Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Fiscal Monitor (May) Recent fiscal data suggest that Greece has continued to make good fiscal progress, but the other southern euro-zone economies are not faring quite as well. 28th May 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Russia: thoughts turn to fiscal stimulus The continued weakness of Russia’s economy has led to questions about what policymakers can do to stimulate growth and, with the central bank reluctant to loosen monetary policy, there is a growing... 23rd May 2013 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update key questions about the IMF’s proposals answered While the diplomatic language of today’s IMF press conference suggested that the Fund had backed down from criticising the Chancellor’s fiscal plans, its statement proposed several initiatives to... 22nd May 2013 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Retail Sales & Pub. Fin. (Apr.), MPC Minutes (May) Today’s data contained some mixed signals on the strength of the economic recovery, with retail sales slumping but with the public finances making a reasonable start to the year. 22nd May 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update French wealth tax adds to fears for economy The news that some wealthy French households were taxed over 100% of their income last year has added to criticism of President François Hollande’s policies. But the bigger point is that rising... 20th May 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus Is the euro-zone crisis really over? The improvement in market sentiment towards the euro-zone has not been matched by a material change in the troubled countries’ economic and fiscal outlooks. As such, the crisis is not over. 20th May 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Focus Will “Abenomics” transform Japan? The election of a new government under Prime Minister Abe has certainly transformed market sentiment towards Japan over the past six months. However, taking a closer look at each of the components of... 15th May 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Has Greece reached a turning point? The Q1 estimate of Greek GDP and the credit rating upgrade by Fitch suggests that the economy may finally be turning a corner. But we still think that the economic forecasts underpinning the rescue... 15th May 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Australia’s public finances are still in good shape Australia’s government expects to make little headway in reducing its budget deficit in 2013/14. The government had previously been aiming to balance the budget in the current fiscal year, but... 15th May 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Germany's role in a solution to the euro-zone debt crisis This Update summarises views expressed by Capital Economics’ Jennifer McKeown in a panel discussion at the Euromoney “Germany Conference” in Berlin on 24th and 25th April. 13th May 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update German election campaign offers no hope of fiscal boost The growing likelihood of a grand coalition government after September’s election suggests that Germany’s tough stance on the euro-zone periphery might soften somewhat. However, none of the main... 9th May 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Is it true that Germany can’t afford bail-outs? A recent ECB survey suggested that German households are much less wealthy than those in the eurozone’s south and periphery. There are several reasons why this is untrue. But unfavourable coverage in... 7th May 2013 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly Selling the banks would be no quick fix Rumours that the Government is gearing up to sell its stakes in the nationalised banks have hit the headlines. Some think that even a loss-making sale would support the Government’s chances of re... 6th May 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Falling oil prices highlight Norway’s long-term problems Due to Norway’s much-lauded fiscal rules, the recent fall in oil prices will have little impact on the economy’s bright near-term outlook. Nonetheless, Norway’s growing dependence on hydrocarbons... 2nd May 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Fiscal Monitor (Apr.) In 2012, most of the peripheral economies made decent inroads into their budget deficits. But the fiscal consolidation process is far from over. 30th April 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus Would deflation lead the periphery into a debt trap? If the peripheral euro-zone economies regained competitiveness via outright deflation, their public and private sector debt levels would spiral higher as a share of GDP, prompting disaster. 30th April 2013 · 1 min read
