Iran's new parliament will facilitate reform agenda

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Reform ◽  
Presidential Election ◽  
Foreign Relations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reform Agenda ◽  
The Government ◽  
International Engagement

Significance The successes of forces supportive of the government and the heavy losses incurred by the government's most vocal conservative opponents represent a strong endorsement of the nuclear deal and signal a comeback for reformist forces following the disputed 2009 presidential election. Impacts Rouhani is highly likely to be re-elected in the 2017 presidential race. Parliament will be much more supportive of implementation of the nuclear agreement and Rouhani's economic reform agenda. This gives Rouhani better prospects of steering the country's economy and foreign relations towards greater international engagement.

Politics set to slow Pakistan's divestment drive

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Economic Reform ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Structural Reforms ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reform Agenda ◽  
Political Patronage ◽  
The Government ◽  
Core Condition

Subject Pakistan's divestment drive. Significance Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's government describes divestment of public sector enterprises (PSEs), involving 69 firms, as an essential part of its 2013-18 economic reform agenda. Progress thus far is limited, but the government faces rising pressure from the IMF, which made divestment a core condition of its 6.6-billion-dollar, three-year loan in September 2013. Impacts Another government led by Sharif would continue gradual divestments after 2018. Since PSEs are an important vector for distributing political patronage, structural reforms will face stiff resistance. Divestment of profitable PSEs defeats the purpose of the exercise, but the government will use them for a short-term cash boost.

USMCA could influence future trade deals’ focus

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Reform ◽  
Presidential Election ◽  
Donald Trump ◽  
Rules Of Origin ◽  
Trade Reform ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reform Agenda ◽  
Trade Frictions ◽  
Trade Deals

Significance US President Donald Trump has left the Trans-Pacific Partnership and escalated trade frictions with China. The USMCA, by contrast, shows a trade deal renegotiated, the implementation of which will be watched for its implications for other US trade activity, especially with the presidential election coming in November. Impacts COVID-19 disruptions mean some aspects of the USMCA, such as rules of origin, will be delayed. If Trump is re-elected, he will continue his tariff-driven efforts to secure Chinese economic reform for US firms. Biden would aspire to strengthen US-Asian trade ties but would focus first on smoothing trade with existing partners. China and neighbours should assume a Mexican challenge to their production, especially of autos, steel and textiles. Trump will tout the USMCA as evidence his trade reform agenda works.

Pension reform could derail France’s Macron

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Reform ◽  
Euro Area ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Pension Reform ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reform Agenda ◽  
Innovation Fund ◽  
Business Confidence ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Eu

Subject Macron’s economic reform agenda. Significance President Emmanuel Macron views his reforms through the prism of power: by strengthening the economy, he hopes to win credibility with Germany, whose support he needs to reform the EU and euro-area. However, the apparent ease of his labour regulations reform in September does not diminish the risk of his next two targets: unemployment benefits and pensions. Impacts With a shrinking share of euro-area exports, France will see limited benefit from the stronger global economy. Business confidence may increase if the government eases the regulatory burden on medium-to-large businesses. Financing an innovation fund by selling off some state assets will take time and likely have little impact on confidence.

Ethiopia’s homegrown economic reforms face challenges

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Reform ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Income Country ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reform Agenda ◽  
Low Income Country ◽  
Debt Burden ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Government

Subject Outlook for Ethiopia's economic reform agenda. Significance The government has launched a “Homegrown Economic Reform” agenda, which aims to transform Ethiopia from a largely agrarian low-income country to an industrialised lower-middle-income country by 2030. This will require the private sector to take charge of growth amid waning public sector financing capacity. However, significant economic liberalisation within this timeframe is unrealistic given the entrenched nature of the old command economy. Impacts Ethiopia has overtaken Angola as Sub-Saharan Africa’s third-largest economy but slowing growth could threaten this new status. The large external debt burden and high import content of the new agenda will curb plans to liberalise the exchange rate. Ethio Telecom and Ethiopian Airlines will be the crown jewels among proposed privatisation offerings.

Zambia’s Patriotic Front faces major election test

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Reform ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chief Justice ◽  
International Donors ◽  
The Government

Significance The country’s economy has been in decline for some time, and the government is increasingly plagued by corruption scandals. Impacts A contested election will likely further undermine the increasingly fraught relationship between Zambia and international donors. New government borrowing to fund populist policies will further complicate economic reform prospects. The replacement of recently deceased Chief Justice Irene Mambilima may become politicised given the courts’ role in resolving poll disputes.

