Abstract
It analyzes the links and contradictions between pursuit of low inflation and debt reduction. It also considers the political-structural problems in Canada that influence fiscal policy.

Abstract
This paper examines the importance of debt reduction in Canada. It argues that debt reduction is essential to economic stability because it creates 'wiggle room' or the ability to respond to economic changes. Additionally, debt servicing erodes both productivity and social programs. Finally, the relative success of the current government's debt reduction and its future fiscal policy are assessed.

Abstract
This paper examines methods whereby US homeowners' debt load can be reduced and ultimately eliminated while building wealth as homeowners. To this end, this paper provides an overview of the current financial situation facing many Americans, followed by an analysis of how some people have approached these dual goals. A summary of the research and salient findings are provided in the conclusion.

Outline:
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Background and Overview
The Path to Debt Elimination and Wealth Accumulation
Debt-Reduction and Wealth-Accumulation Strategies for the Whittingtons
Conclusion
References

From the Paper
"On the one hand, the need for debt elimination strategies is more pronounced today than ever. Many American families that have worked diligently for years now find themselves little better off - or in many cases worse off - than they were a decade ago. In fact, in the United States, almost one-half of the wealth is in the hands of just 3.5 percent of the households, and the majority of the other households do not even approach the upper levels (Stanley & Danko, 1996). In this regard, Reich (2001) reports that, "The dirtiest little secret about the Roaring Nineties is that average working families gained almost no income, while their health care costs soared. From 1986 through 1997 (the latest year for which detailed IRS data are available), the average income of the richest 1 percent of Americans rose 89 percent, to $517,713" (p. 56). During this same period of time, though, the average income of the bottom 90 percent of Americans increase a meager 1.6 percent, to just $23,815 after all federal income taxes were paid (Reich, 2001). At the same time, healthcare costs increased even faster than inflation, a trend that especially affected middle-income Americans families; by the end of the 1990s, fully 44 million Americans lacked health insurance, almost 8 million more than those without health insurance a decade earlier (Reich, 2001). Furthermore, by the end of 1997, even those who were insured paid substantially more, through higher co-payments, deductibles, and premiums (Reich, 2001). Likewise, consumer debt because of credit card use is at an all-time high, and Brown (1999) suggests that, depending on their personal circumstances, consumers should first eliminate this source of debt as a debt-reduction strategy because of the exorbitant interest rates involved: "[Consumers] should carry out an aggressive debt-reduction strategy over the next three to five years in order to eliminate their outstanding debt. Otherwise the interest from their credit cards will erode the profits from any portfolio. Earning 10 percent to 12 percent on your investment portfolio and paying out 18 percent to 21 percent in consumer debt doesn't help you realize a profit on your portfolio, no matter how well you are invested" (Brown, 1999, p. 60)."

Tags:debt, elimination, wealth, accumulation, mortages, retirement, budgeting, homeowners, middle, income

Abstract
This paper will attempt to cast some clarity on the debate of zero inflation. This paper begins with an analysis of the consequences of low inflation on the conduct of monetary policy. This paper will answer the pressing question of whether or not workers and firms exhibit nominal inertia near to zero. This paper determines that a little inflation, perhaps 1 to 3 percent is a far more efficient policy choice than zero inflation. Such a moderate inflation target would allow real wages to decline where necessary without firms having to impose wage cuts or fire workers.

From the Paper
"INTRODUCTION

The problem of international debt financing reached the crisis level in the late 1980s and the first two years of this young decade; however, efforts by the United States government and several international financial entities have proved effective in lessening the threat posed to international financial markets. The cooperation of major American banking institutions was essential for the success of the international strategies, since these American banks held much of the outstanding debt particularly debt issued to Latin American nations. This paper will first investigate the international debt problem, including examination of its effect on banks in the United States, then the focus will shift to analysis of the measures enacted to begin the process of solving the crisis ..."

Abstract
This paper reviews the impact of debt relief on domestic social, political and economic situations. According to this paper, the external debt situation for a number of low-income countries has become extremely difficult in recent years, prompting the IMF and the World Bank to design a framework to provide special assistance to the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC).

