At the beginning of this year the EU and China quietly agreed upon (in principle) a new Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI). John Lavelle analyses its economic potential, as well as the divides it will build between EU nations on how they approach foreign relations with China.
Free from the shackles of EU regulation, the UK has used its new-found freedom to diverge in regulation on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing. Sophie Evans discusses the ramifications of this for the UK financial industry and its relations with the EU.
Issac Stables, meanwhile, looks at slowing growth and productivity in the UK—something that has been termed as its “lost decade”. He explores how the UK government could rectify this failure, especially in the context of the ongoing pandemic.
Japan had its infamous lost decade in the 90s, and again today it grapples with another dramatic economic slowdown. Emma Cattell explains how the coronavirus pandemic has exposed weaknesses in its economy and how its government is attempting to restore growth.
Ten years ago the Tunisian street salesman Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in protest against unemployment and corruption, sparking off the Tunisian Revolution and Arab Spring. Assia Tej looks at how Tunisia’s democracy has progressed since then, and the political and economic problems that still persist.
Finally, as the summer approaches and more people get vaccinated, people are eager for a return to normalcy. In the US, wallets and businesses are flush with cash from repeated stimulus programs. Elliott Vavitsas examines the potential for this to lead to a return of inflation in the US this year.
For more current affairs, check out The World This Week to see our Section Editors’ survey of the latest news stories.
United Kingdom
- Grinding to a Halt – The UK’s Lost Decade by Isaac Stables
- The Rise of ESG Investing: Could the U.K. become the world’s green finance leader? by Sophie Evans
Europe
- The CAI: A New Era for the EU and China by John Lavelle
Asia-Pacific
- Coronavirus and Its Impact on the Japanese Economy by Emma Cattell
Middle East and Africa
- The Tunisian Revolution: The 10-year road by Assia Tej
North America
- Predicting the Next Financial Crisis: Is America speeding towards Inflation? by Elliott Vavitsas
Image source: Tokyo by Pawel Nolbert
The St Andrews Economist 