As the global economy fragments along geopolitical lines, countries are seeking new ways to flourish, or at least insulate themselves against geopolitical shocks. Drawing from a newly constructed database, this column explores the concept of ‘connector’ countries, which can be vertical along supply chains or horizontal across markets. The authors argue that vertical connectors may […]
The credibility of an institution is, almost, synonymous with how well it is trusted. This column uses survey data to examine how trust in various institutions – the government, parliament, the EU, the IMF, and the World Bank – is affected by respondents’ views on aspects of the economy (their own financial situation, the need […]
Manila, Philippines- 23/08/24 We TraiCon Events will be hosting Philippines’ premier cyber security event titled as “Cyber Revolution Summit” scheduled on 10th September 2024 in, Philippines. This summit will feature keynote presentations and panel discussions with top security experts from various industries covering a range of topics, including cybersecurity innovations, data privacy & security, risk […]
The evolution and changing content of work is a defining feature of advanced economies. Jobs that did not exist in the US before 2000, for example, now employ millions of people. This column analyses the role of local factors and exposure to global shocks in generating ‘new work’. The findings point to the role of […]
Financial support by the IMF aims to create breathing room for countries hit by crises and provide a seal of approval that appropriate policies are adopted, helping improve future prospects during periods of heightened risks. This column examines how IMF lending arrangements may impact a firm’s investment decisions. The authors find that lending from the […]
Industrial policy is in vogue among policymakers globally. This column examines the shielding effect that membership of a preferential trade agreement can have when a trade partner implements a new industrial policy. The authors find that the introduction of a new industrial policy measure in a destination market reduces export growth to that market. However, […]
Tax data suggest that while inequality between countries has fallen dramatically, inequality within countries has risen. Household surveys point to much lower within-country inequality, but may suffer from underreporting of income. This column uses a new method to estimate the degree to which the rich report a lower fraction of income than the poor do, […]
Industrial robots can have a transformative effect on employment and wages. This column studies how the rise of robot capital has influenced wage polarisation across different occupations in the US. It finds that the substitutability between robots and labour is heterogeneous across occupations, and particularly strong in production and material-moving jobs. Robotisation has led to […]
The prospect of stricter climate regulations may prompt some firms to scale back operations due to expected declines in demand and rising production costs from carbon taxes, while others might ramp up investment to exploit resources and secure profits before the regulations hit. This column leverages variation in climate change exposure within the industry to […]
It is increasingly popular for cities to exempt clean cars from congestion pricing tolls. This column uses data from Stockholm to show that congestion pricing with exemptions for alternative vehicles can reduce traffic while incentivising green vehicle adoption, However, these exemptions are best employed when there are few existing electric vehicles on the road. Road […]
