Probability rises for Japan’s consumption tax hike in April 2017

Jan 22, 2016 10:28 am UTC| Commentary Economy

According to latest estimates from the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy (CEFP), Japan is expected to have a 9.2 trillion yen deficit (1.7% of GDP) in the fiscal accounts of the central and local governments in FY18,...

Business investment and contagion – a deadly combination for CAD

Jan 22, 2016 08:14 am UTC| Commentary Economy

Lower oil price, Canadas most important export and source of revenue is leading to lower business investment in the country, which now stands at lowest since the great recession of 2008/09. Lower oil price is having its...

The secret to successful state-owned enterprises is how they're run

Jan 22, 2016 05:12 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy

State-owned companies are often touted as necessary tools for development in emerging economies. This is because they can be directed by governments to achieve development ends. The model has been a success in some...

Vital Signs Series

Vital Signs: economy limps towards more rate cuts

Jan 22, 2016 03:59 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy

Vital Signs is a new weekly economic wrap from UNSW economics professor and Harvard PhD Richard Holden (@profholden). Vital Signs aims to contextualise weekly economic events and cut through the noise of the data impacting...

South Korea's 3% growth is not too bad

Jan 22, 2016 02:57 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy

South Koreas 4Q15 GDP is due next week. The growth is expected to decelerate to 2.0% (QoQ saar), down from 5.3% in 3Q15. The fall in exports and investment should have been the main drag, a reflective of the headwinds from...

China Crisis Series

China's financial sector a critical test for authorities in 2016

Jan 21, 2016 15:59 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy

Chinese governments supply-side reforms may affect the asset quality and profitability of overcapacity industries and the financial sector, which could dampen investor confidence in Chinese assets. A slump in key asset...

Climate Change Series

How Davos power brokers can start tackling major environmental risks

Jan 21, 2016 06:46 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy

The World Economic Forum (WEF) published its annual Global Risks Report in the run up to its annual meeting in Davos. Food and water crises, energy price shocks, biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse, extreme weather...