the state. In the longer term, "the departure of more skilled threatens growth by detracting from the production of research and innovation," Manon Domingues Dos Santos is concerned.
Greece, which was over twenty years, between 50 and 70 years, a land of emigration, however, tries to take advantage of its diaspora. The government has proposed this year to Greeks abroad to finance its debt to the tune of 3 billion euros.
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The Deposit and Consignment Office now holds precisely 5.002% stake in Club Méditerranée, against 2% previously. Crossed a threshold in the financial management of the Fund that the judge attractive share price Club Med (13.40 euros, representing a market capitalization of 404 million euros, down 13% since the beginning of the year).
But the strengthening of the CDC, regarding the Club Med, a symbolic value. Between the public institution and the flagship of the French tourism, relations have always been close. In 2009, when Club Med was jostled by Bernard Tapie and various takeover rumors, the Deposit had dam, committing to purchase if necessary to a capital increase, finally buckled from other investors.Today, with 5% of the round, the CDC is involved in the consolidation of the company led by Henri Giscard d'Estaing.
Strategy carried out in several stages. Last year, the highlight had been the arrival of the Chinese Fo Sun, also a partner in the Club in the Middle Kingdom. The Deposit and Management of Morocco, also an industrial partner, is also installed in the capital. The French Caisse des Depots, for which tourism is a strategic activity, also maintains links with the business club, which it funds such as the site of Valmorel.
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