Investment will be key for continuing Polish growth

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Interest Rates ◽  
Private Consumption ◽  
Foreign Currency ◽  
Public Investment ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Fiscal Deficit ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reform Agenda ◽  
Low Interest Rates ◽  
The Government

Subject The second phase of the government's reform agenda. Significance The closing months of 2016 promise to be busy as the government pushes several pieces of legislation through parliament, in line with election promises. These include the long-awaited bill on converting foreign-currency mortgages denominated in Swiss francs and a revised budget for 2017. Impacts The fiscal deficit is likely to be contained within the EU's 3% limit in 2016-17 but rise beyond that threshold in 2018. Until infrastructure-led investment takes effect, low interest rates and a strong labour market may help private consumption support growth. As more state-owned companies look to invest in ageing infrastructure, public investment will become a key growth driver after 2018.

Pandemic will take heavy economic toll in Colombia

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Central Bank ◽  
Interest Rates ◽  
Economic Impacts ◽  
Fiscal Deficit ◽  
Slow Recovery ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fiscal Incentives ◽  
Second Year ◽  
The Government

Significance This has triggered a series of economic setbacks. The economy showed modest growth in the first quarter of 2020 before plummeting 15.7% in the second, year-on-year. Various industries and sectors have all but ground to a halt. Unemployment reached 20.3% in the second quarter. Impacts Fiscal incentives implemented by the government to mitigate the pandemic’s economic impacts will widen Colombia’s fiscal deficit. Interest rates will probably drop further as the Central Bank tries to add liquidity into the economy. Fiscal pressures imply a slow recovery for the economy in coming years, rolling back two decades of social improvements.

Policy will strain the German pension system

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Interest Rates ◽  
Pension System ◽  
Pension Reform ◽  
Government Policies ◽  
Occupational Pension ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Low Interest Rates ◽  
Old Age Poverty ◽  
The Government ◽  
Pension Liabilities

Subject Germany’s pension system. Significance The pension system is under increasing pressure from demographic change, low interest rates and generous government policies. Impacts Increasing tax liabilities on pension incomes could increase the prevalence of old-age poverty. Rising pension liabilities in the occupational pension pillar could dampen business investment in years ahead. The question of pension reform could be the undoing of the government when the coalition parties meet to evaluate their work in late 2019.

Swiss economic growth is set to accelerate this year

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Interest Rates ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Private Consumption ◽  
Private Investment ◽  
Gdp Growth ◽  
Consumption Growth ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Low Interest Rates ◽  
Economic Outlook

Subject Economic outlook for Switzerland. Significance Switzerland’s GDP growth disappointed in the first quarter of 2017: it increased by 0.3% on a quarterly and 1.1% on a yearly basis, held back by weak private consumption growth. However, exports rebounded after the long blight of the 2015 franc appreciation shock. Impacts Private consumption should improve after stagnating in 2015-16, benefiting from the labour market recovery. Low interest rates are likely to boost private investment. Chemicals, pharmaceuticals, engineering, electrics and the watch-making industry are likely to benefit from the expected revival in exports. Inflation is likely to average around 0.4% in 2017 and 2018.

Russian economic planners face investment squeeze

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Interest Rates ◽  
Development Strategy ◽  
Government Spending ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Public Investment ◽  
Domestic Investment ◽  
Bond Yields ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Strategic Goals ◽  
The Government

Significance Forecasts of modest GDP growth next year assume a recovery in domestic investment, driven primarily by government spending to deliver a six-year growth and development strategy. Impacts Rising yields on government debt next year may disrupt plans for new issuance. Higher bond yields will add to pressure to raise interest rates. Restricted public borrowing will reduce funds available for public investment. The government is promising more rigorous methods for quantifying strategic goals, but only by end-2019.

