World Bank Urges Developing Countries to Brace for Long Term Volatility

The World Bank is urging developing countries to brace for the possibility of more economic turmoil in Europe. In its Global Economic Prospects Report, the bank advises emerging market economies to strengthen fiscal positions and develop medium-term strategies to protect their economies.

Emerging market economies may have weathered the 2008 financial crisis better than more advanced countries, but the World Bank warns -- it could happen again.

Senior bank economist Andrew Burns says anything is possible right now in Europe.

"Although we don't see it as a baseline scenario, it certainly is possible that the situation in high-income Europe deteriorates significantly. And if it did, that would have very serious impacts for developing countries," Burns said.

With borrowing costs still rising in Spain and Italy, and an upcoming Greek referendum that could forever alter the Eurozone -- Burns predicts a bumpy ride.

But even with the most recent bailout in Spain - economist Peter Morici says the problems facing Greece and Spain are very different.

"Spain's problem is one of a banking crisis. Greece's problem is one of a government crisis," Morici said.

Either way, Morici says the crisis has the potential to plunge the world into another recession, reducing global trade and exports dramatically.

The World Bank says developing nations need to focus on enhancing domestic productivity and boosting infrastructure development -- while reducing debt.

"What we suggest is that countries take the time now to try and replenish some of those cushions, some of those buffers they used in 2008 - 2009 so successfully to recover from that crisis. Try and rebuild those now by bringing policy to a more neutral stance, reducing fiscal deficits so that they have the ammunition to respond if a crisis, a second crisis, announces itself," Burns said.

Despite an over-abundance of caution, Burns is optimistic about a full-fledged global recovery - one led by emerging economies in Central Asia, the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa.

EU planning for worst-case scenario in case of Greek eurozone exit

By Luke Baker, Reuters

BRUSSELS – European finance officials have discussed as a worst-case scenario limiting the size of withdrawals from ATM machines, imposing border checks and introducing capital controls in at least Greece should Athens decide to leave the euro.

EU officials have told Reuters the ideas are part of a range of contingency plans. They emphasized that the discussions were merely about being prepared for any eventuality rather than planning for something they expect to happen — no one Reuters has spoken to expects Greece to leave the single currency area.

Belgium’s finance minister, Steve Vanackere, said at the end of May that it was a basic function of each eurozone member state to be prepared for problems. These discussions appear to be in that vein.s

But with increased political uncertainty in Greece following the inconclusive election on May 6 and ahead of a second election on June 17, there is now an increased need to have contingencies in place, the EU sources said.

The discussions have taken place in conference calls over the past six weeks, as concerns have grown that a radical-left coalition, SYRIZA, may win the second election, increasing the risk that Greece could renege on its EU/IMF bailout and therefore move closer to abandoning the currency.

No decisions have been taken on the calls, but members of the Eurogroup Working Group, which consists of eurozone deputy finance ministers and heads of treasury departments, have discussed the options in some detail, the sources said.

As well as limiting cash withdrawals and imposing capital controls, they have discussed the possibility of suspending the Schengen agreement, which allows for visa-free travel among 26 countries, including most of the European Union.

“Contingency planning is underway for a scenario under which Greece leaves,” one of the sources, who has been involved in the conference calls, said. “Limited cash withdrawals from ATMs and limited movement of capital have been considered and analyzed.”

Another source confirmed the discussions, including that the suspension of Schengen was among the options raised.

“These are not political discussions, these are discussions among finance experts who need to be prepared for any eventuality,” the second source said. “It is sensible planning, that is all, planning for the worst-case scenario.”

The first official said it was still being examined whether there was a legal basis for such extreme measures.

“The Bank of Greece is not aware of any such plans,” a central bank spokesman in Athens told Reuters when asked about the sources’ comments.

The vast majority of Greeks — some surveys have indicated 75 to 80% — like the euro and want to retain the currency, something Greek politicians are aware of and which may dissuade them from pushing the country too close to the brink.

However, SYRIZA is expected to win or come a strong second on June 17. Alexis Tsipras, the party’s 37-year-old leader, has said he plans to tear up or heavily renegotiate the 130-billion-euro bailout agreed with the EU and IMF. The EU and IMF have said they are not prepared to renegotiate.

If those differences cannot be resolved, the threat of the country leaving or being forced out of the euro will remain, and hence the need for contingencies to be in place.

Switzerland said last month it was considering introducing capital controls if the euro falls apart.
In a conference call on May 21, the Eurogroup Working Group told eurozone member states that they should each have a plan in place if Greece were to leave the currency.

Belgium’s Vanackere said two days after that call that it was a basic function of each euro zone member state to be prepared for any eventuality.

“All the contingency plans (for Greece) come back to the same thing: to be responsible as a government is to foresee even what you hope to avoid,” he told reporters.

“We must insist on efforts to avoid an exit scenario but that doesn’t mean we are not preparing for eventualities.”

Christine Lagarde attack on Greece backfires as she pays no tax

Christine Lagarde, the International Monetary Fund managing director who provoked an angry reaction from the Greek people after telling them to pay their taxes, does not pay tax on her own salary, it has emerged.

By Philip Aldrick, Economics Editor

Ms Lagarde was forced to publish an embarrassing climbdown on her Facebook page over the weekend after being bombarded by hundreds of Greek people who felt insulted by her suggestion that the country’s crisis was partly due to “all these people in Greece who are trying to escape tax”.

However, on Tuesday she had to admit that her $467,940 (£300,000) annual salary and $83,760 of additional allowances are entirely tax-free as the IMF is an international organisation.

An IMF spokesman said: “Salaries, like those in most international organizations, are paid on a lower, net of tax basis to ensure equal pay for equal work regardless of nationality.”

He added that Ms Lagarde, 56, does pay all other “taxes levied on her, including local and property taxes in the US and France”.

Ms Lagarde earns more than President Barack Obama and David Cameron, both of whom pay taxes.