Contents
Spiegel article on Christian Wulff and the loan scandal
Spiegel pub quiz 2011
Spiegel pub quiz 2011
The Local article Germany and the euro
01/05/2012 11:23 AM
The World from Berlin
President Still Under Fire Despite TV Explanation
German President Christian Wulff tried to defuse calls for his resignation in a television interview on Wednesday night. He admitted that a now-notorious attempt to influence media coverage was a "serious mistake," but insisted he would not step down. German commentators say it's not enough.
The pressure on German President Christian Wulff to resign has been mounting in recent days. But in a highly anticipated television appearance on Wednesday evening, the head of state made it clear that he had no intention of stepping down.
During a joint interview with the German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF, Wulff admitted that his Dec. 12 phone call to Bild editor in chief Kai Diekmann, where Wulff apparently tried to stop the powerful tabloid from printing a damaging article about his private loan arrangements, had been a "serious mistake that I regret and for which I apologize." He added, however, that he had not tried to prevent the story from being published, but had only wanted the newspaper to "wait" before publishing the story.
The Bild article, which was published on Dec. 13, alleged that Wulff had not given the whole truth in a response to a parliamentary question put to him in February 2010, when he was still governor of the northern state of Lower Saxony, about whether he had business ties with the businessman Egon Geerkens. The report said Wulff's office had declared at the time that there were no business links with Geerkens. According to Bild, however, Wulff and his wife Bettina had received a loan of €500,000 ($660,000) from Geerkens' wife Edith in order to buy a home. The article caused a pre-Christmas blizzard of media coverage about Wulff's private loan arrangements, prompting Wulff to apologize for not having been completely "straight" in his parliamentary response in 2010.
The scandal has flared up again in recent days following the revelations about Wulff's phone call to Diekmann, which many see as an attempt by the head of state to impinge on the freedom of the press. Calls for Wulff's resignation from the presidency, a position that is largely ceremonial, have grown increasingly loud, and he has become the target of criticism and pointed satire on German-language websites.
'A Victim of the Media'
But when asked in Wednesday's interview if he had seriously considered resigning, he said no. "During all these weeks I have had great support from many citizens, my friends and also my colleagues," he said. "I enjoy carrying out my duties and I have committed myself to them for five years." He said he wanted to "take stock after five years, and show that I was a good president."
Wulff also said that he felt that he had been "a victim of the media." He accused Bild of linking him to "untruths" and "dragging" his friends into the public spotlight. He said that research by journalists had caused an "uproar" in his home village.
He also defended his decision to take the loan from a friend. "I would not like to be president of a country in which you can no longer borrow money from a friend," he said.
Bild reacted to the interview by directly contradicting Wulff's version of events. Referring to Wulff's claim that he had not tried to stop the loan story from being published, Nikolaus Blome, the newspaper's deputy editor in chief, said that "we had a very different impression at the time." The voicemail message "clearly had the objective of stopping this piece from being published," Blome told Deutschlandfunk radio.
Ahead of the television interview, the German Association of Journalists had criticized Wulff's decision to give an interview to selected television presenters only, instead of facing media questions in a press conference.
Opposition politicians reacted to the interview with scorn. "Wulff just talked about his feelings -- he didn't answer any of the questions that are preoccupying the country," said senior Green Party politician Renate Künast in remarks to Bild. Sigmar Gabriel, leader of the center-left Social Democrats, called on Chancellor Angela Merkel to review Wulff's suitability for the position of head of state. "This is no longer an issue just for Wulff, this is an issue for Merkel," Gabriel said.
