La verdad es que en estos momentos estoy bastante tentado a escribir sobre lo que pasó en el partido de ida de la semifinal de la Champions League del miércoles, pero prefiero seguir con el principio de no escribir sobre fútbol en este blog. Además, esta historia se está convirtiendo en algo que poco tiene que ver con el fútbol.
Así que escribiré hoy sobre un tema mejor: la economía. Esta vez quería escribir sobre los organismos internacionales y la forma de trabajar que tienen. La semana que viene recibiremos la visita del Fondo Monetario Internacional (FMI) y tengo que admitir que estoy realmente sorprendido por su forma de trabajar: nos han enviado un cuestionario con una serie de preguntas (algunas de ellas no muy inteligentes, ya que demuestran que no entienden muy bien lo que hacemos) que tenemos que contestar adecuadamente, antes de su llegada. Tres o cuatro compañeros llevan una semana trabajando intentando contestar a estas preguntas. Y eso que se trata de un ejercicio breve, como ellos lo llaman...
Y todo esto, ¿para qué? Pues para poco. El FMI harán un informe con nuestras respuestas, donde, en el mejor de los casos, propondrán algunas mejoras y poco más. En eso se traducirá el trabajo de mis compañeros, que habrán estado casi una semana trabajando en exclusiva para el FMI en lugar de estar haciendo otra cosa quizá más provechosa. Tampoco me gusta mucho el tono que utiliza el FMI en su cuestionario: una mezcla de sabelotodo con detective de CSI.
Y todo esto, para más inri, para que un informe interno encargado por el nuevo director del FMI, en el que se pone de manifiesto la ceguera de la institución ante la crisis que se estaba gestando. El informe en cuestión no tiene desperdicio: http://www.ieo-imf.org/eval/complete/pdf/01102011/Crisis_Main_Report_SPANISH.pdf.
Así, me resulta imposible no pensar en la utilidad que aportan estas institucionces a la sociedad, más allá de servir de retiro dorado o de promoción horizontal a algunos. Toda su operativa queda sometida a la burocracia, convirtiéndose en poco tiempo la institución en cuestión (no necesariamente el FMI) en un dinosaurio muy caro de mantener. A la vista del informe anterior, que es realmente devastador, ¿seguro que no se puede hacer nada para hacer estas instituciones algo más ágiles y eficientes?
Friday, April 29, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Etwas Neues
Wenn etwas Neues in unserem Leben kommt, ist es manchmal schwer vorherzusagen, wie die Anderen es akzeptieren werden. Vielleicht sind die Erwartungen viel höher or ganz Verschiedenes. Was kann man dafür tun? Was ist besser, um das Neues vorzustellen? Wie kann man sagen, dass es hier schon angekommen ist? Die Genehmigung von den Anderen ist auch wichtig und manchmal ist sie nicht einfach zu erreichen.
Monday, April 18, 2011
A week in Hobbitovo
Last week I was in Slovakia on holidays. Yeah, Slovakia sounds quite a strange place for a Spaniard spending his holidays; I am sure that in some places I visited I was the only Spaniard in an area of 50 kilometres. The other way round, when a Slovak wants to refer to something unreachable and extremely bizarre, it uses the expression "Spanish village". So, we can say that the feeling is, in this case, mutual.
The first thing that surprised me was the legacy of communism in the design of towns, cities and villages. Many parts of Slovakia are very hilly and covered by forests, with beautiful landscapes (like those in Canada or in Alaska). However, the communist regime had the need to plant a factory in every city in Slovakia. 
Under the same logic, all factories in Slovakia, regardless of what they produced, needed to have a huge chimney, if possible in front of a peak or a hill or a natural monument (probably with the aim of ruining future pictures of Western tourists). Needless to say, there is no factory if there are no workers, so it also built horrible panel houses, even in the smallest villages, with no architectural sensitivity at all. Actually, all the panel houses have the same design, which turned out to be quite successful and to destroy the carreer expectations of many architects in those years.
