Comments on: Malta’s trade deficit widens by €375.5 million in first 10 months of this year

By: Jozef

Jozef — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 19:03:00 +0000

Lehman Brothers had excellent ratings.

By: Jozef

Jozef — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 19:00:00 +0000

The buzz in the trade right now is how Malta-produced concrete can withstand the compressive forces generated by 40 storeys.

By: La Redoute

La Redoute — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 11:20:00 +0000

That means money moved to Malta.

By: Daphne Caruana Galizia

Daphne Caruana Galizia — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 23:00:00 +0000

Exports or imports?

By: Kevin J

Kevin J — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 16:44:00 +0000

In reply to Daphne Caruana Galizia. The issue is not simply on the effects of trade deficit but on the negative effects increased imports by consumers on the retail sector. Economic variables cannot be analysed in isolation. People are not buying from local retailers but importing directly from foreign ones. Sales and consequently Imports by local retailers drop as they can't sell as much as they did before with the resulting shrinkage of local retail sector. To keep themselves alive local retailers resort to lower quality substitutes until they are pushed out with resulting effects on unemployment levels.

By: Daphne Caruana Galizia

Daphne Caruana Galizia — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 14:54:00 +0000

They really should make O-level economics a mandatory part of the syllabus. ‘Local retailers’ sell imported goods. It makes next to no difference to the trade deficit whether people buy those imported goods online directly from overseas or from a shop on Malta. They are still imports.

By: mica

mica — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 14:39:00 +0000

Production falling quarter after quarter was enough of an indicator. Even tourism (an export) is not enough to bridge the gap.

Now they can’t stop selling passports. And what if the financial services and remote gaming sectors are hit? We will see a rapid collapse.