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As the late Roger Straus, one of the great postwar publishers, notable for his plain speaking, was fond of observing: Even a blind pig will eventually find his truffle.

Invisible Hands & Markets: The Slovak Dragon
From problematic baby brother in a fringe region to tax haven and industrial centre, the small Slovak republic has come a long way, but at least it's on the right track. It's been called the Detroit of Europe, even though the Hong Kong of Europe might be more appropriate. Recently Deutsche Welle labeled Slovakia A Monaco on the Danube. Even more importantly, it's not out of the question that soon we will hear about the Slovakias of Africa or South America (or Iraq).
Ask anyone who's been traveling in Central Europe to name the first thing that comes to mind when they think about the Slovak Republic. The most likely answer you will get is a baby brother complex. True, a hiker might think of the Tatra Mountains, and anyone with a broader historical perspective might mention the Bratislava cathedral and the fact that for a period the Habsburgs used to be crowned there. But it's still there, this feeling of inferiority. Or is it?
There are more important things than politics, and that government should not mess too much with peoples' lives or the economy.
· The Slavic Tiger [history first seen at Muddy History]
· · See Also Changing mindsets and fortunes in the poorest nations
· · · See Also Sir John Templeton donates $1 million to counter George Soros
· · · · See Also Ach Europa: Questions about a European public space
· · · · · See Also Dialogue of the deaf: Europeans talk a lot about each other but less with each other
· · · · · · See Also Housing eats up 40% of income