Latest reports
Examining Latin America’s ‘puzzle’ of low growth
Why do Latin American countries remain mired in sluggish economic growth? Economists have addressed the question with reams of analysis, but the answer is simple: low productivity. That in turn, has been caused by government involvement in the economy that has stifled competition and innovation. The real puzzle is what it will take for the region to change course.
Rwanda’s Kagame faces challenges to legitimacy
Rwanda is often hailed as one of Africa’s brightest stories of growth and stability. But President Paul Kagame, in office since 2000, has taken a firm grip over the country, with little tolerance for opposition. The pandemic and its aftermath present serious risks to Rwanda’s economy and to the regime’s ...
Oil market outlook: Land in sight but rough seas ahead
In early November, several pharmaceutical companies announced that their Covid-19 vaccine trials had yielded promising results. Markets immediately began to recover, but many experts warned against declaring an early end to the pandemic, especially for oil producers. While global recovery and oil prices have moved in tandem during previous months, ...
Opinion: The WTO drifts toward irrelevance
The WTO is a relatively cheap international organization, but it has achieved very little since it was created in 1995. It will not likely disappear, especially if it keeps a low profile and transforms bilateral deals driven by politics into multilateral deals. That would be less useful than if it ...
Pandemic opens the door for an Italian conservative
Italian politics has been reshaped by the coronavirus. Dissatisfaction with the populist star Matteo Salvini has meant an opportunity for a new rising figure, Giorgia Meloni. The former Berlusconi minister has brought back the networks and rhetoric of the traditional right wing, while cultivating ties with conservatives in Europe and ...
Measuring prosperity: The quest to replace GDP
For years, gross domestic product (GDP) has been the dominant metric for evaluating a country’s economic progress. Recently, however, it has come under criticism for not including factors such as equality or environmental sustainability. Replacing it is a tricky task that relies on a lot of subjective judgments. But if ...
Scenarios for law enforcement in Africa
African communities in postindependence states often have painful memories of police repression dating back to the colonial era, and the recent lockdowns have reopened old wounds. During the pandemic, political activity ground to a halt. But with several elections to be held in the near future, violent incidents involving law ...
Providing basis for decisions through focus on relevance, expert background, scenarios predictions
Henrique Schneider
Henrique Schneider is the chief economist of the Swiss Federation ...
Zorigt Dashdorj
Zorigt Dashdorj serves on the board of directors of the ...
Dr. Michael Wohlgemuth
Professor Dr. Michael Wohlgemuth is an economist and Research Director ...
Ambassador Zvi Mazel
Zvi Mazel is a former Israeli diplomat. He served as ...
Captain James E. Fanell
GIS Guest Expert Captain James E. Fanell retired from the ...
Dr. Thitinan Pongsudhirak
Thitinan Pongsudhirak teaches at Chulalongkorn University's faculty of political science ...
Diane Katz
GIS Guest Expert Diane Katz is a senior research fellow ...
Pramit Pal Chaudhuri
Pramit Pal Chaudhuri is the foreign editor of the Hindustan ...
Global Trends Video Reports
The security risks of 5G
Widespread deployment of 5G technology is still years away, but there is growing public attention being paid to the immense benefits of enhanced wireless connectivity. With maximum speeds that are more than 100 times faster than currently available, the next ...
Explore regions, sectors, subjects
GIS on target predictions
RCEP signed
In November 2020, 15 countries signed onto the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a huge trade agreement that will include nearly a third of the global population and 29 percent of global gross domestic product. In 2019, GIS expert Walter Lohman predicted the deal would be signed before the end of 2020, pointing out that, “[t]he economies in the region ... have an interest in completing the RCEP, not only for the economic benefits ... but also to constructively engage China.” He added that this could mean “China will continue to gain market share and the region will continue to engage it constructively, seeking Chinese trade and investment.” But the signing of the agreement does not by itself reduce U.S. influence in the region. That will depend on Washington's willingness to re-engage with its partners there, he argued.
Between two trade agreements, Asia-Pacific seeks balance
The Asia-Pacific region is seeking a balance of economic and geopolitical benefits with two overlapping trade agreements. Across both sides of the Pacific, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership replaces the defunct TPP agreement after the withdrawal of the United States. Meanwhile, in Asia, the ten ASEAN member ...
GIS value proven by clients
Geopolitics are back on the agenda
Due to the fast changing international order geopolitics are back on the agenda. I believe that GIS makes a great contribution with analyses and insights that should help businesses and governments developing their responses.
Comments
RCEP: A wake-up call for Europe to increase competitiveness