Global cooperation shows resilience despite geopolitical headwinds
The 2026 Barometer indicates that the overall level of cooperation has largely been unchanged in recent years but the composition of cooperation appears to be
Demystifying trade patterns in a fragmenting world
It has been argued that ‘connector’ countries can benefit from trade tensions by bridging the gap between trade blocs. This column examines trade flows of
The impact of uncertainty on corporate borrowing in the euro area
Uncertainty in the global economy has been elevated following trade tariff disputes, economic policy changes, and geopolitical risks. This column examines the impact of uncertainty
Rerouted, not reduced: How withholding taxes shape global services trade
Global services trade is expanding rapidly, but its intangible nature makes it a prime channel for profit shifting, prompting many countries to apply withholding taxes.
Capital cities lead, while other cities lag in the EU
It is widely assumed that cities are the engines driving national and regional growth. This column analyses productivity dynamics across metropolitan regions in Europe over
Reforming international taxation: Balancing profit shifting and investment responses
The global minimum tax represents the most ambitious international effort in decades to curb profit shifting to tax havens. But how much profit shifting actually
Tariff avoidance and import measurement: Lessons from the first US-China trade war
Until 2018, the US-China trade data gap was in line with the discrepancies found in the bilateral trade data of China and its other partners,
No, the EU does not impose a 45% tariff on itself
A recent paper which has gathered significant attention estimates a 45% tariff equivalent of intra-EU border costs. This column argues that this estimate is likely
Gold climbs 2% on Fed rate cut as investors weigh US-China trade talks
Spot gold climbed 1.3% to $3,980.00 per ounce as of 1109 GMT. U.S. gold futures for December delivery slipped 0.2% to $3,991.50 per ounce. Gold
As Trump-Xi trade talks near, investors turn to history as a guide
Even if the Trump-Xi meeting does not produce a definitive end to their trade war, investors are prepared to buy into any de-escalation in tensions.
