Economics
Bhutan rests hopes for economy on new PM
In the years following Bhutan’s political reform, the country’s economy and infrastructure still lag behind. Heavily dependent on India for aid, Bhutan must attract more foreign investment and strengthen its
Resurgence of MFN clauses in contracts and treaties
Most favored nation clauses have been around for centuries. Perhaps because of their increasing popularity, however, governments and the public are starting to question how well they work. What do
Syrian refugees pressure Lebanon’s fragile economy
Syrian refugees are spilling over into Lebanon, with over a million people having fled to the neighbouring country. A significant number anywhere, its impact is especially strong in tiny Lebanon, causing
India’s domestic whiskey industry difficult to tap
India remains the world’s largest consumer of whiskey, an industry worth about $10 billion. Foreign whiskey brands, however, have struggled to capture the market due to a complicated federal tax structure, high import duties and
Haiti and Dominican Republic struggle to cooperate
Haiti and the Dominican Republic have been working to repair bilateral relations in the wake of the Dominican Republic’s new citizenship law. As Haiti deals with its own political paralysis,
Erdogan undermines Turkish Central Bank’s autonomy
On 30 April, the Governor of Turkey’s Central Bank, Erdem Basci, announced an interest rate cut in the near future, but specified neither number nor schedule. The announcement came a week after reaffirming the Bank’s
Armed conflict, stalled bureaucracy limit Colombia’s economic growth
Global Risk Insights has reported that the largest problem for Venezuela’s PDVSA and Mexico’s Pemex is falling oil production. Now, another South American country, Colombia, has also reported a decrease in oil
Is Myanmar a new El Dorado for foreign investors?
Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) moved from a 50-year-long military regime to budding civilian rule in 2011. The political transformation has initiated social and market reforms and has piqued foreign investors’ interest in
Billions at stake for U.S. retailers in online sales tax debate
Lobbying efforts by brick-and-mortar stores to charge online sales tax could be a big blow to the e-retailer Amazon. One of the key advantages of Amazon.com’s business model is being
Debunking US unemployment numbers
Do not mistake a rosy Bureau of Labor Statistics report for something that it is not. The unemployment rate did decrease in April, but only because 800,000 people exited the labour
