Markets

Given centuries of turmoil in China, today’s leaders will do everything in their power to preserve political, social, and economic stability. That is why they removed Bo Xilai, the powerful Party Secretary of Chongqing, just before a major conference that...

Having reduced the risk of a relapse into recession, the US economy is now able to move on its own power, albeit gingerly. Consequently, the question on most people’s minds today is whether the US economy is ready not just...

Bailouts appear to be the medicine du jour prescribed across Europe for debt-stricken nations. Large-scale purchases of government bonds by the ECB also seem to be the only focus of creditors and political leaders. But the true key to resolving...

  Neoclassical economics has led us into a cul-de-sac. Although alternatives do exist, neoclassical thought has been so deeply entrenched into our finance ministries, economics departments, banks and other financial institutions, until a widespread belief has now materialised: that fictions...

The world is afraid. Increasing concerns about a military conflict between Israel and Iran has created a “Fear Premium”, which has seen the price of oil soar to nearly $125 per barrel – even as the global oil supply remains...

In the next 20 years, China will face serious economic challenges: Rising inequality, environmental degradation, external imbalances, as well as an aging society, all present major risks to China’s future. With the nation heading for an inevitable slowdown, can its...

Zimbabwe consumes more energy than it can produce; and in order to meet this energy shortfall, the country has been importing energy from its neighbours. But what happens when Zimbabweans can no longer pay for their energy, and how did...

China’s woes do not stem directly from the fact that its local governments are struggling to repay its bank loans. After all, it has been correctly argued that the Chinese government can afford to, and will most likely allow the...

The everyday inequality that most Americans face has deep pernicious effects, which go beyond the typical arguments discussed during the “1% versus 99%” debate. But while these effects are fairly unknown, they still play a role in our daily lives...

One year ago, Japan was ravaged by an earthquake and tsunami disaster that not only destroyed homes and infrastructure, but also led a nuclear catastrophe at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. Yet today, the country can take heart that so...

  There have been wildly different opinions about China's economic prospects in recent years. While plenty of investors remain very bullish about China, others express doubt about China’s economic future – with some even betting on a major financial catastrophe...

The eurozone crisis has exposed the deep disparities in competitiveness among European economies. Southern European countries, in particular, are lagging far behind other European nations such as Germany and France. But while Europe needs to address the two macroeconomic imbalances...

With Europe on the brink of recession and recovery in the US finally getting some traction, the case for fiscal consolidation appears increasingly weak. But the case becomes stronger when one considers Asian countries' path from crisis in the late...

After being in denial for years, India’s Department of Atomic Energy finally admitted last month that the deaths of some employees and their dependents at the Kalpakkam nuclear site were caused by multiple myeloma, a rare form of bone marrow...

While recent developments seem to suggest some positive news for the global economy, there are at least four downside risks that could materialize this year – undermining global growth and eventually negatively affecting investor confidence and market valuations of risky...