El Salvador majority to ease external funding access

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Interest Rates ◽  
Private Consumption ◽  
Separation Of Powers ◽  
Oil Prices ◽  
Economic Recovery ◽  
External Funding ◽  
National Unity ◽  
Checks And Balances ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Low Interest Rates

Significance The five seats obtained by its allies, the Gran Alianza por la Unidad Nacional (Grand Alliance for National Unity) will cement the majority further. This concentration of power will improve the government’s ability to implement policies, but may jeopardise El Salvador's separation of powers and political checks and balances. Impacts Concerns about democratic and media freedoms may increase as Bukele strengthens his position. Prices will pick up this year, fuelled by recovering demand, higher oil prices and low interest rates. Remittances will remain resilient on the back of US economic recovery, supporting strengthening private consumption.

The problems facing agricultural sector in Zanzibar and the prospects of Waqf-Muzar’ah-supply chain model

Humanomics ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Issa Salim Moh’d ◽  
Mustafa Omar Mohammed ◽  
Buerhan Saiti
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Interest Rates ◽  
Financial Models ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Chain Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Interest ◽  
Supply Chain Model ◽  
The Government ◽  
Clove Industry

Purpose This paper aims to identify the appropriate model to address the financial challenges in agricultural sector in Zanzibar. Since the middle of 1960, clove production has continually and significantly decreased because of some problems and challenges that include financial ones. The financial intermediaries such as banks, cooperatives and micro-enterprises provide micro-financing to the farmers with high interest rates along with collateral requirements. The numerous programmes, measures and policies adopted by the relevant parties to find out the solutions to the dwindling clove production have failed. Design/methodology/approach The authors will review and examine several existing financial models, identify the issues and challenges of the current financial models and propose an appropriate Islamic financing model. Findings The numerous programmes, measures and policies adopted by the relevant parties to find out the solutions to the dwindling clove production have failed. This study, therefore, proposed a Waqf-Muzara’ah-supply chain model to address the financial challenge. Partnership arrangement is also suggested in the model to mitigate the issues of high interest rates and collateral that constrains the financial ability of the farmers and their agricultural output. Originality/value The contribution of the agricultural sector to the economic development of Zanzibar Islands is considerable. As one of the important agricultural sectors, the clove industry was the economic backbone of the government of Zanzibar. This study is believed to be a pioneering work; hence, it is the first study that investigates empirically the challenges facing the clove industry in Zanzibar.

Australia budget keeps defence spending commitments

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
Interest Rates ◽  
Fiscal Year ◽  
National Politics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Defence Spending ◽  
Low Interest Rates ◽  
Defence Expenditure ◽  
Conducive Environment ◽  
Made In

Significance With an election due soon, the governing Liberal-National Coalition’s pledge to ring-fence the defence spending commitments made in 2016 was under some pressure. However, defence spending in fiscal year 2021/22 will grow by over 4% in real terms and stay above the symbolic level of 2% of GDP. Impacts Growing popular and bipartisan concern with Chinese aggression is a conducive environment for increased defence spending. Low interest rates and a stronger Australian dollar are also supporting sustained levels of defence expenditure. Washington may increase pressure on Australia to conduct freedom of navigation exercises in the South China Sea. Major business groups are concerned that increased criticism of China in national politics will produce yet more punitive backlash.

Australian central bank holds rate as growth slips

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Central Bank ◽  
Interest Rates ◽  
Labour Markets ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Commercial Lenders ◽  
The Government ◽  
Roll Out ◽  
Growth Forecasts

Significance The RBA has cut its growth forecasts amid rising job losses, weakening demand and increasing signs that the latest COVID-19 lockdowns will continue to slow the economy until the pace of the vaccine roll-out programme can be increased. Impacts Although the RBA is independent, the government will hope it keeps rates low ahead of the elections due next year. Commercial lenders could raise interest rates independently of the RBA if inflation remains high. Wage pressures will re-emerge as labour markets tighten but may be mitigated by the extent of underemployment. Economic growth will be uneven across the country in coming months as pandemic-related restrictions vary by location.

