Markets

12 July 2016

Can Africa Achieve First World Status?

One of the most hotly debated topics in development economics is what does it take to steer a poor country from Third World to First World status? It is a debate of particular relevance in Africa, which is home to...

12 July 2016

How to Successfully Wield a Supermajority

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner, Komeito, have won 70 of the 121 seats up for grabs in the upper house triennial elections held on Sunday 10 July. The seats obtained in the...

11 July 2016

China’s Changing Economy…it will Take a While

China is undergoing profound changes in its economic policy and structure. These changes represent a new model of Chinese economic growth. The recent Five Year Plan (FYP) is an evolutionary document. Building on earlier official statements on the new model...

8 July 2016

As Outbound Chinese Tourism Grows, Australia Looks to Cash In

Chinese tourism around the world is experiencing a boom: the numbers of tourists are increasing and the types of tourism diversifying. However, Australia will need a more culturally sensitive approach than the catchy advertising of old to capitalise on this emerging market....

8 July 2016

Australia in Danger of Credit Downgrade

Australia received a warning from Standard & Poor's (S&P) this week that it is on downgrade watch. Although the nation presently enjoys a AAA rating, the downgrade warning signals that Australia will likely soon receive a reduced rating. Australia received...

7 July 2016

Hello, Credit Repair Hotline? It’s Australia

Australia’s AAA credit rating was under pressure even before the election and is now looking decidedly shaky. Australia’s AAA credit rating was under pressure even before the election and is now looking decidedly shaky. Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s has moved Australia’s rating outlook from...

6 July 2016

Don’t Panic! Buy…Maybe

Financial markets around the world are responding to current political uncertainty in both Australia and the UK by sending stocks, bonds and currencies on a rollercoaster ride.  The far-reaching implications of Brexit caused the S&P/ASX 200 volatility index (A-VIX) to spike to...

6 July 2016

Getting Creative in Vietnam to Sustain Economic Growth

The biggest macroeconomic challenge facing Vietnam today is sustaining growth. Most doi moi-era growth has resulted either from efficiency gains associated with the introduction of a market economy (opening domestic markets and trade, relaxing restrictions on labour movement and land...

5 July 2016

Rajan’s Exit, then Britain’s, has India on Edge

‘Brexit’, close on the heels of the shock resignation of the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Raghuram Rajan, has triggered a great deal of market turbulence and future uncertainty for the Indian economy. What should India do...