Asia: Global Growth Engine in 2021

1 December 2020 As the holiday season approaches, much of the world is battling a Second Wave of the Coronavirus. To be sure, world leaders are confronting unprecendented challenges, and tough decisions are required. Throughout the pandemic, many policymakers, as well as members of the media and general public, portray the options as a choice [...]

Emerging Markets: Bracing for More Bad News?

17 April 2020 We have all seen the evidence that investors have deserted Emerging Markets in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Indeed, the following Chart illustrates the liquidation of EM assets has been considerably larger than in past episodes, including the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). As a result, the following Chart illustrates that EM [...]

Covid-19: Korea – A Bit of Good News?

15 March 2020 The news on the Coronavirus continues to be alarming. However, perhaps Korea's experience is beginning to offer a glimmer of hope. Worldometer provides data indicating that the new case count has slowed sharply during the past two weeks (Chart above). To be sure, the number of infected people has not peaked, nor [...]

Asia: Bending, But Not Breaking

22 October 2019 The global economy is slowing. During previous bouts of world-wide economic weakness, Asia has been relied upon as an engine of growth. This time, however, Asian economic activity is also cooling, as the region (and individual countries within the area) confronts both external and domestic challenges. The deepening trade war, of course, [...]