Europe Economics Update Will Spain be the undoing of the euro-zone? With Ireland finally accepting a bailout, attention has turned to who might be next. Spain’s position is far less precarious, but there are some worrying similarities. And given the economy’s size... 23rd November 2010 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Focus Hungary's 2011 Budget: an exercise in smoke and mirrors It looks increasingly likely that the Hungarian government will meet, or even outperform, its targets for reducing the budget deficit over the coming years. But with temporary revenue raising measures... 23rd November 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Sri Lanka targets growth over fiscal consolidation Sri Lanka’s budget for 2011, announced today, aims to sustain the upswing by cutting taxes and by lifting private sector investment. While GDP growth will probably stay rapid next year, the budget... 22nd November 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Ireland still has a mountain to climb News that Ireland has formally requested financial support has prompted a further drop in Irish bond yields and a small rise in the euro. But Ireland still faces a daunting set of fiscal and economic... 22nd November 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly What will an Irish bailout package look like? Over the past week, it has become increasingly clear that it is now a matter of when, rather than if, Ireland receives some kind of financial support package. But there are still several unanswered... 22nd November 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Will Portugal inevitably follow Ireland? With Ireland on the brink of accepting some kind of bail-out, fears of contagion have intensified. While Portugal is clearly the next in line, it is in a better position than Ireland, which means that... 19th November 2010 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Retail Sales & Public Finances (Oct.) The latest UK retail sales figures suggested that the consumer spending recovery, while a bit lacklustre, hasn’t petered out yet. But another set of poor public finances cast further doubt on whether... 18th November 2010 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Mexican budget papers over the cracks... again Earlier this week Mexico’s Congress passed the 2011 budget. On the face of it, the planned headline deficit of 0.5% of GDP is small – particularly when compared to the huge budget shortfalls that are... 18th November 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Support would not solve all Ireland's problems It seems increasingly likely that Ireland may soon bow to pressure and ask for financial support. But while such an outcome may temporarily settle the markets, the fundamental picture will remain... 16th November 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Philippines' upgrade as good as it gets for a long time S&P on Friday lifted the Philippines’ sovereign foreign currency debt rating from BB- to BB. The move reflects the strong balance of payments, the implementation of new reforms which will lift trend... 15th November 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Greece's problems still mounting Reports that Greece’s 2010 budget deficit is likely to have narrowed much less sharply than the Government had previously predicted emphasise that its problems are far from over. Greece will now come... 10th November 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Australia's fiscal consolidation remains on track The latest budget projections published today confirm that Australia’s fiscal position is exceptionally strong when compared to other high-income economies. The overall budget will move back into... 9th November 2010 · 1 min read
China Economics Focus What lessons should China learn from Japan's lost decade? Today’s tensions between China and the US have many echoes of those between Japan and the US in the 1980s including, most clearly, over the exchange rate. The lesson for China is not, as some have... 8th November 2010 · 14 mins read
Europe Economics Update Ireland's fiscal squeeze unlikely to calm markets' nerves We doubt that next year’s €6bn fiscal squeeze will be enough to ensure that the Irish Government’s 2011 budget deficit goal will be met. This, combined with rising political uncertainty and surging... 4th November 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Are Ireland and Portugal about to turn to the EFSF? There are reasons to think that Portugal and Ireland will not follow Greece in seeking financial support in the very near future. But there are still major doubts over their ability to address their... 4th November 2010 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Peru: Early warning signs of higher inflation in 2011 The outlook for inflation in Peru is deteriorating but the policy response is not straightforward. Interest rate hikes would only serve to increase speculative inflows of ‘hot money’, while fiscal... 4th November 2010 · 1 min read
