Reports
The impact higher taxes and welfare spending could have on US jobs
US President Barack Obama may have scored a political victory when he made good on his election pledge to raise taxes for the very wealthy and increase welfare spending at the beginning of 2013. But critics say it was much less of a victory for the economy. It leaves in ...
US election 2012: Competing visions for America’s economic future
Economic issues will play a large part in determining the outcome of the presidential election when Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney go to the polls on November 6, 2012. Both candidates are seeking to win support from the same groups of voters - the large group of American ...
The healthcare debate: What the US and Europe can learn from each other
Many Europeans have expressed astonishment at why the healthcare debate has played such an important role in US politics this year. How can a supposedly advanced country, they question, fail to provide adequate healthcare for all its citizens? But a close examination of American and European healthcare systems reveals that ...
The CIVETS: Serious emerging economies or silly shorthand by investors?
A new group of fast-emerging economies in Colombia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey and South Africa have been identified as the CIVETS. They are said to be the countries of tomorrow which have the elements of young, fast-growing populations, diverse exports and natural resources and controlled inflation. But do they offer ...
Government policies set parameters for growth in Europe and the US
Economic confidence in Europe and the United States seems to rise and fall with each news cycle. But data shows that prospects for growth are determined far more by the government’s long-term regulatory efficiency and labour market flexibility than by the crisis of the moment. THERE have been several indicators ...
Trade restrictions are hurting world economic recovery
World trade has grown rapidly over the last 30 years thanks to the liberalisation of international trade. But the dramatic decline in tariffs which boosted economic growth has now slowed to a trickle. World growth rates could double if there was greater free trade between countries. REAL per capita Gross ...
Eurozone crisis to have less impact on world growth than feared
World growth is forecast to slow - held back by the crisis in the eurozone. But of all the world’s regions only the eurozone will face negative growth in 2012, says the World Bank and its impact will only be relatively modest on the world economy. However, the turmoil of ...
