Global Economics Update What would constitute a Greek default? At first sight, the concept of a sovereign default appears straightforward: a government either pays its debt, or it does not. But on closer inspection the picture is more blurred. For example, Greece... 5th June 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update New Greek debt plan does not reduce exit risks Greece’s new plan for “debt management and investment-led growth” is a much-needed attempt to look beyond the completion of the current bailout and find a more permanent resolution to the crisis. But... 5th June 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly What would the Philippines look like without Aquino? With just one year to go before presidential elections in the Philippines, attention is turning to who will replace the current president, Benigno Aquino. The current president deserves much credit... 5th June 2015 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Danish elections won’t alter fiscal outlook Denmark’s forthcoming general election appears to be an increasingly close contest. But the consensus between the two major parties on many issues means that the result is unlikely to alter the... 5th June 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Forget the primary surplus, Greece’s debt is unsustainable The focus on the precise targets for the primary budget surplus in the negotiations between Greece and its creditors overlooks the fact that, unless the economy experiences a miracle, its debt ratio... 4th June 2015 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Inflation risks to keep MPC on hold throughout 2015 With the UK in deflation, growth indicators turning south and the Greek saga casting a shadow over the outlook, the MPC’s decision to keep interest rates on hold is likely to have been unanimous again... 4th June 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Finland GDP (Q1) Q1 GDP data confirmed that Finland’s economy is still in the doldrums. While we think that growth will pick up later in the year, Finland is likely to be among the euro-zone’s weakest economies in... 4th June 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Outlook for periphery’s exporters is improving The depreciation of the euro over the past year or so appears to be finally starting to help euro-zone exporters. The latest data show that annual growth in euro-zone export values picked up to 7.3%... 3rd June 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Banking bailout funds no substitute for Greek debt relief The mooted reallocation of unused banking bailout funds could boost the amount of cash provided to Greece in a forthcoming deal with its creditors and hence buy it some valuable additional time. But... 3rd June 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Fiscal Monitor (May) The latest euro-zone fiscal data showed that most of the peripheral countries made fiscal progress at the start of Q2, after a mixed performance in Q1. But Greece’s position is still looking... 2nd June 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Greek deal unlikely to tackle debt mountain Last night’s meeting between Greece’s creditors may have been an important step towards reaching a proposal to release the country’s final bailout payment. But the risk of failure is still high and... 2nd June 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Capital Expenditure (Q1) The Ministry of Finance’s survey on corporate finances suggests that business investment was stronger last quarter than initially estimated. 1st June 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Strong growth won’t halt rise in Spain’s debt ratio Spain’s economy continues to go from strength to strength and could well grow by more than 3% this year. But with the large amount of spare capacity set to keep inflation negative or low, and growing... 29th May 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Chart Pack Brazil’s fiscal plans take shape Brazil’s government has started to flesh out plans for a fiscal squeeze, but further measures are likely to be needed if it is to meet its budget targets for this year. According to plans published... 28th May 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Chart Pack Indonesia still looks vulnerable Today’s handover from military to civilian rule in Myanmar marks another welcome step forward in the country’s political development. But the new government must overcome a number of major challenges... 28th May 2015 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Will the fiscal squeeze boost inflation again? One upside risk to inflation is that the Conservatives try to plug some of the hole in the public finances by raising taxes on goods and services in the CPI basket. But given that they have ruled out... 27th May 2015 · 1 min read