Markets Archives - Page 410 of 724

Vietnam’s Regular Minimum Wage Increases are not without Discord

In September 2015, the National Wage Council (NWC) of Vietnam proposed an increase of 12.4 percent to the minimum wage in 2016. The key parties — representatives of business in the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the state-sanctioned national union of workers, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) — finally reached a consensus after two stalled meetings. The process, after all, is within the state’s annual schedule and hardly goes with any substantive changes to labour market institutions.

Part Two: The US Evangelical Roots of African Homophobia

In part two of our analysis of rising homophobia in Africa we look at how the US right-wing evangelists have used their power base to spread propaganda against gays. Their powerful presence has influenced African archbishops, politicians and lawmakers.

Singapore Averts Recession in Third Quarter

The service sector is primarily responsible for a 0.1-percent growth rate in the third quarter, counterbalancing setbacks in manufacturing output, according to the Associated Press. The Monetary Authority of Singapore intends to lower the value of the Singapore dollar to boost exports.

The Hidden Cost of Homophobia in Africa

In a two-part article, we look first at the high economic costs of the severe homophobia in modern African states. Lowering the national GDP is a price few developing countries can afford. In part two, we will look at the astonishing influence of the US right-wing evangelical movement in entrenching homophobia in the African church and state.

U.S. Budget Deficit Falls on Higher Tax Revenue

The U.S. government’s budget deficit shrank to its lowest amount in 8 years, thanks mostly to a record amount of tax revenue. Total tax receipts rose 7.6% while outgoings rose 5.2%, causing the deficit to fall to its lowest amount since the global financial crisis. The current deficit has fallen to $438.9 billion for the 2015 fiscal year, a 9.2% decline from the prior year.

China Regards Harmony as a Strategic Concept

History and politics sometimes repeat themselves. From a global perspective, it almost seems we are entering a new age of imperialism, though this time the key powers are the United States and China. However, despite appearances that recall the age of European imperialism of centuries ago, China’s foreign policy should be seen as defensive.

Putting 10 Million Youths to Work Annually

Sub-Saharan Africa has two abundant resources: its youth and agricultural land. With the youngest population globally and the largest share of the world’s arable land, Africa stands to benefit greatly from getting and keeping the youth involved in agriculture.

Africa’s agricultural sector has the lowest productivity in the world. This contributes to food insecurity and malnutrition on the continent.

Is the Pessimism over China’s Slowing Growth Warranted?

It is too easy to think China’s economy is in a downward spiral, given recent headlines in the US press, from “China’s Middle-Class Dreams in Peril” to “Is China Really Collapsing?”

The world has been awash with such pessimism. In addition, fumbled reactions by China’s leaders to disasters, excessive financial speculation, and other problems raise concerns about governance. It may even raise questions of long-term stability.

Improving the Living Standards for Singapore’s Elderly

In 2015, the value of housing assets owned by households in Singapore at the aggregate level was 55% of their net worth. Ninety percent of Singapore households owned their homes, meaning that almost all households had wealth saved in housing, and households’ housing wealth was 2.1 times that of the country’s gross domestic product. In addition, Singapore is facing an aging population.

Japan’s Abe Commits to Minimizing the Agricultural Impact of the TPP

Does Japan’s accession to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement mean that the Abe government has set a course for agricultural reform? The short answer is no — for several reasons.

First, despite expectations that the TPP will encourage structural reform of low-productivity industries such as agriculture, just how much of an impact the deal will have on the domestic farm sector is contestable.