2 December 2017 In a swanky Washington restaurant in 1974, economist Arthur Laffer presented Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld (future VP and US Secretary of Defence) a doodle on the back of a napkin. What appeared was a diagram of the now infamous “Laffer Curve”. The graph depicts the relationship between tax rates and tax … Continue reading US Tax Reform: Panacea or a Risk too Far?
President Trump will use his Asia trip to discuss America's swollen trade deficits with the region. Trade imbalances are caused by macro factors: America saves too little, Asia saves too much. This Chart, however, does indicate that America's penetration of some key Asian markets is far lower than their access to the US market. China … Continue reading Can Trump Pry Open Asian Markets?
2 November 2017 Despite the flare up of dangerous geopolitical risks, Asian assets have performed exceptionally well in 2017. Indeed, after years of underperformance, the 28% gain in Asian equity markets is twice that of the S&P500. Likewise, shrugging off initial concerns after last year’s US election, most of the region’s currencies have appreciated handsomely … Continue reading Asia: Coping With Trump, China, and the Fed
US Cities Tackle Climate Change Despite President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, American cities and states recognise the costs of climate change/ This analysis analyses the specific plans US mayors are pursuing to address key issues such as electricity, buildin design, transporation and more.