-- David Gordon Smith
Vocabulary (key)
To defuse Notorious To allege Straight To impinge To take stock Uproar To Contradict To preoccupy | To make less dangerous Known widely and unfavourably To assert to be true Open and candid Trespass To make an estimate Heated controversy To express the opposite To engage the attention and thoughts |
Vocabulary
To defuse Notorious To allege Straight To impinge To take stock Uproar To Contradict To preoccupy | To make an estimate To express the opposite Known widely and unfavourably To engage the attention and thoughts Heated controversy Open and candid Trespass To assert to be true To make less dangerous |
Sentence match (key)
The pressure on German President Christian Wulff to resign Sigmar Gabriel called on Chancellor Angela Merkel to review Wulff's suitability Opposition politicians reacted to the interview Wulff claimed that he had not tried to stop the loan story He accused Bild “I enjoy carrying out my duties and I have committed myself I have had great support He has become the target Calls for The scandal has flared The article caused a pre-Christmas Wulff had received a loan of €500,000 from Geerkens' wife Edith Wulff had not given the whole truth in a response to a parliamentary question Wulff made it clear that he had no intention | has been mounting. for the position of head of state. with scorn. from being published of linking him to "untruths" to them for five years" from many citizens of criticism and pointed satire on German-language websites Wulff's resignation have grown increasingly loud up again blizzard of media coverage. in order to buy a home put to him of stepping down |
Sentence match
The pressure on German President Christian Wulff to resign Sigmar Gabriel called on Chancellor Angela Merkel to review Wulff's suitability Opposition politicians reacted to the interview Wulff claimed that he had not tried to stop the loan story He accused Bild “I enjoy carrying out my duties and I have committed myself I have had great support He has become the target Calls for The scandal has flared article caused a pre-Christmas Wulff had received a loan of €500,000 ($660,000) from Geerkens' wife Edith Wulff had not given the whole truth in a response to a parliamentary question Wulff made it clear that he had no intention | put to him of criticism and pointed satire on German-language websites blizzard of media coverage. of stepping down for the position of head of state. Wulff's resignation have grown increasingly loud has been mounting. of linking him to "untruths" with scorn in order to buy a home from many citizens to them for five years from being published up again |
Spiegel pub quiz 2011
Most people will remember 2011 as the year of the Arab Spring, Fukushima and Osama bin Laden's death. With so much news of global significance, many stories threatened to slip through the cracks. Sit down, grab a pint and test your memory of polar bears, cross-eyed opossums and leaning towers with SPIEGEL ONLINE's end of the year Pub Quiz!
Question 1 of 24
Everybody enjoys a drink to celebrate the New Year. But in January, German police picked up an animal that had apparently been partying too hard: It was drunk after sipping from discarded schnapps bottles. What kind of beast was it that got wasted?
Everybody enjoys a drink to celebrate the New Year. But in January, German police picked up an animal that had apparently been partying too hard: It was drunk after sipping from discarded schnapps bottles. What kind of beast was it that got wasted?
§ An owl
§ A dog
That's right. The police picked up the bird after it was found at the side of a road oblivious to passing traffic. They also found two bottles of schnapps nearby.
Question 2 of 24
The rock band Creed possibly saved the life of a young Norwegian boy in January. The 13-year-old youth got out of a sticky predicament by playing one of the band's songs at full volume on his mobile phone. But what had befallen the plucky Scandinavian?
The lupine interlopers were deterred by a Creed song played at full blast. The boy told reporters that the wolves didn't get scared, however, but "just turned around and simply trotted away."
Question 3 of 24
In February, an Italian citizen named Antonio Manfredi applied for asylum in Germany, partly out of fear of the local mafia. Who was he?
In February, an Italian citizen named Antonio Manfredi applied for asylum in Germany, partly out of fear of the local mafia. Who was he?
The director of an art museum. He requested asylum for his museum in Germany as a stunt to draw attention to his plight after being threatened by the mafia.
Question 4 of 24
Prince William and Kate Middleton received no shortage of gifts when they got married in the spring. But what did one German entrepreneur offer the royal couple as a present?
Prince William and Kate Middleton received no shortage of gifts when they got married in the spring. But what did one German entrepreneur offer the royal couple as a present?
Dog breeder Burkhard Strohbach offered William and Kate one of his purebred Bolonka Zwetnaya puppies as a gift. Buckingham Palace declined, however, saying the couple were too busy getting ready for their wedding.
Question 5 of 24
In March, Germany and the world were shocked by the death of Knut, the much-loved celebrity polar bear. How old was he when he died?
In March, Germany and the world were shocked by the death of Knut, the much-loved celebrity polar bear. How old was he when he died?
§ Two
§ Four
§ Six
Four. Poor Knut passed away at a tragically young age.
Question 6 of 24
A Russian teenager made headlines in March when he discovered something interesting washed up on a beach. What was it?
A Russian teenager made headlines in March when he discovered something interesting washed up on a beach. What was it?
A message in a bottle. It had been thrown off a ship by a German boy 24 years previously. The letter said: "My name is Frank and I'm five years old. My dad and I are traveling on a ship to Denmark. If you find this letter, please write back to me, and I will write back to you."
Reporters tracked down the letter-writer Frank Uesbeck, now 29, from the address in Coesfeld, Germany which was on the letter. Uesbeck's parents still live in the town.
