Ghana's government will struggle to satisfy voters

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Debt ◽  
Gdp Growth ◽  
Fiscal Consolidation ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Younger Workers ◽  
Gdp Growth Rate ◽  
Macroeconomic Indicators ◽  
The Government ◽  
Cocoa Farmers

Subject The Ghanaian government's challenges Significance Almost 18 months after the New Patriotic Party (NPP) took office, there has been a notable uptick in Ghana's macroeconomic indicators, including an estimated doubling of the GDP growth rate to 8.5% in 2017. Additionally, inflation has lessened, fiscal consolidation targets are being met and public debt has declined. Notwithstanding these achievements, President Nana Akufo-Addo's flagship infrastructure promises have largely been unmet and growth for 2018 is estimated to decline to 6.3%. Impacts Unemployment, particularly among younger workers, will remain stubbornly high in the short term. The NPP will struggle to fulfil promises of improved conditions and prices for cocoa farmers amid fluctuating global prices. Improving tax revenues and collection, while not undermining popular or investor support, will prove a major challenge for the government.

Weak consumption may thwart Slovak growth plans

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Infrastructure Investment ◽  
Gdp Growth ◽  
Industrial Output ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Fiscal Deficits ◽  
Consumption Growth ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Eu

Subject The government's latest GDP expectations for 2016-19. Significance On September 19, days before surviving a parliamentary no-confidence vote, the government announced GDP projections for 2016-19, based on improvements in consumption growth and the labour market, where registered unemployment hovers at historically low levels. Despite its weakened position following the recent departure of junior coalition partner Siet, Smer-Social Democracy (SD) is upbeat about the prospects for robust GDP growth in 2016, revising its forecast upwards to 3.6% from 3.2%. Impacts Industrial output, GDP and inflationary pressures may pick up post-2018, as consumers spend more and auto industry investments create jobs. The government may miss its targets in the short term, but fiscal deficits should remain below the EU limit of 3% of GDP in 2016-18. More public-private partnerships, modelled on the Bratislava ring-road, plus EU funding, may support infrastructure investment after 2017.

Mexico's weak GDP growth will outlast Pena Nieto

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Economic Reforms ◽  
Gdp Growth ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Severe Problem ◽  
Content Type ◽  
World Economic ◽  
The Government ◽  
Latin American Countries ◽  
Economic Outlook

Subject GDP growth shows no sign of improving in the short-term. Significance In its most recent update to its World Economic Outlook, the IMF lowered its forecast for Mexico's 2016 GDP growth to 2.4% from 2.6% foreseen in January. This figure compares well with other Latin American countries -- notably Brazil and Venezuela -- yet it marks the continuation of a trend of meagre expansion that has characterised President Enrique Pena Nieto's time in office despite his efforts to introduce economic reforms. Impacts Further reform to encourage greater flexibility in the labour market will be key to increasing small business productivity. Low growth and a lack of prospects for the young will feed into Mexico's rising crime rates. The lack of growth could become a severe problem for the government both directly and indirectly in the 2018 election.

Thailand’s democratic deficit will dampen GDP growth

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Spending ◽  
Gdp Growth ◽  
Democratic Deficit ◽  
National Strategy ◽  
Consumer Spending ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Domestic Activity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

Subject Outlook for the Thai economy. Significance Thailand's GDP grew by 3.9% last year, the most since 2012, and is expected to remain at around 4.0% this year, with stronger public spending supporting surging tourism and solid consumer spending. Thailand’s National Strategy aims to raise GDP growth to 5-6%, but this ambition faces rising short-term risks and longer-term structural impediments. Impacts Despite rising pressure on the government to hold elections, protests will not grow, limiting the impact on spending and tourism. Automobiles, semiconductors and other electronics -- key Thai exports -- will be hit by deteriorating US-China relations. The Bank of Thailand is one South-east Asian central bank keen to ‘normalise’ rates, but higher rates could dampen domestic activity.

