Moody's has downgraded Ireland's debt rating, citing "weaker economic growth prospects" and "uncertainty" created by EU solvency tests.
Ireland's sovereign debt rating has been reduced two notches to Baa3 with the outlook negative and Moody's warned harsher austerity measures may be needed.
CommentsIt said the country's austerity plan is weakening government finances and it may suffer further as a results of interest rate increases by the European Central Bank.Ireland's sovereign debt rating has been reduced two notches to Baa3 with the outlook negative and Moody's warned harsher austerity measures may be needed to restore the economy.
There are numerous aspects of this story that are revealing.
First, the ratings agencies, despite being amongst the principle (and unprincipled) architects of the crash, are still consideed important although they are entirely unrepentant and unreformed. Their word still carries clout, and you have to ask why?
Second, as primary cheer leaders for the bond vigilantes it is clear that the rating agencies are entirely unimpressed by austerity measures, cutting, inflicting pain on populations who bore no responsibility for the debt they're being forced to repay, and for bail outs. Ireland has done everything markets have demanded and that has failed it badly in the eyes of the market. We have to conclude the market is irrational, and rating agencies with it.
Third, given the IMF and EU bail outs, this is a massive slap in the face from the rating agencies for the IMF and EU - they're saying they don't believe they'll stand by the deal.
Fourth, and alternatively, it says the whole narrative put forward by the right is wrong. It clearly has not saved Ireland. It clearly does not impress the markets. That's a double whammy of failure.
What we need is a policy for growth - that's what the markets want.
That's a policy for spending to get people back to work.
With tax raised and benefits saved this is an incredibly cheap thing for governments to do right now. It isn't when there's full employment. But that's just a dream at the moment. So spending our way out of recession is the way forward.
Selectively, of course.
On investment in new transport that's green (and yes, that does include coaches, which I believe in).
And social housing.
And thermal efficiency.
And schools. And hospitals, Without either being burdened by the curse of PFI.
The private sector has no idea what to do with its money. It's time for a confident public sector to take the lead and deliver the path to growth through innovative public spending.
Osborne's got it all wrong in other words.
For a summary, read this.
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You ask why the rating agencies are so important, then in the next sentence assert that this downgrade proves your point on austerity measures.
No he doesn’t. He questions the validity of rating agencies and then gives an example of them being inconsistent and fickle, acknowledging, as he alludes to in his first point, that they have damaging clout.
You are drawing a flawed conclusion, they should choose to and be allowed to leave the euro.
There is no point reflating while still in the euro.
And remember the public sector has to be paid for.
What’s wrong with people paying for what they want?
People want education, health and so on
let’s sell it to them
Paid for by tax
Richard
A question for you which I honestly don’t know the answer.
Who regulates the Credit Ratings Agencies?
How do the Credit Rating show their independence from the Banking/FinancialSector, so that there is no conflict of interest.
No one
Rule unto themselves
Or rather their self interested clients from whom they are not independent