"At first I didn't believe it," Uebeck told the AP, explaining how he barely remembered the trip. "He'll definitely get another letter from me." The two long-distance correspondents have since met via the Internet, after Daniil wrote his own letter to Frank.
Question 7 of 24
Some German Catholics were up in arms in April because of a controversial new product. What was it?
Some German Catholics were up in arms in April because of a controversial new product. What was it?
The app got the blessing of the American Catholic Church but it didn't go down well in Germany.
Question 8 of 24
Many Germans were excited that their country got to host the Eurovision Song Contest, Europe's largest television event, in Düsseldorf this year. But organizers got red faces in the run-up to the competition. Why?
Many Germans were excited that their country got to host the Eurovision Song Contest, Europe's largest television event, in Düsseldorf this year. But organizers got red faces in the run-up to the competition. Why?
There were typos in the official brochure. A booklet to accompany the event listed a "Gay's Day of Action" instead of the actual "School Event Day," among other mistakes.
Question 9 of 24
In May, a German court heard a bizarre case featuring two feuding neighbors. Why did one of the men face criminal charges?
In May, a German court heard a bizarre case featuring two feuding neighbors. Why did one of the men face criminal charges?
He allegedly shot his neighbour’s frogs. The frogs' owner said he believed his neighbor shot the animals because their croaking was disturbing his sleep.
Question 10 of 24
A German insurance company found itself in the headlines in May after details of a controversial incentives program for its best agents became public. How had the top performers been rewarded?
A German insurance company found itself in the headlines in May after details of a controversial incentives program for its best agents became public. How had the top performers been rewarded?
The company's best agents were treated to a debauched party in Budapest during which sex workers were color-coded according to their purpose and given stamps to tally each encounter.
Question 11 of 24
In June, Berlin flew in experts from Vienna and Lucerne, Switzerland, to advise the city on how to tackle a particularly intractable problem. What was it?
In June, Berlin flew in experts from Vienna and Lucerne, Switzerland, to advise the city on how to tackle a particularly intractable problem. What was it?
§ Dog pooh
Berlin asked for help after struggling to combat dog owners who fail to clean up after their pets.
Question 12 of 24
A local church in the German village of Goldscheuer was saved from closure this year through unusual means. How did the parish priest rescue the chapel?
A local church in the German village of Goldscheuer was saved from closure this year through unusual means. How did the parish priest rescue the chapel?
Artist Stefan Strumbel transformed the church with graffiti art, generating huge interest in the area and beyond.
Question 13 of 24
A youth hostel that opened in Germany in July attracted controversy. Why?
A youth hostel that opened in Germany in July attracted controversy. Why?
The 400-bed hostel was opened in a gigantic former Nazi holiday hotel that stretches for 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) along the coast of the island of Rügen.
Question 14 of 24
In July, a supermarket in Germany was evacuated for an unusual reason. What sent shoppers fleeing?
In July, a supermarket in Germany was evacuated for an unusual reason. What sent shoppers fleeing?
A Brazilian Wandering Spider, one of the world's most dangerous, jumped out of a banana crate and disappeared under a shelf, prompting management to evacuate the store.
Question 15 of 24
In late summer, residents and vacationers in Tuscany were terrorized by reports of a marauding creature. What did they believe it was?
In late summer, residents and vacationers in Tuscany were terrorized by reports of a marauding creature. What did they believe it was?
A black panther. A number of people reported seeing the big cat, and livestock went missing.
Question 16 of 24
A crafty fugitive on the loose in southern Germany over the summer was finally captured in September -- but not without a spirited fight. Who or what was it that was on the lam?
A crafty fugitive on the loose in southern Germany over the summer was finally captured in September -- but not without a spirited fight. Who or what was it that was on the lam?
The fugitive was Yvonne, Germany's famous runaway cow.
Question 17 of 24
Swiss entrepreneur Priska Küng plugged a market niche by offering an unusual kind of match-making service. Which category of customer is she aiming her services at?
Swiss entrepreneur Priska Küng plugged a market niche by offering an unusual kind of match-making service. Which category of customer is she aiming her services at?
§ Cows
Küng, an animal lover, rents out her charges to provide solace and companionship to recently bereaved guinea pigs, and to enable owners to adhere to strict Swiss laws on holding the pets.
Question 18 of 24
What was the cause of the sad demise of Heidi, Leipzig Zoo's celebrity cross-eyed opossum in September?
What was the cause of the sad demise of Heidi, Leipzig Zoo's celebrity cross-eyed opossum in September?
