Economic growth in Europe continues to lag behind that of the US, largely due to smaller productivity gains. This column uses a general equilibrium model to show that a more integrated capital market in Europe could strengthen investment by reducing the cost of capital (price effect) and encouraging the entry of investors more inclined to […]
Africa is bracing for a consumer and manufacturing boom. It won’t come with the snap of a finger. The continent must first navigate a gauntlet of challenges from patchy infrastructure and fragmented markets to skills gaps and inconsistent regulation. But the potential is undeniable—and the stakes could hardly be higher. By 2050, the continent’s headcount […]
As disasters grow more frequent and severe, the need for fast, reliable information in the immediate aftermath has never been greater. Governments, development partners and humanitarian agencies need to quickly understand the scale and nature of the impact so they can take informed action, mobilize resources and support recovery. Yet, traditional damage assessments can take […]
The facility will consist of USD and euro loans. VFS Global, the Zurich and Dubai headquartered provider of outsourced visa and consular services, is looking to raise the equivalent of $2 billion in term loans to refinance an existing debt and pay fees and expenses. The financing will be split in US dollar and euro […]
GCC lenders account for 30% of USD issuances by EM banks this year. Debt issuances by banks in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are set to remain strong through 2026 after exceeding $60 billion so far this year, Fitch Ratings said in a new report. Excluding certificates of deposit (CDs), issuances will hit $40 billion […]
The final orderbook is in excess of $1.65bln, excluding JLM interest. Saudi Arabia’s Bank AlJazira, rated A3 (stable) / A-(stable) by Moody’s and Fitch, has priced its dollar-denominated, benchmark perpetual non-call 5.5-year AT1 sukuk on par, with a profit rate of 6.5% and a reset margin of +284.7 bps. The price was marginally tightened from […]
Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector grew by 2% in the second quarter from a year earlier. Sri Lanka’s economy grew 4.9% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2025, official data showed on Monday, indicating a strengthening recovery from its worst financial crisis in decades. Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector grew by 2% in the second quarter from […]
The 2025 US tariff increases varied significantly across most economies. This column argues that the economic impact of these tariffs will also not be uniform. Using a multi-sector, multi-region computable general equilibrium model, it estimates that US real GDP will decrease by around 4%, and that larger adverse impacts are expected in Canada and Mexico. […]
The World Bank has long recognized the critical importance of agricultural extension services – ranging from training and data to technology transfer – which make up the second-largest share of its agriculture portfolio. Yet farmers have often been slow to adopt the very methods and tools these services are designed to deliver—limiting their own productivity and […]
In 2021, China’s electronics exports exceeded those of the other five leading exporters combined. This column analyses the rise of China as a centre for electronics manufacturing. It argues that the key drivers of growth were intense competition, education that facilitated technology transfer, and infrastructure development. However, China’s nonlinear innovation model also leaves it dependent […]
