Uruguay's economy will avoid recession, narrowly

Subject The near-term economic outlook. Significance The statist model preferred by the governing Frente Amplio (FA) coalition clashes with the plan designed by President Tabare Vazquez and his economy and foreign ministers, Danilo Astori and Rodolfo Nin Novoa respectively, to try to attract greater inward investment. This adds to intra-coalition tensions after the defection of a centre-left legislator caused the government to lose its congressional majority. Impacts The fear of losing support may help to concentrate FA minds on smoothing over party splits. A new cellulose plant would boost economic growth but not diversification. The economy will avoid recession, but growth will not pick up strongly in the near term.

Subject The economic outlook for Fiji. Significance Fiji has returned to political stability and a degree of international legitimacy in recent years, albeit in a context of poor to moderate economic growth. GDP growth of 4.0 % is forecast for 2015, but the outlook for Fiji's main industries (tourism, gold and services) remains stagnant as aggregate regional demand for resources slumps and Fiji's comparative advantage as a regional services hub erodes. Impacts The government will actively promote FDI to boost Fiji's lacklustre economic growth prospects. The government will promote agriculture and fisheries to provide opportunities for disadvantaged rural and ethnic populations. Foreign investment in tourism will probably increase slowly as demand from Asian countries grows. Fiji's dominance in the South Pacific economy will likely diminish as advances in ICT allow it to be bypassed. Ways must be found to prevent loss of trained and educated personnel if Fiji is to maintain its central role.


Subject Uruguay's political and economic outlook. Significance Vice-President Raul Sendic, elected in November 2014, resigned on September 9 as he faced legal and political questions relating to corruption allegations. His departure is a stain on the leftist government’s ethical credentials but opens up the possibility of improved coordination between the executive and legislature to expedite plans that are delayed or blocked in Congress. It comes as second-quarter data demonstrate economic growth, although public opinion remains gloomy. Impacts Growth will be insufficient to boost employment or consumer confidence this year. Sendic’s resignation was a setback but may have longer-term positive implications for the government. The FA may nevertheless struggle to retain the presidency in 2019, after 15 years in office.


Subject Ugandan economic outlook. Significance Despite having overcome the 2016 election with relatively little economic turbulence, Uganda's growth has since failed to accelerate despite monetary easing. The economy is still vulnerable to external economic shocks. The government is investing in public infrastructure to reduce this weakness in the longer-term. Impacts Selecting, sequencing and implementing choices of large projects will determine the success of public infrastructure investment. Insufficient increases in tax collection will force the government to borrow more from domestic and international markets. Kenya's experience with a new interest rate cap law could influence Uganda's banking regulations.


Subject Georgia's positive economic outlook. Significance GDP is growing and is being spurred on by improved conditions in Georgia's main foreign economic partners. The government is seeking to capitalise on the country's role as a transport hub by investing in infrastructure, promoting a business-friendly environment and concluding free-trade agreements. Impacts Economic stability will be assisted by an emerging political accommodation, although not a full rapprochement, with Russia. Further economic development depends on access to external financing. High external indebtedness is potentially a source of vulnerability, but currently looks manageable.


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.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sreenu Nenavath

Purpose This paper aims to show a long run and causal association between economic growth and transport infrastructure. Design/methodology/approach In this study, the authors use ARDL models through the period 1990 – 2020 to investigate the relationship between transport infrastructure and economic growth in India. Findings The infrastructure has a positive impact on economic growth in India for the long run. Moreover, Granger causality test demonstrates a unidirectional relationship between transport infrastructure to economic development. Stimulatingly, the paper highlights the effect of air infrastructure statistically insignificant on economic growth in the long and short-run period. Originality/value The original outcome from the study delivers an inclusive depiction of determinants of economic growth from transport infrastructure in India, and these findings will help the policymakers to frame policies to improve the transport infrastructure. Hence, it is proposed that the government of Indian should focus more to upsurge the transport infrastructure for higher economic development.


