Conservatives and coronavirus may feed Iranian apathy

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Voter Turnout ◽  
Female Empowerment ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Parliamentary Elections ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Major Outbreak ◽  
The Government

Subject Iran’s elections. Significance Conservatives unsurprisingly won most of the seats in the country’s February 21 parliamentary elections. Public disaffection over the poor economy, failed policies and reformist disqualifications resulted in embarrassingly low voter turnout. This comes as the government is fumbling its response to what appears to be a major outbreak of the Wuhan coronavirus. Impacts Conservatives will look to capitalise on their gains by winning the presidency in 2021 and controlling the Supreme Leader's succession. Populist economic policies and increased economic isolation will likely boost inflation further. The election of 17 women to parliament, the same as in 2016, will do little to increase female empowerment in the current atmosphere.

Iran may abandon austerity to pacify protesters

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Exchange Rate ◽  
Central Bank ◽  
Foreign Investment ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Poor ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Government

Significance Beginning in the conservative city of Mashhad, the mostly small-scale and leaderless demonstrations spread across many provincial towns over several days, sometimes turning violent. Following the publication of President Hassan Rouhani’s proposed 2018/19 ‘austerity’ budget, key slogans protested government corruption and neglect of the poor and unemployed -- although the basis of the regime itself also came under fire. Impacts US support for the protesters and announcement of new sanctions will assist Tehran’s efforts to portray recent events as foreign ‘sedition’. Inflation could spike on the back of populist economic policies and exchange rate deterioration as foreign investment prospects recede. The central bank will not implement exchange rate unification plans, since the government profits from the status quo.

scholarly journals Export Diversification and Economic Growth in Nigeria

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Ifeakachukwu Nwosa ◽  
Fasina Oluwadamilola Tosin ◽  
Ogbuagu Matthew Ikechukwu
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Export Diversification ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
Oil Market ◽  
Distributed Lag ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Auto Regressive ◽  
Oil Sector ◽  
The Government

The issue of export diversification has been contentious in Nigeria due to the country’s unstable growth pattern which is majorly associated with instability in the international oil market and the poor performance of other sectors of the economy. Therefore, this study examines the link between export diversification and economic growth in Nigeria from 1962 to 2016. The study utilizes the Auto-regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) technique. The result of this study shows that export diversification has a positive but insignificant influence on economic growth in Nigeria. The above result implies that the oil sector still dominates the Nigerian economy while the diversification drive of the government has not been significant in other sectors of the economy. Thus, the study recommends the need for conscious economic policies that would promote the diversification of the entire non-oil sector of the economy. The study concludes that export diversification is an insignificant determinant of economic growth in Nigeria.

Venezuela's Maduro gains breathing space, for now

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Selection Process ◽  
Socialist Party ◽  
Bolivarian Revolution ◽  
Content Type ◽  
National Assembly ◽  
Parliamentary Elections ◽  
Popular Support ◽  
Broad Base ◽  
Breathing Space ◽  
The Government

Significance The party base of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) began the process of nominations for primaries that will be convened in June to select candidates for the 2015 National Assembly elections. The government enters the selection process on the back of a rise in popular support catalysed by perceived US aggression and Maduro's strong anti-imperialist narrative. Impacts The broad base of the PSUV nominations process contrasts with MUD plans, fuelling doubts over MUD divisions. Chavista 'battle units' will nominate four candidates, a strategy that is boosting waning enthusiasm for the Bolivarian Revolution. The primaries process strengthens the government's commitment to the parliamentary elections, the date of which has yet to be set.

New Cyprus parliament will be tougher to deal with

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Economic Recovery ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Parliamentary Elections ◽  
Presidential System ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Government ◽  
Republic Of Cyprus ◽  
Parliamentary Support

Subject The May 22 parliamentary elections. Significance The elections had the lowest turnout in the history of the Republic of Cyprus and brought about significant changes in the composition of the chamber. They were conducted amid a climate of fragile economic recovery and talks with the Turkish Cypriots on reunification. The outcome was a weakening of parliamentary support for the talks and a louder voice for nationalist, anti-austerity and anti-reform views. Impacts The government that is in place will not be affected because Cyprus has a presidential system. However, the lack of a parliamentary majority could hinder the Cypriot economy's fragile recovery. Resolving the division of Cyprus problem would be a significant positive boost for the very insecure Eastern Mediterranean.

