Prospects for the US economy to end-2017

Subject Prospects for the US economy to end-2017. Significance The US economy has a split personality as it enters the second half of 2017. The labour market appears fully healed from the deep recession of 2008-09 -- the unemployment rate is at its lowest level in 16 years and there are fewer so-called ‘discouraged workers’ than there were in 2007 -- before the recession began. However, the IMF downgraded yesterday its 2017 and 2018 growth expectations for the US economy to 2.1% for both years from 2.3% and 2.5%, respectively, amid growing scepticism of the prospects for fiscal stimulus.

Subject Prospects for the US economy in 2016. Significance The economy is close to full employment and a buoyant labour market should boost private consumption in 2016, offsetting some of the weakness in the industrial and trade sectors. Federal Reserve (Fed) officials have highlighted the external headwinds confronting the US economy from slowing growth in emerging countries and a continued debt overhang from the financial crisis.


Subject Prospects for the US economy in 2020. Significance Consumer spending is driving GDP growth this year and extending the longest expansion in US history. GDP growth will ease in the fourth quarter of 2019 but remains on track for 2.2-2.3% growth for the full year. Manufacturing activity is contracting, but other sectors are growing solidly and the labour market remains tight. This paradoxical performance raises the question of whether and how the manufacturing weakness might spread -- in particular, the extent to which it could drag on the rest of the economy, or even pull it into recession.


Subject Prospects for the US economy to end 2019. Significance The strong US labour market and low borrowing costs for businesses and individuals are helping to sustain the decade-long economic expansion. GDP grew by more than 3% in January-March, the third quarter out of four in which it was above 3%. The lacklustre housing market, softening manufacturing sector and rising consumer financial stress may dampen economic growth in the rest of 2019, taking it to 2.3-2.5% for the year.


2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (9) ◽  
pp. 32-35
Author(s):  
Mark Thomas

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze Lenovo’s successful acquisition of IBM’s PC division using Ghemawat’s (2001) CAGE framework. It was an acquisition that was so full of symbols that it is difficult to know where to begin. Lenovo’s purchase of IBM in 2005 was first seen as a sign of the rapid growth and expansion of the Chinese economy and its transformation away from the traditional manufacturing base to more high-tech areas. For doomsday merchants in the land of Uncle Sam, it foretold the end of the world domination of the US economy. Despite a considerable number of skeptics at the time, Lenovo was clearly up to the task. Such was the success of the acquisition that by 2015, Lenovo could claim to have grown into the world’s number 1 PC maker, number 3 smartphone manufacturer and number 3 in the production of tablet computers. Design/methodology/approach This paper is a case study. Findings Despite a considerable number of skeptics at the time, Lenovo was clearly up to the task. Such was the success of the acquisition that by 2015, Lenovo could claim to have grown into the world’s number 1 PC maker, number 3 smartphone manufacturer and number 3 in the production of tablet computers. Indeed, by 2014, the firm had enough confidence to add the IBM server business to its portfolio. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahid Irshad Younas ◽  
Mahvesh Khan ◽  
Mamdouh Abdulaziz Saleh Al-Faryan

Purpose The purpose of the study is to explore the misconception that in developed countries, macroeconomic performance lead to sustainable firms or improves stakeholder well-being. The results may be the opposite or even worse. Design/methodology/approach This study examined this misconception using balanced panel data from 1,122 firms from different sectors of the US economy and data on macroeconomic performance from the World Bank. Findings The results of the one-step generalised method of moments indicate that most macroeconomic performance indicators had significant and negative impacts on firm sustainability and stakeholder well-being. Practical implications From a societal perspective, the results illustrate that the fruits of macroeconomic performance of the US economy do not reach stakeholders through firms’ sustainability. Thus, linking the economy’s macroeconomic performance with firm sustainability is vital for sustainably uplifting society and for stakeholder well-being. Originality/value From a policy perspective, this study reveals that the greater focus on macroeconomic performance in the USA over the past decades has resulted in lower firm sustainability because of the malfunctioning of social, economic, environmental and governance factors. This has negatively influenced stakeholder well-being in the country.


