We have the makings of a total collapse here - two major powers and a regional financial capital.
I think that Japan is beyond help. Unless there's a sharp upturn in the auto sector very quickly in the U.S., Japan is drifting away from the lifeboat. We're talking tens of thousands of suicides, homeless Japanese citizens, and exports and imports that are falling at a faster rate than any time since WWII (already, not predicted).
British citizens are the only ones in the world more indebted than Americans, but unfortunately for them, their government does not enjoy the luxury of having a major reserve currency, and their financial industry may just take a much more severe beating than New York's. Their too-big-to-fail banks are already nationalized, for the most part (Northern Rock, RBS, Lloyd's, etc).
Switzerland is in a world of hurt given the Madoff scandal and the UBS vs. U.S. Government spat that threatens Swiss Banking Secrecy....what the hell are they going to fall back on if things go south, as they appear to be headed? Chocolate?
I think that Japan is beyond help. Unless there's a sharp upturn in the auto sector very quickly in the U.S., Japan is drifting away from the lifeboat. We're talking tens of thousands of suicides, homeless Japanese citizens, and exports and imports that are falling at a faster rate than any time since WWII (already, not predicted).
British citizens are the only ones in the world more indebted than Americans, but unfortunately for them, their government does not enjoy the luxury of having a major reserve currency, and their financial industry may just take a much more severe beating than New York's. Their too-big-to-fail banks are already nationalized, for the most part (Northern Rock, RBS, Lloyd's, etc).
Switzerland is in a world of hurt given the Madoff scandal and the UBS vs. U.S. Government spat that threatens Swiss Banking Secrecy....what the hell are they going to fall back on if things go south, as they appear to be headed? Chocolate?