EconAir

OVERVIEW: In the future, what will be the relationship between central governments (nation-states) and large corporations including multinational corporations (MNCs)? For strong central governments with authoritarian rulers the objective is power. Economic resources and institutions are a means to political objectives and personal wealth. They have the resources - police, law courts, tax audits, extortion, relations - to dominate and exploit private companies and shareholders. At best, political oversight; at worst, expropriation and prison or execution. United States Trump. China     Business firms as instruments of political objectives   Russia     Dictator plus dependent oligarchs European Union     Economic integration of  sovereign national governments Less-developed countries     Military and political leaders seizing power as a path to personal wealth and power. In some countries, including Pakistan and Egypt, the military owns or...

        INTRODUCTION   In 1600, England had been an insular and agricultural nation, trading primarily with nearby northern Europe. By 1700, England’s commerce was complex and global, as London competed successfully with Amsterdam for American produce and Asian luxuries.      Alan Taylor,     American Colonies:  The Settling of North America, 258. England's rise to global power and wealth depended on new sources of trade in the 1600s. In Asia, this was a result of trade developed by the English East India Company (EIC). In America, new sources of trade were created by the English settlements in North America and the West Indies. Because of these developments, total tonnage carried in English ships doubled between 1660 and 1688. From Asia came pepper and other spices along with Indian cotton cloth. From America came tobacco and sugar. The rapid increase in sugar production after 1660 in the West Indies led to slave trade with Af...

BACKGROUND Over the last two years, Iran's influence in the Middle East has declined. Iran lost a client state when the people of Syria overthrew the vicious regime of Assad. Hezbollah has been weakened by Israeli attacks and, after attacking Israel, Hamas and Gaza has been massively assaulted by Israel, which occupies part of Gaza. Hamas was trained, armed, and financed by Iran. Iran's air defenses were degraded by earlier American and Israeli attacks. The Iranian economy continues to weaken. Very high inflation rates and probable economic contraction and shortages. Much of the economy controlled by the Revolutionary Guards and the religious hierarchy. Massive demonstrations brutally put down by an extensive and vicious internal security force. An aging ayatollah, whose imminent death might have led to a power struggle among various groups in the government and security forces. It has always been recognized by the Gulf States and  American national security analysts (according...