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 [...]

Spain: Convergence — Finishing the Job!

30 June 2023 I love Spain: the food, wine, sun, landscape, art, architecture, and the unmistakable roar of happy people cascading into the streeets from busy bodegas! Indeed, I just returned from trendy Valencia where the post-Covid atmosphere is bouyant. The 1992 Maastricht treaty -- outlining a path towards the introduction of the Euro in [...]

Asia: Will Global Growth Engine Outperform?

28 May 2023 The IMF's recently released global forecast highlights that Asia will be the only region to experience stronger economic growth this year relative to 2022. Likewise, the Asian economy will outperform all other regions both this year and in 2024 (Chart above). Indeed, the following Chart indicates that Asia will account for over [...]

Ireland: Irish Eyes Are Smiling

27 March 2023 Still basking in the glow of another Saint Patrick's Day celebration, Ireland was crowned the Six Nations rugby champions. As the world's top-ranked team, the nation eagerly anticipates this autumn's World Cup in France. Sure, Irish eyes are smiling indeed! But, that not all Ireland has to celebrate these days. Despite current [...]