Bond Yields Rising: Don’t Be Confused

Remarkably, even though the US Federal Reserve has lowered the Fed funds rate by 100bp since last September, US bond yields have risen sharply (roughly 100bp). Market commentators have offered a wide range of explanations for this unusual development. As the incoming Administration has signalled a significant shift in economic strategy, investors will need to [...]

Election 2024 Edition #4: It’s the Economy…..

28 October 2024 The US Presidential election is in nearly here, at last. In recent weeks, we have discussed key topics receiving insufficient attention during the bruising campaign: looming fiscal crises, international trade policy, and climate change. In 1992, James Carville famously reminded us the economy is usually the most important determinant of American election [...]

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. [...]

UK Immigration: Dispelling the Myths

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 [...]