Europe Economics Weekly Policymakers fail to get ahead The plans agreed at last week’s EU summit look like another example of policymakers sprinting to catch up with events, but failing to get decisively ahead. We are not suggesting that the positive... 31st October 2011 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Chinese whispers alone won't save the euro Despite yet another round of speculation suggesting that China is about to ride to the rescue of the euro-zone, Europe will still have to solve its own problems. Meaningful Chinese support would... 29th October 2011 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update How damaging will a Greek default be? The immediate fall-out from a Greek default should be manageable and much less damaging than that which followed the collapse of Lehmans, even if it does count as a “credit event”. However, this... 26th October 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update How vulnerable is Indonesia to a global financial crisis? In the event of a global financial crisis stemming from the sovereign debt problems in Europe, there will be major concerns over Indonesia’s exposure to volatile capital flows, its vulnerability to... 25th October 2011 · 1 min read
Global Economics Focus Does a sovereign debt crisis always cause a financial crisis? While there are no direct historical parallels with the current situation in Europe, a review of past experience suggests policymakers may need to resolve the euro-zone’s sovereign debt crisis... 25th October 2011 · 1 min read
US Economics Weekly Trade protection policies becoming more appealing Recent events in Washington suggest that, with fiscal policy largely tapped-out and monetary policy ineffective, trade protection policies are becoming more appealing. Import tariffs are not the first... 18th October 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economic Outlook Asia set to weaken but still outperform A slowdown in developed economies in 2012-13 is set to pull down growth in emerging Asia to a below-trend pace. However, the region’s healthy fundamentals mean that emerging Asia should once again be... 6th October 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Greek budget does not eliminate near-term default risks New fiscal measures announced by the Greek Government may have reduced the risks of an imminent disorderly default. But policymakers still face a battle to agree a deal to cover Greece’s financing... 5th October 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Fiscal Monitor (Sep.) Recent news shows that many of the euro-zone’s fiscally-challenged economies are broadly on track to meet their 2011 budget deficit goals. Nonetheless, we continue to think that several of the region... 30th September 2011 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Are we any closer to a Tobin tax? The widespread adoption of new Tobin-style levies on financial transactions remains unlikely, despite the latest endorsement from EC President Barroso today. Nonetheless, there is growing... 29th September 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update German court ruling points to troubles ahead Today’s ruling by the German Constitutional Court that bail-outs already undertaken by EU authorities were not unlawful might come as a relief to highly indebted euro-zone governments. But its... 8th September 2011 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Hungary’s budget black hole filled only temporarily The Hungarian government yesterday afternoon announced measures to raise an extra HUF 100bn in revenues as lower than expected growth reduced the chances of meeting the budget target. The government... 8th September 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Fiscal Monitor (Aug.) Most of the peripheral economies have continued to make progress in reducing their government borrowing. But over the past month, the euro-zone debt crisis has spread further to the core economies... 2nd September 2011 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Encouraging private sector investment should be part of any Plan B Creating more favourable conditions for private sector investment is just one of the ways in which the Government could help the economy to survive the fiscal squeeze without actually rowing back on... 25th August 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Thailand's central bank faces a policy dilemma The Bank of Thailand announces its latest interest rate decision on Wednesday. Policymaking has been complicated by global worries intensifying at a time when local fiscal policy looks set to be... 23rd August 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update On the road to fiscal union? Decisive steps towards greater fiscal integration across the euro-zone seem vital if the currency union is going to hold together in its current form. But recent comments from Angela Merkel and... 18th August 2011 · 1 min read