Econ Barry

Is the Chinese currency going to preempt the dollar in global trade? Despite multiple problems, the dollar is likely to remain dominant.

The Renminbi is Unlikely to Displace the Dollar as a Global Currency dailyfriend.co.za May 10, 2026 The Chinese renminbi is unlikely to become globally dominant OPINIONS  BARRY D. WOOD MAY 10, 2026   – LISTEN TO THIS On 29 April, outgoing …

This is a visit to Seminole Lodge, Thomas Edison's winter home in Fort Myers, Florida.

Thomas Edison’s Winter Home in Fort Myers, Florida If you’re an admirer of inventor Thomas Edison, you may have already visited his birthplace in Milan, Ohio, the significant sites in Port Huron and Greenfield Village, Michigan, and his home …

Countries like individuals can go broke. It happened to the UK following the second world war and may now be happening to the US.

The USA Is Going Broke DailyFriend.co.za. April 26, 2026 In the novel The Sun Also Rises, Ernest Hemingway’s character Mike Campbell is asked how he went bankrupt.  He famously replies, “Two ways, slowly a…

The US/Israeli war against Iran hasn't gone well. Little oil and gas is getting out of the Persian Gulf. That's bad news for the global economy.

Trump’s Iran War Could Portend Recession The Daily Friend April 12, 2026 Even with the current ceasefire, does the US and Israel war against Iran portend recession? Since US President Donald Trump and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Neta…

This is my first person account of being in Soweto on the first day of the student uprising 50 years ago. June 16th is now a national holiday in South Africa.

Being in Soweto on the First Day of the 1976 Student Uprising The Daily Friend, South Africa January 22, 2026 June 16, 1976 – What it was like in Soweto on the first day OPINIONS  BARRY D. WOOD MAR 22, 2026   – LISTEN TO THIS Implau…

Barry is not optimistic about a quick return to pre-war oil prices. He thinks the US economy is slowing and that the Fed will hold interest rates steady.

Peter Lewis Money Talk podcast March 17, 2026 Host Peter Lewis, Barry in Washington and Mark Michelson and Will Denyer in Hong Kong discuss the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, shipping, Donald Trump’s plan to postpone his…

The automotive industry is South Africa's biggest manufacturer. Its production if mostly for export. Car imports from China and India are surging. What should be done?

The Threat to South Africa’s Biggest Industry Daily Friend (dailyfriend.co.za) March 1, 2026 It’s too early to draw a conclusion. But alarm bells are ringing. Martina Biene, CEO at Volkswagen in the Eastern Cape, says VW’s Kariega plant’s futu…

I'm a great fan of Zimbabwe and its people. But I had a rough start to my recent visit.

Welcome to Zimbabwe The Daily Friend February 22, 2026 Harare, Zimbabwe: Arriving at Harare’s renovated, ultra-modern airport, I paid for my tourist visa and stepped outside. There was a line of taxis, and I approache…

Joburg and South Africa should be stunning successes. Will the country find its way forward?

Joburg, a Blend of First and Third World Visit the post for more.

After multiple trips to South Africa, including living three years in Joburg, how does the future look?

South Africa 2026 Visit the post for more.

Trump’s Assault on Global Economic Practices

The Daily Friend February 1, 2026

Trump’s Assault on Global Economic Practices The Daily Friend February 1, 2026