The staff at Leipzig Zoo decided to put her out of her misery after the famous cross-eyed creature began suffering arthritis and other illnesses linked to her advanced age of three-and-a-half years.
Question 19 of 24
In the fall, there was a certain amount of tension between Venezuela and Germany. What caused the diplomatic stress?
In the fall, there was a certain amount of tension between Venezuela and Germany. What caused the diplomatic stress?
A red sandstone boulder weighing 35 metric tons was brought to Berlin by 78-year-old German artist Wolfgang Kraker a decade ago from Venezuela's Canaima National Park. But a Venezuelan indigenous group says the boulder is sacred and was stolen -- and President Hugo Chavez wants it back.
Question 20 of 24
In October, a German quiz contestant was delighted when she won €32,000 ($44,500) on a television show. But her joy didn't last long. Why?
In October, a German quiz contestant was delighted when she won €32,000 ($44,500) on a television show. But her joy didn't last long. Why?
Her employer made her redundant, saying that she didn't need the wages from her part-time job anymore with all that money she had won.
Question 21 of 24
In November, an armed burglar in Schwanewede, a town in northern Germany, was thwarted when he tried to rob a house. What prevented the masked gunman from carrying out his crime?
In November, an armed burglar in Schwanewede, a town in northern Germany, was thwarted when he tried to rob a house. What prevented the masked gunman from carrying out his crime?
The two children offered their life savings to the robber, who was threatening the babysitter with a gun. Shamed by the gesture, the man lowered his weapon and left.
Question 22 of 24
A large section of the German city of Koblenz had to be evacuated after an alarming discovery in November. What was it?
A large section of the German city of Koblenz had to be evacuated after an alarming discovery in November. What was it?
Half of Koblenz had to be evacuated so that experts could defuse the bomb, which was found in the nearby Rhine River. Fortunately, the operation went smoothly.
Question 23 of 24
Residents of the eastern German town of Bad Frankenhausen received bad news in December. What was it?
Residents of the eastern German town of Bad Frankenhausen received bad news in December. What was it?
The Protestant Church authority slated the tower for demolition after the town failed to secure funding to stabilize its collapsing landmark.
Question 24 of 24
German cities have recently begun absolving people accused and executed for which crime in the past?
German cities have recently begun absolving people accused and executed for which crime in the past?
§ Heresy
Tens of thousands of alleged witches were burned at the stake in Germany between 1500 and the late 1700s, but now a small group of activists is working to clear their names.
Despite crisis, Germany benefits from euro
Ten years after the introduction of the euro, and in the midst of its biggest crisis to date, the AFP’s Celine Le Prioux says there are many reasons Europe’s biggest economy has benefited from the single currency.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has made no bones about the advantages for Germany of the euro, which went into circulation as banknotes and coins on January 1, 2002, and whose future she has been grimly racing to shore up."As an exporting nation, Germany has particularly benefited from the euro," she told lawmakers in her most recent speech to the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag.
"This is true not only for big companies but also for small and medium-sizedcompanies," she said.
Machinery, chemical products, heavy-goods vehicles and cars – Germany sells these manufactured products with strong added value throughout the world.
But in its key market, the 17-nation eurozone, the euro means it no longer needs to hedge against losses from exchange rate fluctuations.
"With a single currency zone, all the uncertainties about exchange rates (within today's eurozone) disappear," Henrik Uterwedde, deputy director of the Franco German Institute in Ludwigsburg, pointed out.
For Germany's car industry, which boasts heavy hitters such as Daimler, BMW and Volkswagen, this has certainly been good news.
Since the euro was introduced, German carmakers have saved between €300 million and €500 million ($400 million to $660 million) annually on transactioncosts, according to Jürgen Pieper, analyst at German bank Metzler.
Ferdinand Fichtner, economist at the Berlin-based DIW economic institute, highlighted the importance of the eurozone as a marketplace for German goods.
"About 40 percent of its exports are destined for the eurozone and 20 percent for the rest of the European Union," he said.
Some of the non-eurozone EU countries also have currencies pegged to the single currency such as the Danish krone or Latvia's lat, he said.
Domestically much rides on Germany's exports too.
Nearly three million jobs in Germany depend on exports to the eurozone while 4.4 million depend on exports to the EU as a whole, according to a study by the Prognos research institute.
Trade within today's eurozone has been boosted by the euro, McKinsey management consultants said attributing two-thirds of German growth in the last 10 years to the euro's introduction.
Germany has also felt the benefits indirectly.
