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Economy Featured Finance Politics World

Uncertain times in Lebanon: How policy shocks ripple through MENA markets

Despite its small size, Lebanon’s chronic crises send financial shockwaves across the Middle East and North Africa. This column uses a Twitter-based index of economic policy uncertainty to track Lebanon’s instability and shows that it transmits financial shocks to seven MENA economies, with spillovers are strongest for Egypt, Jordan, and smaller Gulf states. Real-time policy […]

Covid-19 Featured Lifestyle

State aid in times of crisis: Lessons from COVID-19 support for firms in Italy and Spain

The unprecedented wave of state aid to firms across the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic raised questions about who benefited and how effective these interventions were. This column uses firm-level data from Spain and Italy – two of the countries worst affected by the pandemic – to evaluate the economic impact of aid. Targeted support […]

trade Economy Featured News World

The Great Wall of Chinese goods: The effect of tariff-induced re-rerouting on euro area consumer prices

Tariffs affect both supply and demand, possibly with contrasting effects on prices. This column shows that renewed US-China tensions could redirect Chinese exports to the euro area, boosting supply and lowering prices. Using detailed trade and inflation data, it estimates that such diversion could cut core euro area inflation by 0.3 percentage points over two […]

Economy Development Environment Featured

Charting a smarter ocean future for Thailand

Thailand’s coastal and marine resources are vital engines of growth. From pristine beaches that attract millions of tourists each year to the Eastern Economic Corridor that supports production and trade, the country’s “blue economy” involving 23 coastal provinces is estimated to contribute around 30 percent of  Thailand’s GDP and one-fourth of the nation’s employment. As Thailand […]

World Economy Featured News trade

Trump’s tariffs: Disregarding lessons from history and scenarios and probable outcomes

History is full of evidence that tariffs harm economic performance. This column assesses the two waves of globalisation in modern history and how they were interrupted by barriers to trade. The first wave started in the mid-19th century and lasted until WWI, while the second wave started after WWII and lasted until the Global Crisis […]

trade Business Economy Featured Finance

US goods trade deficit narrows sharply in April as imports plunge

The goods trade gap contracted 46.0% to $87.6 billion last month, the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau said on Friday The U.S. trade deficit in goods narrowed sharply in April as the boost from the front-running of imports ahead of tariffs faded. The goods trade gap contracted 46.0% to $87.6 billion last month, the Commerce Department’s […]

World Featured Finance News

Chinese banks and their EMDE borrowers

Although Chinese banks have remained the top lenders to emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs), their growth has slowed and their lending patterns have changed since the pandemic. This column shows that while cross-border lending by Chinese banks to their EMDE borrowers was highly correlated with bilateral trade flows between both countries prior to the […]

trade Banking Business Featured Finance

Saudi Aramco signs preliminary agreements worth up to $90 billion with US companies

Saudi Aramco has signed 34 preliminary agreements with major U.S. companies, potentially worth as much as $90 billion, the oil giant said on Wednesday. The deals highlight deepening U.S.-Saudi commercial ties as the kingdom pushes ahead to diversify its economy and attract foreign investment. The agreements span liquid natural gas, fuels, chemicals, emission-reduction technologies and artificial […]