Tax cuts might be saved, not spent, by debt-ridden consumers, so an increase in public spending could be more effective.

ECONOMIST: Deflation

Sunday was supposed to be a hopeful day when the debt-ridden nation finally got new government to solve its many problems.

NPR: 2 Policemen Shot In Rome As Italy Gets New Govt

The downward spiral began last week with rumors that Cyprus would sell its miniscule reserves to raise cash, and that other debt-ridden European countries would be forced to do the same.

FORBES: Gold Inches Up As Goldbugs Seek Reasons For Historic Rout

SingTel appears to be buying a minority stake in Malaysia's debt-ridden Time Engineering, and its wholly owned subsidiary Time dotCom (Time Engineering itself is part of the politically well-connected Renong Group).

CNN: Business: SingTel Wins One At Last

And the country's debt-ridden companies should on the whole be selling equity, not buying it.

ECONOMIST: Japanese stockmarkets

Firms are understandably reluctant to expand operations in an environment where households are debt-ridden and the financial sector continues to be marked more by a desire to get rich quick than facilitate the production of goods and services.

FORBES: The Coming Recession: How Fiscal Responsibility is Economic Suicide

Debt-ridden oil companies, they now promise, will be denied export permits until they do.

ECONOMIST: Can Russia fight back?

What should be one of Africa's healthiest economies has become inflation-ridden, debt-burdened and plagued by a 50% unemployment rate.

ECONOMIST: Zimbabwe: Populism awry | The