4 January 2021 Finally, nearly 1,500 days after the Brexit referendum, the United Kingdom has both left the European Union and signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) outlining its future trading relationship with its largest partner. Political partisans will continue to defend their entrenched positions regarding the merits of this deal. On the one hand, [...]
Asia: Global Growth Engine in 2021
1 December 2020 As the holiday season approaches, much of the world is battling a Second Wave of the Coronavirus. To be sure, world leaders are confronting unprecendented challenges, and tough decisions are required. Throughout the pandemic, many policymakers, as well as members of the media and general public, portray the options as a choice [...]
Strategy 2021: V(accine)-Shaped Recovery?
13 November 2020 Three cheers for the world's scientific community! The recent announcement that an effective vaccine may be on the way is a very welcomed, early Christmas present at the end of a tough year. Of course, there are numerous medical questions and logistical challenges that still must be solved. But, along with everyone [...]
Covid in Latin America: Another Lost Decade?
5 November 2020 Saddled with high debt, Latin America's real per capita GDP stagnated between 1980 and 1995, despite a healthy global economic environment. A lost decade (Chart above). The region has suffered greatly during the ongoing Coronavirus crisis, and the economic consequences have been enormous. Despite having only 8% of the world's population, the [...]