Italy: Supply-Side Reforms Are the Only Remedy

19 November 2022 I have just enjoyed a fact-finding trip to the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Naturally, I indulged myself with the gastronomic delights of Bologna, Parma, and Modena; as well as marvelled at the mosaics in Ravenna. On the economic front, to be sure, Italy has had little to cheer about in recent years. [...]

Germany: Curing Europe’s Sick Man?

15 October 2023 Once admired as Europe's growth engine, Germany is now being identified as the region's "sick economy". Indeed, Germany's post-Covid recovery has lagged far behind the world's other advanced countries (Chart below). And, the nation's underperformance pre-dates the pandemic. What lies behind Germany's growth malaise, and can Europe's "Sick Man" be cured? To [...]

Asia: Bending, But Not Breaking

22 October 2019 The global economy is slowing. During previous bouts of world-wide economic weakness, Asia has been relied upon as an engine of growth. This time, however, Asian economic activity is also cooling, as the region (and individual countries within the area) confronts both external and domestic challenges. The deepening trade war, of course, [...]