HDZ leader could supplant Croatia's non-party premier

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Public Debt ◽  
Social Situation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reform Agenda ◽  
The Public ◽  
Nationalist Party ◽  
Ethnic Tensions ◽  
The Government ◽  
Uncertain Outcomes

Significance The package could be the government's swan song. One coalition party, the centre-right Bridge (Croatian: Most) of Independent Lists, strongly supported a reform agenda from the beginning, but Croatia's main nationalist party, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), did not. This, in addition to key appointments, has become a major point of dispute between them, blocking decision-making. HDZ leader Tomislav Karamarko has been frustrated in his ambition to control the government and especially the security apparatus. Impacts Political instability could cause further political and ethnic tensions, with uncertain outcomes. Persistent deadlock will worsen Croatia's parlous economic and social situation. Instability could frustrate consolidating Croatia's exit from its six-year recession in 2015 and reducing the public debt from 87% of GDP.

Denmark's weak new government faces complex alliances

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
The Political ◽  
Political Strategy ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
Social Democrats ◽  
Content Type ◽  
People's Party ◽  
Reform Agenda ◽  
The Government ◽  
Political Spectrum ◽  
The Right

Significance The new government will have only 34 of the 179 seats, because policy differences among the right-wing parties, and the political strategy of the electorally strengthened anti-immigration, Euro-sceptic Danish People's Party (DF), mean DF will remain outside. Policy-making will be difficult. The government will be more economically liberal and pro-EU than it would have been with DF, but to make policy it will rely on partners across the political spectrum, especially the ousted Social Democrats -- who remain the largest party -- and DF. Impacts If DF is seen as a welfarist protector of ordinary citizens, it is more likely to repeat, at least, its 22% vote in the next election. The much-tighter immigration regime which is in prospect could taint Denmark's image and make it less attractive to foreign investment. The new government is likely to be an ally for much of UK Prime Minister David Cameron's EU reform agenda.

Crisis may spell end of South Korea's Park presidency

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Reform ◽  
Executive Branch ◽  
Political Crisis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
National Assembly ◽  
Reform Agenda ◽  
Security Clearance ◽  
International Pressure ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Ruling Party

Subject Political crisis in South Korea. Significance President Park Geun-hye, whose leadership has been characterised foremost by scandals and the failure of every major policy initiative, faces her worst crisis yet. She admitted on October 25 to sharing official documents with Choi Sun-sil -- a long-time associate who has no formal post or security clearance. Park sacked all her senior secretaries on October 28, and the next day prosecutors searched the presidential office, and demonstrators called on Park to resign. Yesterday Choi flew back from Germany, where she had been lying low since July, saying she will co-operate with investigations. To opposition outrage, no move was made to arrest her upon arrival. Impacts The crisis is deeply negative for governance, domestically and abroad, especially if lines of authority in Seoul become contested. Park now has no standing left to press any elements of her fraying economic reform agenda. The National Assembly, normally secondary to the executive branch, will become the main locus of power for the time being. Though the ruling party seeks to distance itself, the scandal boosts the opposition's chances of regaining the presidency. The already flagging push (which Park spearheaded) for greater international pressure on Pyongyang will lose further momentum.

Trinidad and Tobago economy improves despite concerns

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Trinidad And Tobago ◽  
Foreign Relations ◽  
Oil Prices ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Policy Reforms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Partnerships ◽  
Terrorism Financing ◽  
The Government ◽  
Economic Outlook

Subject Trinidad and Tobago's economic outlook. Significance After several years of contraction, the Trinidad and Tobago economy is now showing signs of recovery, based on rising natural gas production and an uptick in oil prices. In addition, the government has instituted policy reforms to better control public finances. Efforts are also being made to increase economic cooperation with other countries, but this has been complicated by a mixed picture in terms of foreign relations. Impacts Concerns over Islamist activities and a rise in suspected terrorism financing may mar the economic outlook. Efforts to build new international partnerships may see a rise in some business and infrastructure sectors. Rising gas production and oil prices will boost the hydrocarbons sector.

Kurti’s downfall weakens Kosovo during COVID-19 crisis

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Reform ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Coalition Partner ◽  
The Government

Significance The government had just 50 days in power. LVV’s junior coalition partner, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), initiated the ballot: 82 parliamentarians voted for the motion, including most LDK members, and 32 opposed it, mainly LVV members. Impacts The LVV’s fall from power ends Kosovo’s best hope for political and economic reform since the country broke from Serbia in 1999. The government’s expulsion from office has outraged many, although the COVID-19 lockdown means people cannot take to the streets in protest. The lifting of 100% tariffs has allowed Serbian imports to resume, to the benefit of Serbian exporters and Kosovo consumers.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document