Latest Insights
The end of NAFTA? Perspectives from Mexico, Canada, and the US
24 years ago, on the 1st of January 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between Mexico, the United States, and Canada came into force superseding the former Trade Agreement between Canada and the United States.
Peru’s democracy is at stake in Vizcarra’s anti-corruption crusade
As yet another corruption scandal reverberates through Peru, if new president Martín Vizcarra fails to lead the country past the wrongdoing that has plagued its government for decades, Peru could fall into a democratic crisis.
The Energy Briefing: Despite Caspian Sea agreement, obstacles to Trans-Caspian pipeline remain
On August 12, Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan reached an agreement on the legal status of the Caspian Sea. In particular, the treaty removes a legal barrier to building a Trans-Caspian gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to Europe. However, several obstacles to the construction of the pipeline remain.
Euroscepticism in the Czech Republic: A Central European disaster waiting to happen, or hot air?
The rise of Euroscepticism in Central Europe has been well documented, particularly in the Czech Republic. Among the nations of the Visegrad Four, anti-EU sentiments have long provided easy fuel for political actors willing to appeal to populist instincts to secure political power. But will this result in a ‘Czexit’?
The Energy Briefing: Will US gas exports to Europe surge?
As US LNG exports have increased, policymakers on both sides of the Atlantic have viewed them as a way to decrease Europe’s dependence on Russian natural gas. However, their ultimate success will be determined by market dynamics. At the moment, these dynamics generally favor Gazprom’s continued dominance.
The outlook for Costa Rica’s electric vehicle revolution
Costa Rica has introduced tax incentives for the electrical vehicle industry, which is likely to experience exponential growth in the next two decades. Risks to investors nonetheless remain.
FYROM referendum: The risks of a ‘no’ vote
The FYROM referendum will take place on the 30th September 2018. If the electorate votes ‘no’, the question becomes – will the government will comply?
How market-friendly are Brazil’s presidential candidates? Part II
The 2018 presidential election is set to be the “election of hope” for the people of the country, but so far the race is wide open. GRI’s Lorena Valente revisits the candidates and how their views on the economy have evolved in recent months – or not.
The Security Briefing: Libya, Lebanon, and Italy’s new defense minister
The latest Security Briefing from GRI Senior Analyst Nicolò Donà dalle Rose focuses on the appointment of Italy’s new Minister of Defense and its impact on Italian involvement in Libya and Lebanon, as well as Italy’s broader foreign policy stance.
Italian government bond sell-off limits room for populist spending
The recent bond market sell-off reinforced concerns that investors have over the government’s spending plans. The Italian government is now likely to delay its plan to increase spending, in order to calm market jitters caused by the exposure of domestic banks to sovereign debt.

