31 August 2020 The Republican and Democratic conventions are over, and the US election campaign will shift into high gear. Surely, climate change will be one of the most important topics for the US electorate to consider. Democratic candidate Joe Biden wants America to become net-carbon neutral by 2050, and to eliminate the use of [...]
21 February 2020 Concerns about the impact of immigration on jobs, wages, public services, and national identity played a huge role in the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union. Unschackled by the EU's freedom of labour movement requirement, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government unveiled its long-awaited immigration proposal. In practical terms, the new [...]
29 September 2019 The European economy has been decelerating since 2017. Indeed, the meagre 0.2% gain in GDP during Q2 2019 suggests economic activity may be stalling. And, as Germany, Italy, and the UK all recorded negative growth rates during the interval (and with Q3 looking decidedly weak as well), financial markets are increasingly concerned [...]
6 August 2019 The US Federal Reserve's recent decision to reduce interest rates a stingy 25bp, and to deliver a less-dovish-than-expected statement raises more questions than it answered. Was the rate cut a one-time adjustment to provide insurance against the prospect of weaker growth ahead? Did Chairman Jerome Powell react to White House pressure? If [...]