Economics
Cuba’s reforms need more power to attract investment
Cuba has undergone reforms during Raul Castro’s presidency, but they continue to progress slowly and lack substance. Still, the atmosphere is right for Cuba to make some improvements to its
Tough times ahead for Tajikistan
Tajikistan’s year ahead is fraught with political and economic risk, even as the nation hopes to join the Eurasian Union, which launches in 2015. Border disputes with the neighboring post-Soviet
Norway’s falling housing prices threaten growth
Negative prognoses based on falling housing prices may not, in fact, spell disaster for the Norway’s economy. Yet, dependency on oil is a continuous policy problem that the new government
Growth prospects are strong for Australia
Despite discouraging news towards the end of 2013, the prospects for the Australian economy are strong for 2014. However, dependence on continued Chinese growth and a potential housing bubble may
For soft landing, China must tackle debt-to-GDP ratio
China passed multiple economic hurdles in 2013, but there are more challenges to come. A sustainable debt-to-growth ratio will be the key issue to tackle in 2014. China showed the
Russia invests in Far East to prevent Chinese influence
Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to celebrate the New Year in the Russian Far East. Fear of Chinese influence has prompted another sign of the “Pivot Eastward” that Putin has pledged
2014: a balance between global optimism and latent risks
The World economy is on the mend, but recovery will not happen everywhere at the same pace. Here are some of the risks that will play a large role in
East African Community moves toward a single currency
The East African Community (EAC) signed a Monetary Union Protocol at the end of last year, putting it on track to introduce a single currency by 2024. The East African Community,
What to watch for in Latin America in 2014
The relationship in Latin America between governments and business in 2014 will be defined primarily by the interaction of democracy and natural resource economics. Here is an overview of key
Expiration of jobless benefits poses growth risk to US economy
With benefits for the long-term unemployed ending at the beginning of 2014, forecasters are downgrading US growth projections. For 1.3 million long-term unemployed workers in the US, 2014 starts with