2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Friday Osemenshan Anetor

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of shocks in the various components of private capital inflows on economic growth in Nigeria using quarterly data in the period 1986Q1–2016Q4. Design/methodology/approach The study employs the impulse response function and the forecast error variance decomposition of the structural vector autoregression (SVAR) model. Findings The research result shows that shocks in foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows and portfolio investment inflows have a positive and significant impact on economic growth in Nigeria. In addition, FDIs accounted for significant variation in the growth of the Nigerian economy followed by portfolio investments, while personal remittances exerted the least variation in growth. Practical implications The government should promote a favorable macroeconomic environment for existing and potential foreign investors to ensure the continued inflows of FDI and portfolio investment. Originality/value The novelty of this study lies in disaggregating private capital inflows and analyzing the effect of the shock of each component on the growth of the Nigerian economy using SVAR.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Konadu Tawiah ◽  
Evans John Barnes ◽  
Prince Acheampong ◽  
Ofori Yaw

Purpose This paper has examined the effectiveness of foreign aid on Ghanaian economy under different political regimes. Design/methodology/approach Using vector error correction and co-integration models on the annual data set over a period of 35 years, the authors demonstrate that foreign aid has had varied impacts on economic growth depending on the political ideology of the government in power. Findings With capitalist political philosophy, foreign aid improves private sector growth through infrastructural development. On the other hand, a government with socialist philosophy applies most of its foreign aid in direct social interventions with the view of improving human capital. Thus, each political party is likely to seek foreign aid/grant that will support its political agenda. Overall, the results show that foreign aid has a positive impact on the growth of the Ghanaian economy when there is good macroeconomic environment. Practical implications This implies that the country experiences economic growth when there are sound economic policies to apply foreign aid. Originality/value The practical implication of the findings of this paper is that donor countries and agencies should consider the philosophy of the government in power while granting aid to recipient countries, especially in Africa. The results are robust to different proxies and models.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khoutem Ben Jedidia ◽  
khouloud Guerbouj

Purpose This study aims to examine the impact of zakat on the economic growth for a sample of Muslim countries. As a matter of fact, Zakat is a religious tax on wealth paid annually to specified recipients. As it leads to income redistribution and increases the aggregate demand, zakat can be a growth factor in the Islamic framework. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based on a dynamic panel data model for the purpose of investigating the role of zakat in the economic growth for a sample of eight Muslim countries during the period ranging from 2004 to 2017. The general method of moments is applied. Findings The findings provide evidence that zakat stimulates the country’s growth. Indeed, as zakat funds are directed to increase consumption, investment or government expenditure, they spur on the economic growth. Moreover, the authors come to the conclusion that more trade openness allows an increase in the real gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. However, the broad money to GDP and population growth rate seem insignificantly associated with the economic growth for the sample considered. Practical implications The findings have substantial implications for the economic policy in Muslim countries. Authorities may further rely on zakat to boost the economic growth. First, it is essential to improve the muzakki’s knowledge on zakat to increase their intention, and so their ability and willingness to pay zakat. Second, the government intervention in both zakat collect and distribution becomes mandatory. Therefore, the contribution of zakat to the economic growth will be higher. This requires better-quality services of zakat institutions. Originality/value A few studies have empirically looked into the impact of zakat on the economic growth, especially for panel data. Hence, the present study tries to enrich the literature on this topic. It creates significant evidence regarding the relevance of zakat in Muslim countries. The findings provide empirical support that zakat is an additional growth factor in the Islamic framework.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Gaston Tamba

Purpose This paper aims to examine the causal relationship between liquefied petroleum gas consumption and economic growth in Cameroon over the period from 1975 to 2016. Design/methodology/approach The methodology of this study is based on the unit root, cointegration and causality tests. Cointegration is performed with both Johansen and autoregressive distributed lag bounds approach, while causality is done with the Granger test based on the error correction model (ECM) and Toda-Yamamoto procedure. Findings The cointegration methods confirm the existence of a level relationship, whereas the causal tests of the ECM reveal the existence of a short-run unidirectional causal relationship ranging from liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) consumption to economic growth and a bidirectional causal relationship between long-term and high-causality variables. With the Toda-Yamamoto procedure, unidirectional causality is found to run from economic growth to liquefied petroleum gas consumption. Research limitations/implications These findings imply that an increase in liquefied petroleum gas consumption leads to an increase in economic growth. As a result, supporting energy efficiency policies that aim to reduce liquefied petroleum gas consumption is not an option for Cameroon. Given that LPG consumption shares are still low in Cameroon, the government ought, thus, to increase LPG subsidization, vulgarize and favor policies aimed at encouraging LPG consumption to increase LPG deposits nationwide. This would help increase LPG consumption and consequently could increase economic growth in Cameroon. Originality/value LPG is a fossil fuel and is the less GHG emitter and it is considered as a modern source of energy for cooking in Cameroon households. It scarcity calls on energy policymakers to question the influence LPG consumption could have on economic growth in the short- and long-run. Thus, this paper could contribute to solving the issue of deforestation in Cameroon, especially in the Sahel zone; through the substitution of firewood consumption by LPG consumption in households.


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