Viewpoint

Capitalism stands accused of all kinds of social and environmental transgressions and of milking society rather than nourishing it. Capitalism is in crisis and has to reinvent itself.

The outlook is grim and political leaders have at last gauged the magnitude of the problems they face. This should make the markets less unpredictable.

Patrick Ségal, joins with the indignados in denouncing the European and US authorities' policies, the UBS's rogue trader scandal, new derivatives and other excesses. He notes one gleam of prosperity in the wreckage: Canada.

Thanassis Gontikas begins by showing how in one way or another we are all affected by questions of debt. Then he asks the billion dollar question: what is the right amount of debt? T.Gontikas analyses this question in a sensible and straightforward way, unclouded by overly technical considerations. Hedging his bets, he concludes that it depends on the specific situation.

Mr Binggeli points out why we should stop laying blame for the present financial crisis on banks and points a finger instead at politicians, reminding us to think carefully when it is time to vote. He ends his article by holding Switzerland up as an example that our EU neighbours might be well advised to follow, in some respects.