Japan Economics Weekly How much damage would a delay in the tax hike do? Recent comments by PM Abe suggest that next year’s scheduled hike in the sales tax might be delayed. Concerns about the economic impact of a further tax hike are understandable given the weakness of... 24th October 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Turkish central bank quashes hopes for looser policy The accompanying statement to today’s Turkish MPC meeting, at which interest rates were left on hold, is likely to quash hopes that have been growing in some quarters for looser policy in response to... 23rd October 2014 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: talked the talk on austerity, now to walk the walk Today’s medium-term budget statement provided some encouraging signs that the government is finally willing to implement fiscal consolidation measures in order to prevent the public finances from... 22nd October 2014 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Calls for looser fiscal policy likely to go unheeded There have been renewed calls for a relaxation offiscal austerity during the past month or so,primarily aimed at the surplus countries and, inparticular, at Germany. However, Germany’sgovernment... 21st October 2014 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Focus Gulf: Fall in oil prices unlikely to trigger another “lost decade” Concerns that the recent fall in oil prices could lead to another “lost decade” for the Gulf, similar to the 1980s, are probably overdone. The region’s large accumulated savings mean that most... 21st October 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Surge in consumption tax revenue yet to come Amid questions over the government’s commitment to the planned second consumption tax hike, the positive impact of the first hike on revenue is already being felt: Japan’s budget deficit has fallen to... 20th October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Markets and Merkel won’t let austerity slip Last week’s rise in peripheral euro-zone bond yields mainly reflected contagion effects from Greece’s sell-off, rather than general fiscal concerns. Indeed, draft 2015 budgets showed most countries... 17th October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Will Greece trigger another crisis? While there are some comforting distinctions between the recent jump in Greek bond yields and that which triggered the euro-zone crisis back in 2010, the scale of the economic challenges still facing... 17th October 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly More monetary easing needed to offset fiscal drag Japan is emerging from its second-quarter slump but weak household consumption and business investment, combined with further fiscal austerity, are likely to keep domestic demand sluggish. What’s more... 17th October 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economic Outlook Working nine to nine? Rapid growth in the UK’s workforce in spite of both demographic and international trends has been crucial to sustaining the economic recovery and preventing it from stoking inflation. Looking ahead... 16th October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update French fiscal slippage could promote more pragmatic policy The French Government’s submission today of a budget that flouts the European Commission’s fiscal rules will be a key test of EU authorities’ resolve. We expect a compromise to be reached that forces... 15th October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economic Outlook Stalled recovery adds to pressure on policymakers The European economic recovery has weakened, with the euro-zone now at risk of recession and countries outside the region feeling the effects on their exports. While the euro-zone’s peripheral... 13th October 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Malaysia's budget keeps it on fiscal consolidation path Malaysia's 2015 budget contained no major surprises and marked another step towards fiscal consolidation following fuel subsidy cuts earlier in the month. While the net impact of the Goods and... 13th October 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly Is the FTSE’s fall signalling a slowdown? On the face of it, the sharp decline in the FTSE 100 to its lowest level since last October appears to be a bad portent regarding the sustainability of the UK economy’s recovery. However, the FTSE’s... 10th October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Germany needs more stimulus for its own sake Recent renewed calls for the German Government to take advantage of its fiscal room for manoeuvre in order to stimulate its economy have centred on the potentially beneficial effects on its weaker... 10th October 2014 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Public finances still a major concern, despite easing austerity The IMF’s latest fiscal assessment, published yesterday, suggests that the period of acute austerity has now passed for advanced economies in aggregate. But public debt is still far too high... 9th October 2014 · 1 min read
