Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Excellent Analysis of Turkey's Internal and External Political Environments

In this article from American Interest, two former U.S. Ambassadors to Turkey provide a very informative analysis of Turkey's foreign policy, its domestic environment, and its relationship with the U.S.http://www.the-american-interest.com/articles/2014/02/04/us-needs-to-get-real-on-troubled-turkey/

Monday, February 3, 2014

NY Times Sunday Travel Section Feature: Orhan Pamuk's Istanbul

In the feature article in this Sunday's New York Times, the author takes the writer on a walking tour of several of the Istanbul neighborhoods that infuse his memories.  Well worth reading.  Link to pfd of article.  Link to article on NYTimes, with excellent photos.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Turkey's central bank raises interest rates dramatically

Last night, the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey raised interest rates (finally) to fight the fall in the lira and concomitant domestic inflation.  In this morning's Financial Times, Daniel Dombey explains the implications.  http://go.iu.edu/9QA

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Has the Currency Crisis in Turkey (and Other Developing Nations) Begun?

Argentina's currency experienced a breathtaking drop last week, and this triggered a run out of many emerging market currencies - including the Turkish lira.  Turkey's risk of a currency crisis and "sudden stop" is the economic issue for our course, so it is important that we follow the developments.  The Financial Times' Weekend edition had five excellent articles that are must-reads.