Ciolos will aim to tackle Romania's developmental lag

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Minimum Wage ◽  
Infrastructure Investment ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
Tax Collection ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Party Government ◽  
Education And Health ◽  
The Government

Significance The non-party government of former EU Commissioner Dacian Ciolos took office on November 17 after the Ponta government stood down. Much of the previous administration's budget projections have been carried over, but the new draft also raises spending on investment, education and health, widening the projected deficit to 2.95% of 2016 GDP from 1.8% in 2015. Impacts PSD could insist on the budget including a rise in the minimum wage, but the government wants to assess its impact first. Parliamentary parties back the government publicly, but are manoeuvring for advantage with an eye to elections in late 2016. Key economic policies include infrastructure investment, improved administrative standards and tax collection, and absorption of EU funds.

Rural protests could quickly snowball in Colombia

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Indigenous People ◽  
Free Trade ◽  
Peace Process ◽  
Trade Policies ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
Direct Impact ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government

Significance Tens of thousands of farmers and indigenous people have taken part in demonstrations since May 30 in protest at the government's economic policies. At least three people are reported to have been killed and some 200 injured in clashes with police. The protesters claim that promises made following similar protests in 2013 have not been honoured and that the government's free trade policies harm Colombian workers. Impacts While protests are unlikely to threaten the government or the peace process, they could complicate and draw out talks. In guerrilla-controlled areas, the government will strive to show it is capable of providing order and prosperity. Colombian protests will have no direct impact on TPP talks but may be an indicator of trouble ahead in countries that are party to the deal.

Mongolia mine move raises nationalisation fears

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Prime Minister ◽  
Public Support ◽  
The State ◽  
Russian Government ◽  
Mining Company ◽  
Foreign Investors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Parliamentary Elections ◽  
Main Obstacle ◽  
The Government

Subject The sale of the Erdenet mine. Significance The day before parliamentary elections in June last year, Prime Minister Saikhanbileg Chimed announced the sale of 49% of shares held by the Russian government in the Erdenet Mining Corporation and the Mongolrostsvetmet mining company to Mongolia Copper Corporation, an unknown private Mongolian company. Subsequent parliamentary inquiry concluded that the sale was unconstitutional and the government ordered the shares transferred to the state on February 16 this year. The government’s actions received wide public support while polls reveal that the electorate views corruption as the main obstacle to Mongolia’s development Impacts Talk of 'nationalisation' in the Western media threatens to derail Mongolia's efforts to fix its image and attract foreign investors. The unusual circumstances of the sale raise suspicions of corruption and collusion between Mongolia's previous government and largest bank. The new government's will to scrutinise sale demonstrates the strength of Mongolia’s democracy.

Bolivia's business elites have shifted to Morales

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Business Groups ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Economic Conditions ◽  
The Political ◽  
Political Elites ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
Business Elites ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Collaborative Working ◽  
The Government

Subject Government-business relations. Significance President Evo Morales’s government has established a collaborative working relationship with the country’s most powerful business elites that belies its leftist rhetoric. This is based on an understanding that while government offers large corporate interests favourable economic conditions, business groups will refrain from conspiring against the government in the political sphere. Thus, the government has managed to minimise the sort of pro-regional tensions that characterised its first term in office (2006-10), driving a wedge between economic and political elites. Impacts The economic policies pursued by the Morales administration will continue to prove, broadly, good for business. Smaller-scale businesses have been less beneficially treated, but lack political lobbying power. Avoidance of strife with the more powerful business groups will continue to help underpin political stability.

South Africa’s PIC faces major overhaul

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Pension Fund ◽  
Economic Empowerment ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
Government Employees ◽  
Major Overhaul ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Black Economic ◽  
Black Economic Empowerment ◽  
The Government

Significance The PIC oversees approximately 142 billion dollars, mostly on behalf of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF). While the GEPF’s assets are still comfortably greater than its liabilities, its surplus has been falling in recent years, with several questionable investments coming to light. Impacts Inquiry revelations could weaken support for government economic policies, such as prescribed assets, from traditional allies. The GEPF’s push to invest more funds overseas could have major implications for how much money the PIC manages and its future investments. The Commission's major long-term impacts could include a serious rethink of the ANC's black economic empowerment (BEE) economic policies.

Candidates promise continuity, not change in Peru

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Media ◽  
Party System ◽  
Decisive Role ◽  
The Political ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
Main Thrust ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Executives ◽  
Voter Preferences ◽  
The Government

Significance The leading candidates for the presidential contest set out their agendas at the annual meeting of business executives (CADE) on December 3-4. The campaign, aggressive and personalised, had so far lacked policy substance. With each candidate supporting the continuance of business-friendly economic policies and backing measures to clamp down on public insecurity and corruption, they were at pains to distinguish themselves one from another. The dispersion of parties and candidates still makes a second round likely. Impacts With the political focus increasingly on the election, support for the government may recover slightly over the next six months. The main thrust of campaigning will remain highly personalised. The lack of any strong party system means that the mass media will play a decisive role in shaping voter preferences. The left, lacking funding and organisation, is unlikely to flourish.

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