International
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
Sanctions on Russia also hit foreign investment
On 28 April 2014, the U.S. launched its third round of sanctions on Russia, aimed at President Vladimir Putin’s cronies and their businesses. As the situation continues to deteriorate, investors
Is South Sudan a game-changer in China’s foreign policy?
China’s active bid for South Sudan’s peace deal may mark a shift away from its traditional ‘non-interference’ foreign policy towards a more proactive role in global politics. Despite China’s unprecedented rise
Iran-U.S. relations improving despite nomination setback
Iran-U.S. relations turned especially reactive in April 2014. But buried beneath the tough rhetoric and diplomatic posturing are indications of long-term potential for improved relations. After this tumultuous month of diplomacy,
Four Countries that beat the resource curse
Four countries that have successfully navigated the potential pitfalls of natural resource wealth provide examples of how best to avoid falling victim to the “paradox of plenty.” A quick look
Transnistria is another fracture in Ukraine crisis
As the European Union and United States negotiate with Russia over the situation in Ukraine, another disputed territory is attracting international attention. With the tension escalating in eastern Ukraine and Moldova
At 50 years UNCTAD struggles to stay relevant
UNCTAD has been essential to setting the economic agenda of developing countries for much of the past half century. Yet, in the face of globalization and difficulties in consensus-building, it
EU takes steps toward energy independence from Russia
With recent events in Ukraine strongly affecting security relations between the West and Russia, both Brussels and Moscow are increasing efforts to reduce their mutual energy-financial dependency. European energy dependency
Sanctions against Russia cause greater capital inflows to Brazil
The Russian Federation’s actions in the Crimea continue to reverberate throughout the world. Far away from Eastern Europe, even Brazil is likely to feel the effects of Russian choices as short-term
Part II of IV: Why economics, not politics, should steer energy subsidies
The first part in this series examined why energy subsidies still widely exist, despite a growing consensus arguing for their removal. This section will look at their economic cost and
