THE countdown has begun. It is a matter of when, not if, the Greek government and creditors will have to reconcile a 50% default on their sovereign debt.

While yesterday’s interest rate rise was blamed on inflation, the cost of the bailouts of Portugal, Ireland, Greece and possibly Spain could lead to further rate hikes, writes Tom O’Connor

IT almost made me burn with rage when I heard French President Sarkozy’s griping about our “low rate” of corporation tax.

WHAT the IMF does when it comes in to assist a country is the “economic equivalent of tough love”, a former member of the fund’s board has said.

THIS week’s visit by Olli Rehn from Brussels sets the domestic mood music for the Government’s draconian budget.

Any rescue puts us between the devil and the deep blue sea, writes Constantin Gurdgiev

FRIENDS First’s analysis of the state of the economy ahead of the CSO stats on Thursday was pretty grim.

GROWING the knowledge economy will provide the long-term solution to Ireland’s economic problems, delegates at an accountants’ conference were told yesterday.

THE economy is emerging from recession and will achieve the second highest GDP growth of 2.8% in 2011, behind Slovakia on 4%.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen appeared to leave the door open last night for a harsher December budget than originally proposed.

WE’RE finding out just what Germany thinks of Greece and lest you think that such foreign stuff is of little interest to us, it is hugely relevant in so many very important ways, most especially to our standard of living.

THE state of our public finances has taken on a severe international dimension in the past week. Two events have brought into sharp focus the perilous path Ireland treads.

A QUARTER of the state’s entire tax take next year will go on servicing the exploding national debt, it was revealed.