Briceno’s difficulties will benefit Belize’s UDP

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Debt ◽  
Economic Activity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Sharp Drop ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tourism Sector ◽  
Economic Slowdown ◽  
The Government

Significance Belize’s economic slowdown is proving prolonged, driven by the sharp drop in tourist arrivals as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The government has reduced spending and announced an austerity budget for 2021-22. Tourism looks likely to pick up somewhat this year, but high public debt and unemployment will weigh on economic activity into 2022. Impacts Failure to agree a debt restructuring could force Belize to seek an IMF loan. Protracted debt negotiations will deter investment in the short term. Ongoing vaccine uptake in the United States will be crucial for Belize’s tourism sector, as it is the main tourism source country.

Seoul's rate hike and stimulus strike a balancing act

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Central Bank ◽  
Public Debt ◽  
Gdp Growth ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government ◽  
Central Bank Governor ◽  
At Home

Significance The central bank governor has signalled further tightening ahead. The economy is on track this year to exceed the 2019 level. The government has drafted a record budget that will lift public debt above 50% of GDP, to bolster the recovery and tackle inequality. Impacts The budget will pass with at most minor cuts. GDP growth this year may hit 4%, a ten-year high. As ever, strong exports will remain the chief driver of growth. A further rate hike is likely by March. Bottlenecks due to COVID-19 overseas pose a greater risk than outbreaks and countermeasures at home.

Financial and monetary policy of the State and its impact on the income level and poverty reduction in Russia

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 964-990
Author(s):  
N.I. Kulikov ◽  
V.L. Parkhomenko ◽  
Akun Anna Stefani Rozi Mobio
Keyword(s):  
Monetary Policy ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
The State ◽  
Financial Policy ◽  
Gdp Growth ◽  
Tax Rate ◽  
Gdp Growth Rate ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

Subject. We assess the impact of tight financial and monetary policy of the government of the Russian Federation and the Bank of Russia on the level of household income and poverty reduction in Russia. Objectives. The purpose of the study is to analyze the results of financial and monetary policy in Russia and determine why the situation with household income and poverty has not changed for the recent six years, and the GDP growth rate in Russia is significantly lagging behind the global average. Methods. The study employs methods of analysis of scientific and information base, and synthesis of obtained data. The methodology and theoretical framework draw upon works of domestic and foreign scientists on economic and financial support to economy and population’s income. Results. We offer measures for liberalization of the financial and monetary policy of the government and the Central Bank to ensure changes in the structure of the Russian economy. The proposed alternative economic and financial policy of the State will enable the growth of real incomes of the population, poverty reduction by half by 2024, and annual GDP growth up to 6 per cent. Conclusions. It is crucial to change budget priorities, increase the salaries of public employees, introduce a progressive tax rate for individuals; to reduce the key rate to the value of annual inflation and limit the bank margin. The country needs a phased program to increase the population's income, which will ensure consumer demand.

Florida voters react to Biden's Caribbean policy

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Relief ◽  
Electoral Politics ◽  
The State ◽  
Pivotal Role ◽  
Economic Recovery ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Family Connections ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
The Government

Significance Many areas of the Caribbean have trade, investment and family connections with communities in Florida. As the state now plays a pivotal role in US electoral politics, crises in the region can take on added political importance for parts of Florida’s electorate. Impacts Forecasts of short-term economic recovery for Florida remain highly uncertain given the continuing impact of the pandemic. Clashing interests across the Caribbean may demand greater coordination of US policy than the government can currently offer. Healthcare and disaster relief capabilities within the state are severely overstretched and could be overwhelmed by a new crisis.

Indonesia’s new investment ministry faces headwinds

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Central Bank ◽  
Foreign Investment ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Sovereign Wealth Fund ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Speed Up ◽  
The Government ◽  
Roll Out

Significance The government hopes greater domestic and foreign investment can help turn around the pandemic-hit economy. The governor of Bank Indonesia (BI), the central bank, last week said GDP should grow by 4.6% in 2021, compared with last year’s 2.1% contraction. Impacts Indonesia will count on private vaccination, whereby companies buy state-procured jabs for their staff, to help speed up its roll-out. The Indonesia Investment Authority, a new sovereign wealth fund, will prioritise attracting more investment into the infrastructure sector. Singapore will continue to be Indonesia’s largest source of FDI in the short term.