In Slovakia, prices in restaurants are extremely cheap. For five euros it is possible to have a very good dinner or lunch. Apparently, Slovaks are a little bit like hobbits, and they prefer to eat at home. Therefore, there are few customers and restaurants must compete in both prices (beyond differences in standards of living towards Western European countries) and quantities. I was struck in my first visit to Bratislava, last November, by this fact and it seems to have an explanation...
As I was driving a lot in this week through the Slovak roads, I have become familiar with the Slovak way of driving, which, being polite, I would qualify as stupid and irresponsible. It is normal that the European Union is constantly warning Slovakia for its high number of traffic accidents. Slovaks seem to have a genetic deffect which provokes that they do not see the continous line in a road, the one forbidding overtaking other cars. They also consider speed limits like mere advices which can (and must) be easily ignored.
However, I do not want this post to give the impression that I do not like Slovaks (the picture on the post are just giving the opposite view of what I have been writing so far). On the contrary, they were extremely kind and friendly at all times (despite the fact that I was unable to talk with them in their language). In some rural areas, although quite poor, they do not lose their kindness and one always feel safe and at home. The country, although a big unknown, is beautiful and a good alternative for holidays.
All I can say is: Slovaks, I will be back...
The first thing that surprised me was the legacy of communism in the design of towns, cities and villages. Many parts of Slovakia are very hilly and covered by forests, with beautiful landscapes (like those in Canada or in Alaska). However, the communist regime had the need to plant a factory in every city in Slovakia. 
Under the same logic, all factories in Slovakia, regardless of what they produced, needed to have a huge chimney, if possible in front of a peak or a hill or a natural monument (probably with the aim of ruining future pictures of Western tourists). Needless to say, there is no factory if there are no workers, so it also built horrible panel houses, even in the smallest villages, with no architectural sensitivity at all. Actually, all the panel houses have the same design, which turned out to be quite successful and to destroy the carreer expectations of many architects in those years.In Slovakia, prices in restaurants are extremely cheap. For five euros it is possible to have a very good dinner or lunch. Apparently, Slovaks are a little bit like hobbits, and they prefer to eat at home. Therefore, there are few customers and restaurants must compete in both prices (beyond differences in standards of living towards Western European countries) and quantities. I was struck in my first visit to Bratislava, last November, by this fact and it seems to have an explanation...
As I was driving a lot in this week through the Slovak roads, I have become familiar with the Slovak way of driving, which, being polite, I would qualify as stupid and irresponsible. It is normal that the European Union is constantly warning Slovakia for its high number of traffic accidents. Slovaks seem to have a genetic deffect which provokes that they do not see the continous line in a road, the one forbidding overtaking other cars. They also consider speed limits like mere advices which can (and must) be easily ignored.
However, I do not want this post to give the impression that I do not like Slovaks (the picture on the post are just giving the opposite view of what I have been writing so far). On the contrary, they were extremely kind and friendly at all times (despite the fact that I was unable to talk with them in their language). In some rural areas, although quite poor, they do not lose their kindness and one always feel safe and at home. The country, although a big unknown, is beautiful and a good alternative for holidays.All I can say is: Slovaks, I will be back...
Thursday, April 07, 2011
L'Allemagne est très loin
Après un an à Francfort (et aussi après mes dix mois en 2008/2009), je peux dire que vraiment il me plaît vivre ici. Il n'y a pas beaucoup de choses qui me manquent. Mais, malhereusement, on éprouve la distance quand la famille souffre et qua le fait d'être à deux heures et demi en avion n'aiute pas de tout.
Ce mercredi était un jour très encourageant: j'avais intéressantes choses à faire dans le travail, je planifiais les vacances d'été, je parlais avec mon propiétaire sur la possibilité d'aller dans autre logement,... Subitement, mes parents m'ont téléphoné pour me dire que une cousine de ma mére venait de décéder. Tout autour de moi est disparu et seulement j'ai eu une doleur énorme dans le coeur: ma famille souffrait et je ne pouvais aller avec elle. Y-parler dans le téléphone n'est pas comme le faire avec la famille.