Southern eurozone countries, traditionally more prone to inflation, have enjoyed better credit conditions due to a single interest rate fixed by the European Central Bank, encouraging them to buy German goods.
While the deutschmark was regarded as a safe haven currency, as is the case for the Swiss franc currently, the euro is less susceptible to strong appreciation on the currency market.
"And as a result, exported products benefit from competitive advantages," Frank Mattern, director of McKinsey Germany, said.
Nevertheless, the German economy does not entirely owe its success to the euro, a point underscored recently by Anton Börner, head of the German Exporters Federation.
Asking the rhetorical question: "Is there life for Germany after the euro?" he immediately answers: "Yes there is."
The Ifo economic institute has struck a similar note while another institute, the DIW, notes that the euro is just one factor in Germany's success story.
It points to the competitive advantages of Germany, which does not have an overall minimum wage, having sought to keep the lid on big salary increases.
For years, trade unions accepted only modest wage rises to save jobs, especially when faced with relocation.
Reforms by Social Democrat former chancellor Gerhard Schröder in 2003 to tackle unemployment helped kickstart the country's economy after a long rough patch.
By gradually pushing back the retirement age and reducing unemployment benefit and social welfare charges, Germany reduced its costs and overtook its neighbours who did not swallowed the same bitter pill.
AFP/mdm
Key sentence match
She was destined | for success |
Losing the championship to a younger player | was a bitter pill to swallow. |
The company wants to | keep a lid on prices. |
Central banks try | To shore up the economy by lowering interest rates. |
He made no bones about | his dissatisfaction with the hotel. |
Babies and old people | are more susceptible to bird flu. |
Match the two sentence halves
She was destined | his dissatisfaction with the hotel. |
Losing the championship to a younger player | are more susceptible to bird flu. |
The company wants to | for success. |
Central banks try | was a bitter pill to swallow . |
He made no bones about | keep a lid on prices. |
Babies and old people | to shore up the economy by lowering interest rates. |
Key: Match the expressions on the right with the definitions on the left
To make no bones about something | To state a fact in a way that allows no doubt. |
To shore up the future of the Euro | to prop up or support something. |
To boast | something that one is proud |
heavy hitter | Influential personality |
To be destined for something | Set apart for a specific purpose |
To peg something to something | Fastened or fixed to something |
To be susceptible to something | Affected or influenced by something |
To strike a similar note | Have a similar opinion |
To keep the lid on something | Maintain control over something to keep it from increasing. |
To tackle something | To deal with something |
a rough patch | A difficult time |
To swallow a bitter pill | Something hard to accept. |
Match the expressions on the right with the definitions on the left
To make no bones about something | Maintain control over something to keep it from increasing. |
To shore up the future of the Euro | Affected or influenced by something |
To boast | Have a similar opinion |
heavy hitter | A difficult time |
To be destined for something | To deal with something |
To peg something to something | Something hard to accept. |
To be susceptible to something | something that one is proud |
To strike a similar note | to prop up or support something. |
To keep the lid on something | To state a fact in a way that allows no doubt. |
To tackle something | Influential personality |
a rough patch | Set apart for a specific purpose |
To swallow a bitter pill | fastened or fixed to something |
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/f7b05de6-0abc-11e1-b9f6-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1hTkwVNmB
November 9, 2011 9:42 pm
Women still get a raw deal in business
and finance
Theresa May, the British home secretary, recently acknowledged that the UK would benefit from an additional 150,000 start-ups each year if women could launch businesses at the same rate as men.
The trouble is, they can’t. Start-ups need finance and banks treat women entrepreneurs less favourably than they do men. In my report, “Women and banks: Are female customers facing discrimination?”, I show that across Europe businesswomen are less able to access loans from banks than businessmen. Male entrepreneurs in Europe are 5 per cent more likely to successfully get a loan for their business from banks than women. A 2009 study of 14,108 firms across 34 countries, showed that those women that do gain access to loans are often subjected to higher interest rates – an average 0.5 per cent more on a business loan than men – or must accept more burdensome guarantees and collateral requirements.
This is not just a case of the market cleverly weeding out the good from the bad. Women are not given worse terms because their businesses are more risky, smaller or in less attractive industries than men. The many studies I looked at explicitly compared like for like. It is not that women are worse at business than men and so present worse credit risks – the average venture-backed technology company run by a woman is started with a third less capital yet has annual revenues that are 12 per cent higher than those run by men.
