The author has been described by News Ltd as an "iconoclast", "Svengali", a pollie's "economist muse", and "pungently accurate". Fairfax says he is a "Renaissance man" and "one of Australia’s most respected analysts." Stephen Koukoulas concludes that he is "85% right", and "would make a great Opposition leader." Terry McCrann claims the author thinks "‘nuance’ is a trendy village in the south of France", but can be "scintillating" when he thinks "clearly". The ACTU reckons he’s "an enigma wrapped in a Bloomberg terminal, wrapped in some apparently well-honed abs."

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Why Christine Lagarde should not lead the IMF

I've made my case. The Economist saunters up with its own view, which is even more compelling. In short, if Europe is going to be the next economic battlezone, the IMF needs independence, and not the inherent conflicts engendered by having a European politician lead it. The North Atlantic club needs to grow up. This is no longer a unipolar or bipolar community. China is the world's second largest economy, followed by Japan. The Americans are no more deserving of their claimed monopoly rights to the leadership of the World Bank than Europe is to the IMF. The most powerful vaccine against armed conflict is mutual dependence. And this is precisely what globalisation creates. We should foster it rather than clinging to old stereotypes.
at 10:34 PM