Commentary on the economies of South East Asia, Bank of America’s bad bet, the problem with big banks, mapping out global risk, the dangers to sharing, and Canada’s strange outcomes.

The spill over from China and India is having a big impact on local economies.

Deutsche Bank -- Income convergence and the rise of the Indian Ocean economies
While only very few countries have actually succeeded in joining the group of high-income economies over the past few decades, partial income convergence is a reality.

Bank of America’s country wide disaster.

Financial Times -- US finance: An enduring squall
Bank of America has to weigh the wishes of shareholders and regulators as it ponders bankruptcy protection for the Countrywide unit.

The dangers of too big too fail.

Too Big to Fail undermines the free market faith
Isn’t it strange?

Related.

Fortune -- Why it's time to break up the 'too big to fail' banks
Customers would benefit, the U.S. government would benefit, and - believe it or not - the big banks themselves would do better. 

Getting ready for Davos, mapping out risk.

Pdf below -- World Economic Forum – Global Risk 2012

US long-term interest rates since 1790.

Keep it open. The dangers of PIPA and SOPA.

Ted Talks – Defending Our Freedom to Share
What does a bill like PIPA/SOPA mean to our shareable world? At the TED offices, Clay Shirky delivers a proper manifesto — a call to defend our freedom to create, discuss, link and share, rather than passively consume.

Jeffrey Simpson on Canada’s twisted outcomes.

Globe and Mail -- The politics of Harper’s medicare decision
A decade before medicare, the federal government financially supported hospitals across Canada; that came in 1957 under John Diefenbaker’s government.