5 February 2023 After a bruising 2022, global financial markets now have fully embraced the propect of a "soft landing" for the global economy. Even the IMF has revised up its 2023 GDP growth forecast following China's post-Covid opening, declining European natural gas prices, and signs that world-wide inflation may have peaked. In the United [...]
China: Population Decline = Growth Headwind
22 January 2023 In addition, China's shrinking population will continue to shape both the nation's long-term economic strategy, and the government's short-term policy focus. In particular, with inflation low, monetary and fiscal policy will need to remain stimulative. However, government spending priorities will need to be altered dramatically. This shift will not only support China's [...]
Brazil: Lula II — Firebrand or Pragmatist?
2 November 2022 Indeed, Brazil's election result was historic. Not only was former President Lula da Silva returned to power (by an unexpectedly narrow margin), but Jair Bolsonaro's defeat was the first by an incumbent since the country returned to democracy. Despite earlier threats to challenge the election outcome, President Bolsonaro and his supporters appear [...]
China: 2023 May Be Even Tougher than 2022
28 October 2022 At China's recently concluded 20th Communist Party Congress, Xi Jinping was re-elected to an unprecedented third term as Party leader. Xi now appears set to lead both the Party and government for the next five years, and likely even longer. With political power now secured, can the same be said about the [...]