Which begs the question. Why do banks treat women entrepreneurs worse than men? The inescapable answer is – because they are women.
My research also identified that pregnant women and women on maternity leave were being treated less favourably by lenders. It seems unthinkable in the 21st century that pregnant women are being denied loans on the basis of their child-bearing capacity. Yet in the course of my research I found over a two-year period, 200 reported cases in the UK and US of women being told that they would not be considered for a mortgage because they were pregnant or on maternity leave. This is across the industry, running the gamut of household lenders.
That banks could be discriminating against women customers should not come as a complete shock. In the US, banks deemed single women poor credit risks until the 1968 Fair Housing Act. Until the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974, women had to have a co-signor to become mortgage borrowers and before the 1975 Sex Discrimination Act in the UK, banks were legally able to reject a woman’s loan request because they were not seen as a good risk.
In the absence of clear legislation and a commitment to enforce it, discrimination historically has been the default. What makes my findings so disturbing is that today the legislation is in place. And on matters of discrimination it is unambiguous. According to the UK Equality Act of 2010, lenders cannot discriminate when providing financial services to women, including if they are pregnant or on maternity leave. International law requires states to ensure equal access for women “to bank loans, mortgages and other forms of financial credit”.
In the US, when cases of banks discriminating against pregnant women made the news last year, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development launched an inquiry. Two banks have already been taken to court. I am calling for similar investigations to take place in those countries which my research indicates have similar problems – the UK in particular. In the countries where banks are found to be acting unlawfully they must be prosecuted through the courts.
At a time when banks are thinking more carefully about their lending practices, lenders must recognise the legal consequences that face them should they discriminate against women.
Governments are more empowered than ever to have a say on how banks make their lending decisions. It is imperative that they make clear that women must be treated equally to men – and that they will take action if they discover otherwise. This isn’t only for reasons of equity. As Ms May points out, the success of Britain’s new businesses depends just as much on women as on men.
The writer is a professor at Duisenberg School of Finance. Her report, “Women and banks: Are female customers facing discrimination?”, is published today by the IPPR
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2011. You may share using our article tools.
Please don't cut articles from FT.com and redistribute by email or post to the web.
Please don't cut articles from FT.com and redistribute by email or post to the web.
Financial Times
Women still get a raw deal in business and finance
To get | a raw deal |
burdensome | guarantees |
collateral | requirements |
maternity | leave |
To be treated | Less favourably |
To run | the gamut |
Something comes | as a shock |
Banks deemed women | poor credit risks |
To reject | a loan request |
To enforce | legislation |
To launch | an inquiry |
Women should launch businesses at the same rate as men.
Women are less able to access loans from banks than business men.
Women are subjected to higher interest rates.
Banks discriminate against women.
This is not just a case of the market weeding out the good from the bad.
The studies I looked at compared like from like.
The average venture-backed technology company run by a woman is started with a third less capital yet has annual revenues that are 12 per cent higher than those run by men.
200 reported cases of women being told that they would not be considered for a mortgage.
What makes my finding so disturbing is that today the legislation is in place. And on matters of discrimination it is unambiguous.
Two banks have already been taken to court.
In the countries where banks are found to be acting unlawfully they must be prosecuted through the courts.
Governments are more empowered than ever to have a say in how banks make their lending decisions.
The success of Britain’s new businesses depends just as much on women as on men.
To get | guarantees |
To launch | Less favourably |
To enforce | a loan request |
burdensome | an inquiry |
collateral | requirements |
maternity | poor credit risks |
To be treated | a raw deal |
To run | as a shock |
Something comes | legislation |
Banks deemed women | leave |
To reject | the gamut |
Women should launch businesses ________ the same rate as men.
Women are less able _________ access loans from banks than business men.
Women are subjected __________ higher interest rates.
Banks discriminate _____________ women.
This is not just a case of the market weeding _______ the good _________ the bad.
The studies I looked at compared like ____ like.
The average venture-backed technology company run _____ a woman is started with a third less capital yet has annual revenues that are 12 per cent higher _______ those run by men.
200 reported cases _____ women being told that they would not be considered _____ a mortgage.
What makes my finding so disturbing is that today the legislation is ____ place. And ____ matters of discrimination it is unambiguous.
Two banks have already been taken _____ court.
In the countries where banks are found to be acting unlawfully they must be prosecuted _________ the courts.
Governments are more empowered _____ ever to have a say ____ how banks make their lending decisions.
The success _____ Britain’s new businesses depends just as much _____ women as ____ men.
