Iceland agonizes over compensation deal
• GoogleHere is the perfect example of Socializing the Losses Sound Familiar? Icesave, a subsidiary of the Landsbanki bank that was nationalised in October 2008, had attracted more than 320,000 British and Dutch savers owing to the high interest rates offered in Iceland. But they lost their savings when their accounts were frozen in connection with Landsbanki's nationalisation. London and The Hague partially compensated them before turning to Reykjavik, which led to a lengthy row that was only resolved in June. But now lawmakers are under public pressure, with a Capacent Gallup poll published last week showing that 67.9 percent of Icelanders are against the refund scheme, and only 19.6 percent support it. "It should be flatly rejected," said Brynjar Elinarson, a thirtysomething Reykjavik resident. Bjorg Gudmundsdottir, a woman in her 40s, agreed. "We can't repay all these debts." With its 319,000 inhabitants, the repayment plan represents about 12,000 euros pe
