The Economist

The US ended 2007with the spectre of a recession hanging over it while Asia and Europewere riding on a high, expecting 2008 to be another year of growth andprosperity. The financial crisis…

The human mind is an interesting thing. It can recognise economicfacts, stare them in the face and then reach the conclusion thatreality is not based on what we see. 

During a recent visit to Egypt my attention was caught by the enthusiastic expansion plans for the Egyptian port sector, particularly on the Mediterranean coast.

The recent Coastlink Conference in Dublin was the focus of much discussion about the thorny subject of congestion – the problems and potential solutions. There was clearly a perception from the conference…

Economic theory and practice tells us that economies of scale have the potential to increase both consumer and producer welfare. Yet there are limits to the advantages that they can bring. 

Let me start with an apology. I just cannot get away from the subject of port congestion. The most recent problems have been caused by weather, labour relations (or rather the lack…

More labour trouble in Gioia Tauro to the extent that Contship Italia, the transhipment terminals operator, has issued threats about exiting the terminal. The visible cause of the problems is the newly…