IMF encourages Europe's economic suicide

China, Japan, America, the oil powers, and the rising economies of Latin America had a chance to pull Europe back from suicide through IMF pressure, but the world dropped the ball.

Another vast pledge to save the euro, another chance lost to break the hold of Europe’s austerity mystics and force a shift in strategic direction.

“We’re north of a trillion dollars,” said Christine Lagarde, the International Monetary Fund’s queen bee. Kudos to her for netting such sums in her Louis Vuitton handbag but what exactly does this achieve, given that Europe remains bent on committing “economic suicide” -- in the words of Nobel laureate Paul Krugman?

Big language from world officialdom had traction in the early phases of this saga, when episodic spasms of angst caused “sudden stops” in capital to the South – each quickly reversed by bazookas, firewalls, and solemn incantations.

Europe has by now progressed to the tertiary phase of its currency disease. Read More