Mon oncle Pepe est aussi très malade et ça me fait penser que cette fois je chercherais au moins de voyager en Espagne (et retour) dans le meme jour. Mais on verra, parce que j'ai des jours très occupés en avril. Que sera-t-il convenable dans cettes situations? Se possible, je voyagerais a Espagne, même si seulement pour des heures...
Gabi, ta inattendue et silencieuse départ a été aussi douloureuse que la doleur est arrivée jusqu'a l'Allemagne. N'oublie pas de saluer tous dans le ciel de ma part: je m'en souviens d'eux souvent. Vous êtes devenus immortels dans ma memoire.
Ce mercredi était un jour très encourageant: j'avais intéressantes choses à faire dans le travail, je planifiais les vacances d'été, je parlais avec mon propiétaire sur la possibilité d'aller dans autre logement,... Subitement, mes parents m'ont téléphoné pour me dire que une cousine de ma mére venait de décéder. Tout autour de moi est disparu et seulement j'ai eu une doleur énorme dans le coeur: ma famille souffrait et je ne pouvais aller avec elle. Y-parler dans le téléphone n'est pas comme le faire avec la famille.
Mon oncle Pepe est aussi très malade et ça me fait penser que cette fois je chercherais au moins de voyager en Espagne (et retour) dans le meme jour. Mais on verra, parce que j'ai des jours très occupés en avril. Que sera-t-il convenable dans cettes situations? Se possible, je voyagerais a Espagne, même si seulement pour des heures...
Gabi, ta inattendue et silencieuse départ a été aussi douloureuse que la doleur est arrivée jusqu'a l'Allemagne. N'oublie pas de saluer tous dans le ciel de ma part: je m'en souviens d'eux souvent. Vous êtes devenus immortels dans ma memoire.
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Short trip to Brussels
Earlier this week I had to attend a meeting in Brussels, just 300 kilometres away from Frankfurt. The trip was so short that I did not even take a single picture of Brussels. Just to be on the safe side and to avoid problems with delays, I decided to go to Brussels the evening before and sleep there one night.
However, I could not find an easy train combination for my desired time and I took the plane there. The flight itself was stupidly short (30 minutes flying) and, to be honest, too expensive for the service that I received. A better offer of direct trains would definitively defeat flying in such short distances. Once in Brussels, I decided to take the train, which I remebered as very quick to reach the city centre. Maybe because I was in a hurry or because I was tired or because whatever, this time it took longer than expected.
As in my previous trip there (in October, if I am not mistaken), I got the impression that the city is somehow not very dynamic, I do not know how to better explain it, but you see other cities improving while Brussels was great ten years ago and now it is not that great.
Arriving at hotel NH was disappointing as well. Due to cuts in personnal, everybody around the hotel was extremely young (and not too-well paid, I guess) and the restaurant was closed. Here I faced one important problem: where to have dinner. I tried some places around the hotel but they were closed (apparently it was too late for dinner, just 21:30). So, I had to use the room service of the hotel, containing only pasta...
I had planned to have lunch with my friend Saskia, but it was not possible, because, on the one side, my meeting was extended to cover also the afternoon, and, on the other side, because Amélie was sick on the weekend. From now on, we will consider the idea of removing March from Amélie's calendar...
The meeting was alright, nothing extraordinary, to be honest. Then, on the way back, in the airport, when I met a senior colleague of mine, I could not help wondering which is the purpose of flying business class in such a short trip, especially when it is paid by taxpayers' money?
However, I could not find an easy train combination for my desired time and I took the plane there. The flight itself was stupidly short (30 minutes flying) and, to be honest, too expensive for the service that I received. A better offer of direct trains would definitively defeat flying in such short distances. Once in Brussels, I decided to take the train, which I remebered as very quick to reach the city centre. Maybe because I was in a hurry or because I was tired or because whatever, this time it took longer than expected.
As in my previous trip there (in October, if I am not mistaken), I got the impression that the city is somehow not very dynamic, I do not know how to better explain it, but you see other cities improving while Brussels was great ten years ago and now it is not that great.
