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Lord Waverley: The Shackles That (Still) Bind International Trade
The ‘Problématique’ Notwithstanding the continued march of globalism, cross-border global trade remains plagued by multiple barriers. These impede economic development, particularly in emerging market (EM) economies, and for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). EMs account for over 85% of the
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Hans Peter Lankes, IFC: IFC’s Development Impact, One Market at a Time
Having worked in the international financial institutions for much of my career, I’m a big believer in the power that development institutions have in building a bridge between the government and the private sector. That philosophy underpins the International Finance
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Emmanuel Macron: Perfect Timing
The fate of the European Union may well rest on his shoulders. Front-runner in the French election campaign, Emmanuel Macron (39) is widely expected – but not guaranteed – to trash Marine Le Pen in the May 7 run-off for
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G20: Challenges in Shaping an Interconnected World
Expertly ducking a potentially traumatic Trump (hand)shake by shooting past the US president to his wife Melania, Polish first lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda perhaps unwittingly set the tone for the annual G20 summit – showing Mr Trump his place in the
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Angela Merkel: Leader of the Free World
Playing nice gets results. Just ask Angela Merkel who became the undisputed leader of the free world after the US elevated a rather rude businessman to the presidency. Mrs Merkel’s phone manners are also much more effective. Instead of hanging
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UK: Casino Politics
In a triumph of cautious optimism over alarmist gloom, UK voters delivered Prime Minister Theresa May a comeuppance of sorts, depriving her of an outright majority in parliament and refusing to buy into Tory visions of strong and stable leadership
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Otaviano Canuto & Matheus Cavallari, World Bank: Bloated Central Bank Balance Sheets
Central banks of large advanced and many emerging market economies have recently gone through a period of extraordinary expansion of their balance sheets and are all now possibly facing a transition to less abnormal times. However, the fact that one
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France: Touch and Go
So far this year, Europe’s centre ground has held firm – sort of. After Dutch populist Geert Wilders in March failed to significantly expand his following, French voters on Sunday rejected Marine Le Pen in the decisive round of the
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Article 50 Invoked: For All the Wrong Reasons
Driving a wedge right down the middle of British society and shattering a disconcerting number of endearing stereotypes, Brexit has now been served – fully nine months after a slim majority of voters expressed a wish to leave the European
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DeVere Group: Decisive Move Into Private and Investment Banking
One of the world’s largest financial consultancy services providers has moved into banking. Late last year, deVere Group acquired the St Lucia branch of Arton Bank in order to gain a foothold in private banking, and earlier this month the
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