Japan Economics Update Third arrow unlikely to boost potential growth significantly While the revised “Growth Strategy” appears to contain some promising elements, it is unlikely to lift Japan’s potential growth rate significantly. In particular, the document does not adequately... 24th June 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Where next in Argentina’s debt dispute? A series of statements from Buenos Aires over the weekend provide hope that Argentina’s government might be able to find common ground with “holdout” creditors. Reaching a mutually agreeable solution... 23rd June 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly Underlying price pressure has eased dramatically April’s consumption tax hike has made it more difficult to assess the strength of consumer price pressures. But different approaches that make allowance for the one-off impact of the tax increase lead... 23rd June 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Diesel price deregulation an early test for Modi in India Diesel subsidies in India have burned a sizeable hole in the government’s pocket over the past few years. But the stage appears to be set for a full deregulation of diesel prices in the coming months... 23rd June 2014 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Public Finances (May) May’s public borrowing figures contained tentative signs that the coalition is struggling to bring down the deficit in line with the fiscal plans this year. 20th June 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Chart Pack EMs take heart as Fed sticks to taper plan Financial conditions across the emerging world have eased in recent months, as continued policy support from central banks in the developed world has supported risk appetite. This in turn has reduced... 19th June 2014 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack Iraq crisis raises contagion fears The unfolding crisis in Iraq has cast a shadow over the region, causing equity markets to tumble. As it happens, the largest MENA economies have only limited trade and financial ties with Iraq... 19th June 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economic Outlook Stuck in the slow lane Latin America’s economy looks set to remain stuck in the slow lane over the next couple of years. The drivers of strong growth over the past decade – including rapid credit growth and strong global... 19th June 2014 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Bahrain: one of the Gulf’s laggards Bahrain’s economy grew at its fastest pace last year since 2008, but this was driven by a rebound in the oil sector which is unlikely to last. On top of this, political tensions remain high and fiscal... 18th June 2014 · 1 min read
China Chart Pack FX accumulation by firms allows PBOC to step back The People’s Bank (PBOC) further reduced its foreign exchange purchases to around $6bn in May, the lowest in almost a year. Given last month’s large trade surplus, this might suggest that capital... 18th June 2014 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Growth alone won’t fix Egypt’s dire public finances There are growing hopes that the gradual recovery in the Egyptian economy will help to bring the dire public finances on to a more sustainable path. But while we think this will have some impact, in... 16th June 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly Could a revamped GPIF lower the pension deficit? Pension provision is a significant drain on Japan's fiscal resources in part because the returns generated by the Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) have fallen short of those earned by... 16th June 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update More austerity pain to come for euro-zone The EC’s latest batch of country reports shows that the euro-zone has already achieved substantial structural reform and fiscal consolidation. But the region faces several more years of painful reform... 11th June 2014 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Focus Why Ghana needs IMF help The recent sharp widening of Ghana’s twin budget and current account deficits has fuelled speculation that the country may require some external help to stave off a fiscal and balance of payments... 11th June 2014 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Policymakers still resisting calls for broad stimulus In the past few weeks, policymakers have adopted an approach to supporting the economy that is the opposite of that followed in 2008. Then, banks were encouraged to flood the economy with credit. Now... 9th June 2014 · 1 min read
Global Economics Chart Pack Growth rebounding in second quarter The world economy slowed significantly in Q1, largely because output contracted in the US and growth weakened in China. But this should be followed by a rebound in the current quarter. Indeed, the... 5th June 2014 · 1 min read