Contents:
Introduction
Challenges and Future Policies
Diagnosis and Reflections on Poverty Reduction Policies
Poverty and Recession in Sub-Saharan Africa
Africa Deprived of Its Inheritance
The Urban Dynamics: Cities Suffer Most
Policy Design Post Evaluation
Conclusions

From the Paper
"As for the implementation of the strategies, the principle of participation from different members of society opens up new prospects that will have an impact on the way national affairs are led. By favouring respect for the right to information and expression, participation fulfils one objective in that it deals with one of the key factors of poverty, namely exclusion and marginalisation. But the potential impact of this precept goes way beyond this aspect. Participation will only take on its full meaning if it really helps solve the problem of the lack of democracy in poor countries. It should give extra capabilities and power to intermediate bodies (the media, trade unions, associations, etc.) in drawing up, monitoring, controlling, assessing and redirecting the policies. Information is of course of utmost importance in this respect, and its formative nature must be underlined. It makes public choices explicit and increases transparency in the management of state affairs, whilst offering the different players in society the possibility of exerting pressure, or even taking sanctions in the case of failure. In short, making the state accountable for its actions before its citizens is at stake."

Tags:bank, debt, domestic, economics, gdp, gnp, imf, implications, relief, world

Abstract
This paper examines the dimension of Kenya's national debt. It describes the enormity of the debt in human terms, as the author writes that the cost of paying just the interest alone on the debt is far larger than what the government spends on healthcare. The paper investigates the true motives of the Poverty Reduction Strategy.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Poverty Reduction Strategy
Purpose of the Poverty Reduction Strategy
Political Consequences
Political pressure by IMF
Internal violence
Conclusion
In Text Citations

From the Paper
"Africa spends four times more on interest on her loans than on healthcare.

"The issue of Third World debt is one that cannot be ignored or wished away. In just 10 years, it escalated from a little over $400 billion in 1980 to a staggering $1.3 trillion in 1990. Kenya's eternal debt is more than $7 billion". Nairobi (The Nation, October 13, 1998) ""

Tags:africa, world, bank, third, poverty, political, internal, violence, debt, nation, national, west, imf, international, monetary, fund, reduction, strategy

Abstract
This paper discusses how the core concern and primary factor related to the price of gasoline is the understanding of inflation adjustment and in compensating for inflation in determining the true cost of gasoline. While the general population prefers to recall or at least read about the relatively low cost of gasoline in the 1960s when the average cost of fuel was .30 cents a gallon, in inflation adjusted terms this would be equivalent to roughly $1.70 today (Gasoline). The paper explains that the price of gasoline, and certainly of gasoline related spikes in the average cost of goods, is a major contributor to inflation and yet, factoring for the effects of inflation across the economy, tends to reduce the real cost of fuel.

Tags:inflation, gasoline, petroleum

Abstract
This paper discusses how poverty has been regarded as a multiple causative factor for crime because it's founded on economic, social and cultural structures of the society. It looks at how the relationship between crime and poverty focuses on two main premises which are economic inequality and social stratification. Economic growth and development in many countries is not balanced and this ends up creating classes in the society.The paper also examines Karl Marx's conflict theory versus crime and briefly examines a study set in Harlem which attempts to determine whether there is a correlation between poverty levels and crime and whether unfair social and economic structures have en effect on the rampant crime in the society.

Outline:
Crime versus Poverty/Low Income
Karl Marx's Conflict Theory Versus Crime
Research Questions
Results
Discussion

From the Paper
"The social conflict theory advanced by Karl Marx also accounts for the oppressive power and social structure. For example, United States of America has a long history of oppression and discrimination especially on racial and class lines. Success in many societies including United States of America is usually measured in terms of money and power and the social and power structure in these societies usually prevents the minorities from climbing up the social and economic ladder. The minorities and the lower class are denied the chance to get decent education, are relegated to lower calibre jobs with lower incomes and are blocked from various economic opportunities. One does not expect these oppressed groups to sit back and stay in the positions that the social and economic structure has relegated them to. They must hit back at their oppressors and this is the genesis of the social conflict that begets crime. "

Tags:Poverty, crime, conflict theory, low income

Abstract
The paper looks at the debt crisis in Argentina that helped plunge the nation into a financial crisis in 2001. The paper argues that much of the blame should be directed towards the Argentine governments' policies of the 1980s and early years of this decade. The paper also contends that the IMF (International Monetary Fund) should be criticized but stresses that both parties share the blame.

From the Paper
"The debt crisis which wracked many developing countries in the early 1980s (and thereafter) came about because of overly-extravagant domestic policies and exorbitant government spending - at least according to a United States Department of State dispatch from 1994. In any case, the developing nations - which obviously did not have huge tax bases or swollen coffers like their confreres in the developed west - were confronted with huge budget deficits and with overvalued exchange rates. According to the US State Department, the developing world (or at least many of its constituent nations) relied on short-term, variable rate loans to get them through the fiscal crises of the period - but those policies made them susceptible to the depredations brought about rising interest rates."

Tags:government, developing, country, market, inflation, equilibrium, credit, deficit, budget, trade, liberalization