Archive

Back to homepage
Economics South and Central Asia

Kazakh currency devaluation triggers fuel shortage

The devaluation in February of Kazakhstan’s currency, the tenge, could have far-reaching effects on the availability of fuel in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. On February 11, 2014, the National Bank of

Asia Pacific Politics

China’s corruption crackdown leads to Zhou’s arrest

In his fight against corruption, Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to target both “tigers and flies.” But his next target appears to be a tiger, as Zhou Yongkang, one of the

Europe Finance

Islamic finance expands with British sukuk

The British government recently issued its first sukuk, a financial certificate compliant with Islamic law. As Islamic finance becomes more mainstream, other European governments could follow suit. This summer, the British

Asia Pacific Economics

Samsung’s predicament puts South Korea at economic crossroad

With his hospitalization, the family of Lee Kun-hee, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, risks losing management of the company. The South Korea’s National Assembly will soon face a crossroads on Chae-bols, South

Politics South and Central Asia

5 takeaways from Modi’s Red Fort speech

On his first Independence Day speech as India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi acknowledged India’s existing social and economic problems and proposed new policies. Here are 5 aspects of Modi’s Red Fort speech

Middle East/North Africa Politics

How Iran benefits from a ‘New Cold War’

With a ‘New Cold War’ between the U.S. and Russia seemingly in its early stages, Iran has much to gain from the conflict by playing both sides. Remember when Iran

Asia Pacific Economics

Abenomics has a silver lining

Japanese GDP took another tumble in the second quarter, but Abenomics has not been for naught. Although Japanese GDP actually fell by less than analyst expectations in the second quarter,

Asia Pacific Economics

Is China’s economy too big to transform?

China’s growing debt-to-GDP ratio raises concerns for investors. Investment in traditional pollution-heavy and overcapacity-ridden industries is strong, despite many policy tools that help finance more lucrative sectors. Inertia has been haunting China ever

Economics Sub-Saharan Africa

Ebola outbreak takes toll on local economies

The deadly Ebola virus has continued to spread across West Africa, with dire secondary effects on the affected countries’ economies. The deadly Ebola virus made news when it killed Sheikh

Economics Latin America

Colombia risks being caught in middle-income trap

Colombia is becoming a popular Latin American investment market. But if Bogotá wants to grow beyond the middle-income range and become a long term-investment destination, the government will have to emphasize better governance