Applying the Fama and French three-factor model to analyze risk/reward in the Spanish REITs: an ARDL approach

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenyu Su ◽  
Paloma Taltavull
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Gdp Growth ◽  
Size Factor ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gdp Growth Rate ◽  
Fama And French ◽  
Three Factor

Purpose This paper aims to analyse the risk and excess returns of the Spanish real estate investment trusts (S-REITs) using various methods, though focusing primarily on the Fama-French three-factor (FF3) model, over the period from 2007Q3 to 2017Q2. Design/methodology/approach The autoregressive distributed lag model is used for the empirical analysis to test long-term stable relationships between variables. Findings The findings indicate that the FF3 model is suitable for the S-REITs market, better explaining the S-REITs’ returns variation than the traditional single-index capital asset pricing model (CAPM) and the Carhart four-factor model. The empirical evidence is reasonably consistent with the FF3 model; the values for the market, size and value are highly statistically significant over the analysis period, with 68.7% variation in S-REITs’ returns explained by the model. In the long run, the market factor has less explanatory power than the size and value factors; the positive long-term multiplier of the size factor indicates that small S-REIT companies have higher returns, along with higher risk, while the negative multiplier of the value indicator suggests that S-REITs portfolios prefer to allocate growth REITs with low book-to-market ratios. The empirical findings from a modified FF3 model, which additionally incorporates Spain’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate, two consumer price index (CPI) macro-factors and three dummy variables, indicates that GDP growth rate and CPI also affect S-REITs’ yields, while investment funds with capital calls have a small influence on S-REITs’ returns. Practical implications The regression results of the standard and extended FF3 model can help researchers understand S-REITs’ risk and return through a general stock pattern. Potential investors are given more information to consider the new Spanish investment vehicle before making a decision. Originality/value The paper uses standard techniques but applies them for the first time to the S-REIT market.

Air pollution and public finance: evidence for European countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (7) ◽  
pp. 1398-1417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Carratù ◽  
Bruno Chiarini ◽  
Antonella D’Agostino ◽  
Elisabetta Marzano ◽  
Andrea Regoli
Keyword(s):  
Public Finance ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Fiscal Policy ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Public Debt ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Fiscal Consolidation ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether a statistically significant relationship exists between environmental quality, as measured by consumption-related air pollution, and public debt in Europe. In addition, since the debt burden is one of the most important indicators of fiscal soundness within the European Union (EU) Treaty and the subsequent fiscal compact, the authors propose a simple test to determine whether participation in EU Treaties has shaped the empirical relationship between fiscal policy/public debt and environmental performance. Design/methodology/approach To this end, the authors built a panel data set that covers 24 European countries over the period 1996–2015. Findings The aspect that the authors want to underline is a possible trade off, which is confirmed in the empirical analysis, between the public finance equilibrium and the maintenance of a public good such as air quality. However, there are important non-linearities that shape the interaction between public debt and environmental pollution. Similarly, threshold effects arise when the authors examine the interaction between EU regulation and public debt and when the authors separately examine high debt and low debt countries. When the authors account for the stabilization rules introduced by EU Treaties, a negative effect on pollution is evident; in this way, fiscal consolidation limits the positive effect of fiscal policy. Practical implications The results point out the existence of a potential trade-off between the role of EU as a regulator aiming to mitigate environmental pollution, and its role within the Stability and Growth Pact. The analysis highlights that fiscal consolidation policies, while facilitating the achievement of macroeconomic stability within EU, might have a negative side effect on the environment quality, which spreads beyond the borders of one single country. Originality/value While a number of studies have suggested that fiscal spending might contribute to the level of pollution in European countries, there is scant evidence of the effect of public debt on environmental performance. This lack of scientific knowledge is a serious shortcoming, since it may allow for an underrepresentation of the wide-ranging consequences of stabilization programmes targeting the debt-to-GDP ratio, which could affect environmental quality.

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