25 November 2018 The European economy surged between mid-2016 and the end of last year -- expanding at an impressive 3% annual clip during this interval. This year has been quite a different story, as growth has consistently disappointed: indeed, GDP advanced a meagre 0.8% (annual rate) during the third quarter of 2018. There are [...]
12 November 2018 Last weekend's gathering of world leaders to commemorate the centenary of the World War I armistice was also an occasion to celebrate 70 years of European peace and stability. It was also appropriate to recognise the European Union's contribution to this extended period of prosperity. However, there existed also a sense of [...]
9 July 2019 Has the impetus behind European reform, so evident following French President Macron's victory last year, now stalled? The recent Italian election result illustrates that the appeal of populist remedies to Europe's ills has not receded, and Euro-scepticism remains widespread. The challenge remains for Europe's mainstream national leaders, along with the EU institutions [...]
20 November 2017 I returned recently from Kilkenny, Ireland where I attended Kilkenomics – an engaging mix of global finance and comedy sponsored by the FT and hosted by the irrepressible David MacWilliams. I often found myself thinking only the Irish could pull off this unlikely mix, but then I look at Twitter, and am [...]