Assessing vulnerability of informal floating workers in Bangladesh before and during COVID-19 pandemic: a multi-method analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shafiqul Alam ◽  
Ziaul Haq Adnan ◽  
Mohammed Abdul Baten ◽  
Surajit Bag
Keyword(s):  
Social Protection ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Decent Work ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Informal Workers ◽  
Work Concept ◽  
The Government

PurposeGlobally, a myriad of floating workers is in grave jeopardy due to the ceasing of employment opportunities that resulted from the mobility restriction during the Covid-19. Despite the global concern, developing countries have been suffering disproportionately due to the dominance of informal workers in their labour market, posing the necessity to campaign for the immediate protection of this vulnerable population. This paper analyses various dimensions of the vulnerability of urban floating workers in the context of Covid-19 in Bangladesh. In reference to International Labour Organization's (ILO) “Decent Work” concept, this paper endeavours to examine floating workers' vulnerability using the insider-outsider framework in context to Covid-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, data were collected before the pandemic to assess the vulnerability of the informal floating workers. Later, we extended the study to the second phase during the Covid-19 pandemic to understand how pandemic affects the lives and livelihood of floating workers. In phase one, data were collected from a sample of 342 floating workers and analysed based on job security, wages, working environment, psychological wellbeing and education to understand the vulnerability of floating workers. In phase two, 20 in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted, followed by thematic analysis to explore how the pandemic affects the existing vulnerability of floating workers.FindingsVarious social protection schemes were analysed to evaluate their effectiveness in reducing the vulnerability of floating workers facing socio-economic crises. The study has found that the pandemic has multiplied the existing vulnerability of the floating workers on many fronts that include job losses, food crisis, shelter insecurity, education, social, physical and mental wellbeing. In response to the pandemic, the Government stimulus packages and Non-government Covid-19 initiatives lack the appropriate system, magnitude, and focus on protecting the floating workers in Bangladesh.Practical implicationsThis paper outlines various short-term interventions and long-term policy prescriptions to safeguard floating workers' lives and livelihood from the ongoing Corona pandemic and unforeseen uncertainties.Originality/valueThis paper is the first of its kind that aims at understanding the vulnerability of this significant workforce in Bangladesh, taking the whole picture of Government and Non-government initiatives during Covid-19.

Low interest rate environment: inventory management in Finland and Baltic states

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olli-Pekka Hilmola ◽  
Weidong Li ◽  
Andres Tolli
Keyword(s):  
Interest Rate ◽  
Interest Rates ◽  
Customer Service ◽  
Inventory Management ◽  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Recent Decade ◽  
Baltic States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Low Interest Rates ◽  
Rate Environment

PurposeFor decades, it was emphasized that manufacturing and trading companies should aim to be lean with very small inventories. However, in the recent decade, time-significant change has taken place as nearly all of the “old west” countries have now low interest rates. Holding inventories have been beneficial for the sake of customer service and for achieving savings in transportation and fixed ordering costs.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, inventory management change is examined in publicly traded manufacturing and trade companies of Finland and three Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) during the years 2010–2018.FindingsInventory efficiency has been leveled off or falling in these countries and mostly declining development has concerned small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It is also found that inventory efficiency is in general lower in SMEs than in larger companies. Two companies sustaining in inventory efficiency are used as an example that lean has still significance, and higher inventories as well as lower inventory efficiency should not be the objective. Two companies show exemplary financial performance as well as shareholder value creation.Research limitations/implicationsWork concerns only four smaller countries, and this limits its generalization power. Research is one illustration what happens to private sector companies under low interest rate policies.Practical implicationsContinuous improvement of inventory efficiency becomes questionable in the light of current research and the low interest rate environment.Originality/valueThis is one of the seminal studies from inventory efficiency as the global financial crisis taken place in 2008–2009 and there is the implementation of low interest rates.

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