finance-worldwide

Interest Rates and the World Economy

By: Shirley Tan

There is no effective way to measure the source of funds as well as the amount of funds each bank and lending institutions have. This would mean facing difficulty in making estimates as to the credit facilities and funds that they have available for lending to business enterprises and individuals. This could have help set the overnight benchmark interest rates. As the Federal Reserve gradually lower interest rates, it also slowly depletes its funds. The only thing that has been holding the interest rates is the Federal Reserve intervention. The interest could have skyrocketed without the timely intervention of the Federal Reserve.

CHINA
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Belize, Belmopan Cost of Living January 2010

By: Steven Coleman

LOCATION: Belize is in Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico.

CAPITAL CITY: Belmopan

LARGEST CITY: Belize City

CURRENCY: Belize Dollar (BZD)

ECONOMY: Belize has a small essentially private-enterprise economy, it is dependent on tourism followed by exports of marine products, citrus, cane sugar, bananas, and garments.
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Bangladesh, Dhaka Cost of Living January 2010

By: Steven Coleman

LOCATION: Bangladesh is in Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India.

CAPITAL CITY: Dhaka

LARGEST CITY: Dhaka

CURRENCY: Bangladeshi Taka (BDT)

ECONOMY: The past several years have seen a steady growth of 5-6% in the economy. The service sector generates half of the GDP, while two-thirds of the population are employed in the agricultural sector. Dhaka is the commercial heart of Bangladesh, growth has been strong in the finance, banking, manufacturing, telecommunications and services sectors. Tourism, hotels and restaurants continue as important elements of the Dhaka economy.
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Bhutan, Thimphu Cost of Living January 2010

By: Steven Coleman

LOCATION: Bhutan is in Southern Asia, between China and India.

CAPITAL CITY: Thimphu

LARGEST CITY: Thimphu

CURRENCY: Bhutan Ngultrum (BTN)

ECONOMY: Bhutan is one of the world’s smallest and least developed economies. The economy is based mainly on agriculture and forestry, and is closely aligned with India’s economy through strong trade and monetary links, as well as the sale of hydroelectric power. This small economy has grown significantly since 2005.
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Barbados, Bridgetown Cost of Living January 2010

By: Steven Coleman

LOCATION: Barbados is found in the Caribbean, it is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela.

CAPITAL CITY: Bridgetown

LARGEST CITY: Bridgetown

CURRENCY: Barbados Dollar (BBD)

ECONOMY: The Barbadian economy was initially dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but this has diversified into light industry and tourism. Important foreign exchange earners are offshore finance and information services.
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Bahamas, Nassau Cost of Living January 2010

By: Steven Coleman

LOCATION: The Bahamas is in the Caribbean, it is a chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba.

CAPITAL CITY: Nassau

LARGEST CITY: Nassau

CURRENCY: Bahamian Dollar (BSD)

ECONOMY: The Bahamas’ economy is dependent on tourism (which is dependent on growth in the US) and off-shore banking, it is a stable, developing nation.
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Bolivia, La Paz Cost of Living January 2010

By: Steven Coleman

LOCATION: Bolivia is in Central South America, southwest of Brazil.

ADMINISTRATIVE CAPITAL CITY: La Paz

CONSTITUTIONAL & JUDICIAL CAPITAL: Sucre

LARGEST CITY: Santa Cruz de la Sierra

CURRENCY: Bolivian Boliviano (BOB)

ECONOMY: Bolivia is one of the poorest and least developed countries in South America. It is rich in natural resources, it owns the second largest natural gas field in South America and a significant portion of the world’s iron and magnesium.
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