2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 561-595
Author(s):  
Konstantinos N. Konstantakis ◽  
Panayotis G. Michaelides ◽  
Theofanis Papageorgiou ◽  
Theodoros Daglis

PurposeThis research paper uses a novel methodological approach to investigate the spillover effects among the key sectors of the US economy.Design/methodology/approachThe paper links the US sectors via a node theoretic scheme based on a general equilibrium framework, whereas it estimates the general equilibrium equation as a Global Vector Autoregressive process, taking into consideration the potential existence of dominant units.FindingsBased on our findings, the dominant sector in the US economy, for the period 1992–2015, is the sector of information technology, finance and communications, a fact that gives credence to the view that the US economy is a service-driven economy. In addition, the US economy seems to benefit by the increased labour mobility across knowledge-intensive sectors, thus avoiding the ‘employment trap’ which in turn enabled the US economy to overcome the financial crisis of 2007.Originality/valueFirstly, the paper models by means of a network approach which is based on a general equilibrium framework, the linkages between the US sectors while treating the sector of information, technology, communications and finance as dominant, as dictated by its degree of centrality in the network structure. Secondly, the paper offers a robustness analysis regarding both the existence and the identification of dominant sectors (nodes) in the US economy. Thirdly, the paper studies a wide period, namely 1992–2015, fully capturing the recent global recession, while acknowledging the impact of the global crisis through the introduction of the relevant exogenous dummy variables; Lastly and most importantly, it is the first study to apply the GVAR approach in a network general equilibrium framework at the sectoral level.


Subject Exposure to US final demand. Significance The Commerce Department reported on March 7 that the US goods trade deficit widened to 69.7 billion dollars in January after a five-year high of 4% of GDP last year. The new administration has threatened to build a wall along the Mexican border, impose punitive tariffs on countries it runs a goods deficit with and label China a currency manipulator. Other countries also rely on US demand -- through goods and services trade, investment and remittances. Impacts In the unlikely event that Trump follows through on all his most extreme trade threats, the world could plunge into recession. Evidence does not support the new administration's view that free trade has damaged the US economy and the fortunes of its workforce. The WTO is reviewing several cases the previous US administration began against China -- extreme escalation could trigger US WTO withdrawal. Germany is the only G7 country that the United States runs both a goods and services trade deficit with, placing it in the firing line.


Subject Labour market conditions in China. Significance China’s official unemployment rate in 2014 was 4.09%, up from 4.05% in 2013. For the three previous years, it had stood still at exactly 4.10%. These implausible data give the illusion of stability during a period of slowing growth and economic uncertainty, and obscure a complex and volatile labour market that now presents a serious challenge to the government. The government is well aware of the pressures on the labour market and has stated its intention to create 10 million new jobs this year. Impacts Fewer young people will enter the workforce, and those who do will have much higher expectations. An older workforce means higher wage demands and the payment of pensions and medical insurance. China will have to find suitable employment for an increasing number of graduates; 7.5 million this year alone. Vocational and on-the-job training will have to revamped and invigorated to meet the demands of both employers and employees. The government's reliance on 'entrepreneurial spirit' to create new jobs could create more social tension.


Significance One of the conundrums of the US economy that will influence the Federal Reserve's timing of an interest rate rise (currently projected for September) is where the savings from low energy prices have gone. Oil prices have dropped sharply since September 2014, from 97 dollars per barrel for West Texas Intermediate in June 2014 to 60 dollars per barrel today. Yet US personal consumption expenditures (PCE) only grew by 2.7%, well below the rate of growth of personal income, 4.1%. Impacts Greater spending on petrol will help the Highway Trust Fund slightly, but not before a new funding package is due by July 31. Low oil prices will outweigh consumer savings in such producing states as Texas and North Dakota. Greater consumer spending will adversely affect the US trade balance, as imports will rise due to the strong dollar.


Subject Changing demography and socio-economic trends in the labour force. Significance Changes in immigration and societal factors are causing labour supply shifts in the EU and the United States. Alongside the debate over the state of the US economy, there has been discussion over the persistent decline in US labour force participation and the impact on the economy of discouraged workers, who may never go back to the labour force. The United Kingdom has experienced population gains and an acceleration in the birth rate due to net immigration over the last decade. Impacts A rising UK population will pressure an already tight housing market and transport systems. High social benefits paid to younger people while actively job-seeking will encourage registration, boosting the UK labour force. Higher cyclical unemployment might become structural through the 'hysteresis' phenomenon, as job seekers get discouraged.


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