Netherland Official Discusses the US and EU Economy

Netherland's Official, Ronald Roosdorp

The economy takes center stage in Europe this week as global leaders consider ways to recover from the worst economic crisis since the great depression. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports how Mississippi can be a part of the overall plan.

Who will improve first from the spiraling economic crisis, the United States or the European Union? Speaking to a group of business leaders in Jackson recently, Netherland's Official, Ronald Roosdorp said his best guess is the U.S.

“When things are in a recession people are laid off pretty quickly probably on the same day. But that means that the economy can recover faster and people can be hired again. In the European Union by contrast when things go bad it’s pretty difficult to lay them off. So that means that businesses will have to pay the wages so they will have to cut down on their profits so that makes it much more difficult for them.”

Mississippi's biggest trading partners are Canada and Mexico. And although this state may not be directly involved in the EU's recovery, Jackson businessman, Hayes Dent does see opportunities beyond our borders.

“With a population of 500 million that’s clearly a large market for Mississippi goods and services and so it’s incumbent upon us to assist in our own recovery thereby assisting the recovery in the European Union.”

Roosdorp believes the fastest recovery will come from tax cuts. Mississippi is set to receive nearly 2.8 billion dollars in stimulus money to go towards infrastructure, education, healthcare and other projects. For MPB News, I'm Lawayne Childrey.