Macroeconomics

The economies of Europe and Africa are critically evaluated in a regional briefing. The uncertainty of the European recession and growth opportunities in the European and African regions are discussed. Specific attention is paid to the implications of new energy reforms in Europe on economic growth.

Malaysia is striving to become to a developed nation by 2020, and in line with this, the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), launched in 2010, aims to help Malaysia attain the status of a high-income nation by 2020. The ETP is expected to attract investments worth $444 billion during 2010–2020. Despite the anticipated negative effects of wea...

Germany and the United Kingdom are gradually emerging from the ongoing Eurozone debt crisis and are expected to post moderate growth in H2 2013. However, despite positive indications, France, Italy and Spain are likely to experience either negative or flat economic growth in 2013. The European Central Bank (ECB) will maintain low interest rates to ...

Emerging Middle East and Africa (MEA) is one of the fastest developing regions, with economies showing relative resilience to the global economic downturn and strengthened performance expected in the short term. Within the MEA region there are divergent growth patterns in H2 2013. The political instability in Egypt has severely hampered growth pros...

Vietnam's GDP growth declined in 2012. Government efforts to revive growth include increased lending and implementation of reforms. Vietnam has set a target of becoming an industrialized nation by 2020. Manufacturing, and information and communication technology (ICT) sectors are expected to play a key role in Vietnam’s transition to an industria...

Emerging Latin America's growth will remain moderate in Q4 2013 due to slow recovery in external demand. Private consumption demand will remain the main driver for growth in Q4 2013 and Q1 2014. Improvement in current account balances and currency values is unlikely in the short run. Foreign direct investment into the region is likely to remain sta...

Romania and Turkey are gaining momentum, projecting positive growth in H2 2013. Eastern Europe is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 2.2 percent in 2013, with the automotive sector being the key for growth. Hungary and Turkey have completed their debt repayments to the IMF, while Ukraine is in the process of completing it. The region is ...

Indonesia is witnessing a growing middle class population, which shielded the economy during the global economic downturn. Growth stood at 6.2% in 2012. The country has, however, been witnessing a deteriorating trade deficit and sliding rupiah since 2012, and a tight monetary policy has been pursued in 2013 to correct these factors and put Indonesi...

France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and The United Kingdom have been classified as Western European countries in this study. It is assumed that the economy in this region may post a marginal recovery in H1 2014, following a prolonged economic uncertainty. At present, the business sentiment in France is low, due to a poor Purchasing Managers Index. The s...