Economic Corner

In this year-end edition of the Economic Brief, we explore three themes shaping the close of 2025: the US vision for global order, the fragile interplay between markets and monetary policy, and the promises and pitfalls of artificial intelligence. A world without universal values? The US strategic lens The latest National Security Strategy published by the White House in November offers a candid view of how it interprets international relations. Gone are the references to multilateral institutions and universal values

In this edition of the Economic Brief, we examine three pressing themes shaping the global economic narrative: the erosion of traditional safe havens in financial markets, the widening productivity gap between Europe and the United States, and the regulatory trade-offs that could define Europe’s future. Debasement: a crisis of confidence in safe havens For over a year, financial markets have shown signs of what analysts call the ‘debasement trade’, a growing distrust of assets historically considered safe during turbulent times,

In this edition of the Economic Brief, we explore three major themes shaping the global economic landscape: the uncertain impact of US trade policy, the productivity puzzle in the age of AI and the growing disconnect between financial markets and economic fundamentals. Let’s take a look. US trade policy: who’s really paying the price? Six months after the so-called ‘Liberation Day’, US trade policy remains in flux. Despite repeated threats, including a recent proposal to impose 100% tariffs on pharmaceutical

In this edition of the Economic Brief, we explore three key developments shaping the economic landscape: the erosion of European corporate confidence in China, the paradoxical movements in European long-term interest rates, and the implications of Germany’s weakening economic status. Let’s dive in. European firms in China: confidence crisis Over the past decade, European companies operating in China have seen a marked deterioration in confidence. Once buoyed by low labour costs and vast market potential, firms now face a more

In this edition of the Economic Brief, we touch on the three d’s: deficits, duties and debts. We will see how government spending continues to the rise in the US, despite a burgeoning deficit; what the impact of Trump’s customs duties is on global trade; and how debt levels are developing globally. Let’s dive in. Federal government spending still rising Sources: Accuracy, US Treasury US federal spending continues to rise, and its deficit is reaching monumental levels. Despite the frenetic

As the first month of Trump’s second presidency comes to a close, let’s take a look at how the rest of the world perceived his return to power. A poll undertaken in November 2024 by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), a think tank, resulted in a number of fascinating findings. When asked whether Trump’s return would be good or bad for Americans, the majority of respondents answered in the affirmative, particularly so in India and Saudi Arabia. Somewhat