Arriving at hotel NH was disappointing as well. Due to cuts in personnal, everybody around the hotel was extremely young (and not too-well paid, I guess) and the restaurant was closed. Here I faced one important problem: where to have dinner. I tried some places around the hotel but they were closed (apparently it was too late for dinner, just 21:30). So, I had to use the room service of the hotel, containing only pasta...
I had planned to have lunch with my friend Saskia, but it was not possible, because, on the one side, my meeting was extended to cover also the afternoon, and, on the other side, because Amélie was sick on the weekend. From now on, we will consider the idea of removing March from Amélie's calendar...
The meeting was alright, nothing extraordinary, to be honest. Then, on the way back, in the airport, when I met a senior colleague of mine, I could not help wondering which is the purpose of flying business class in such a short trip, especially when it is paid by taxpayers' money?
Friday, April 01, 2011
Chi paga questo?
Ieri sono andato in concerto di una soprano giovane, Mojca Erdmann, nella Opera Vecchia di Francoforte. Veramente è stato uno spettacolo bellisimo e mi è piaciuto molto, ma mi è venuta in testa la domanda: chi paga tutto questo? Mi spiego: oggi voggio fare un analisi costi-benefici sul mondo della musica classica.
Comiciamo per i costi. In un concerto di musica classica, ci sono moltissimi musici, che hanno dovuto imparire per anni come suonare uno strumento musicale e chi vengono pagati dalla loro orchestra ogni mese. C'è bisogno anche di avere un palazzo di musica, il quale molto spesso è infrautilizzato. Questi palazzi di musica devono avere impiegati per prendere cura di tutto. I prezzi dei biglietti non possono essere molti alti perche altrimenti non viene nessuno ai concerti. Quindi, i palazzi di musica devono supraviviere grazie al supporto statale o municipale (cioè, al denaro dei contribuenti).
I benefici non sono purtroppo cosi evidenti. È veramente un dovere di tutti avere cura del legato storico e culturale allegato alla musica classica. Comunque, questo sembra un mondo che appartiene al passato, veramente sorpassato. Non siamo andati troppo lontano qua? È irrefutabile che questi concerti non ne hanno una gran demanda e che nella leggi del mercato, se non c'è demanda per un prodotto, questo prodotto è destinato alla sparizione. È veramente necessario spendere tanti soldi in tantissime città nella musica classica, che viene apprezzata solo da una minoria?
So che questa posizione non è precisamente "politically correct" e che sicuramente molti si vergogneranno da me, ma si non ci sembra giusto che le banche ricevano soldi dallo stato, perchè deve essere differente la musica classica?
Comiciamo per i costi. In un concerto di musica classica, ci sono moltissimi musici, che hanno dovuto imparire per anni come suonare uno strumento musicale e chi vengono pagati dalla loro orchestra ogni mese. C'è bisogno anche di avere un palazzo di musica, il quale molto spesso è infrautilizzato. Questi palazzi di musica devono avere impiegati per prendere cura di tutto. I prezzi dei biglietti non possono essere molti alti perche altrimenti non viene nessuno ai concerti. Quindi, i palazzi di musica devono supraviviere grazie al supporto statale o municipale (cioè, al denaro dei contribuenti).
I benefici non sono purtroppo cosi evidenti. È veramente un dovere di tutti avere cura del legato storico e culturale allegato alla musica classica. Comunque, questo sembra un mondo che appartiene al passato, veramente sorpassato. Non siamo andati troppo lontano qua? È irrefutabile che questi concerti non ne hanno una gran demanda e che nella leggi del mercato, se non c'è demanda per un prodotto, questo prodotto è destinato alla sparizione. È veramente necessario spendere tanti soldi in tantissime città nella musica classica, che viene apprezzata solo da una minoria?
So che questa posizione non è precisamente "politically correct" e che sicuramente molti si vergogneranno da me, ma si non ci sembra giusto che le banche ricevano soldi dallo stato, perchè deve essere differente la musica classica?
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