Addressing Europe’s services dependencies
Recent shifts in the geopolitical order have created an urgent need for Europe to strengthen its strategic autonomy. This column discusses the economic security issues
New evidence on the resilience benefit of borrower-based measures when interest rates go up
Borrower-based macroprudential measures are meant to provide a guardrail to counter an erosion of lending standards over time. This column explores whether such measures can
The Bank of England’s capital mistake?
On 2 December 2025, the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee announced it would be lowering the capital requirement for UK banks. This column argues
Beyond emergency responses: Why local context matters for refugee allocation
A growing body of evidence shows that rising inflows of immigrants and refugees can trigger political backlash. This column examines how local economic and cultural
UAE economy to exceed global growth in 2026; GDP revised up to 5%
Standard Chartered says country to benefit from shifts in global supply chains, strong non-oil sector. The UAE economy is poised to expand faster than previously
Energy Development Oman mandates USD 10-year sukuk
In October, the company listed a $130 million sukuk on the Muscat Stock Exchange. Oil and gas producer Energy Development Oman has mandated a 10-year
Saudi, UAE startups led VC deals, raised $3.13bln in 2025
Two GCC markets account for 91% of total funding deployed across MENA. Startups in Saudi Arabia and the UAE led venture capital funding activity last
Introducing the World Bank Land Data Map
From urbanization to agriculture, land systems touch nearly every aspect of development. That’s why the World Bank Group has launched the Land Data Map, a new
Has the global minimum tax survived Trump?
US objections have not killed off the 15 percent global minimum tax, but they have altered it and given the US a competitive advantage. One
What we can learn from public debt reductions in OECD countries
Public debt-to-GDP ratios have risen substantially over the past 25 years, and multiple spending pressures threaten to increase them further. This column outlines the lessons
