Economics and Business Articles

While Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika may return to Algeria following treatment in France for a mini-stroke he suffered in late-April, his health makes it unlikely that he will be able to stand for re-election in Algeria’s presidential ballot set for next year. Whoever does eventually succeed him will face a host of economic, societal, governance and security challenges. more

In an email interview, Arvind Panagariya, a professor of economics and Indian political economy at Columbia University, explained the recent trajectory of India-China trade relations. more

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, like his predecessors, is eager to lessen his nation’s security, economic and trade dependence on the United States. Mexico has set its sights on expanding its global reach, both in the Asia-Pacific region and Latin America. Nevertheless, proximity, NAFTA and a web of investment, military cooperation, economic assistance and migration will continue to anchor Mexico's relations with its northern neighbor. more

At their White House summit last week, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Barack Obama jointly called for greater international efforts to end the Syrian civil war, though the two leaders reportedly differ on how directly the West should become involved. Meanwhile, the preoccupation with Syria has obscured unresolved sources of tension between the two countries on other issues. more

The visit by President Thein Sein of Myanmar to the White House on Monday underlines how far the Southeast Asian country has come. But while the progress in Myanmar is real, the country’s leaders have so far delivered more political than economic reforms. more

The Philippine Coast Guard opened fire on a Taiwanese fishing vessel two weeks ago, killing a Taiwanese fisherman and provoking a diplomatic deadlock between the Philippines and Taiwan in a period of growing tensions over disputed waters in the region. more

Does international trade liberalization reduce poverty? The question is an important and relevant one. It was high on the agenda in the late-1990s and after a decade or so of quiescence it is starting to worry policymakers again. Fortunately, it permits a fairly definite answer, one that surprises many people. While there clearly are exceptions, the answer is “in the long run and on average, almost always, yes, trade liberalization reduces poverty.” more

President Barack Obama’s trip to Mexico to meet with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto was an effort to recast the perceived priorities of the bilateral agenda from security to economic issues. The two leaders announced a cabinet-level economic dialogue, education exchanges and a few other related activities. These initiatives are certainly worthy, but the leaders missed an opportunity to think bigger. more

South Korean President Park Geun-hye is currently in the United States, where she will meet with President Barack Obama at the White House, attend a special dinner to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the U.S.-South Korean alliance and address a joint session of Congress, among other activities. She will also travel to New York and Los Angeles, but not to other countries, underscoring the trip’s significance. more

It’s little wonder that corporate executives and governments the world over have begun to take a closer look at the opportunities on offer in Indonesia. But even Indonesia’s most fervent boosters are often disappointed by the country they so desperately want to succeed. Because despite all the opportunities Indonesia promises, it’s going to have to overcome significant obstacles to realize its potential. more

In an email interview, Wyn Grant, a political scientist at the University of Warwick with research interests in agricultural policy and the European Union, explained the main reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy adopted by the European Council last month and how they will be implemented. more

Later this month, representatives from Russia, Norway, Denmark, Canada and the United States will meet in Washington, DC to discuss a possible accord that would regulate commercial fishing near the North Pole. more

The real test of Cuba’s reform process under President Raul Castro will come in the state sector, which still employs most of the labor force and produces more than 80 percent of GDP. The goal is to modernize the sector to make it more efficient. But the government’s political will to follow through on reforms, and the social and political consequences they may have, remain open questions. more

Since becoming president, Cuba’s Raul Castro has been on a crusade to bring the country’s economy into the 21st century, and he has not hesitated to blame its failures on Cuba's policies, rather than the U.S. embargo. Having already built political capital with popular measures to reduce excessive regulation, the government is now carrying out a much more profound reorganization of the Cuban economy. more

Africa’s relatively rapid growth rates, improved fiscal and debt management and improving political stability are forming an image of a “rising Africa” ripe for international investment. And despite remaining high risks, global investors increasingly find Africa’s potential returns compelling. But the looming question is whether Africa’s growth spurt and related investor interest are sustainable. more

In an email interview, Sudip Chaudhuri, an economics professor at the Indian Institute of Management in Calcutta specializing in patents and the pharmaceutical industry, explained the background and likely impact of an Indian Supreme Court ruling allowing the continued production of generic drugs. more

Over the weekend, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, who is on a tour of Asia that ends tomorrow, met with Chinese President Xi Jinping as part of an effort to improve the Mexico-China bilateral relationship. more

While they may not garner the same headlines as China’s energy politics in the region or U.S. counterterrorism work in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, Japan’s efforts across Africa are increasing in depth and scope. As the dynamic states of Africa continue to evolve and develop a range of international partnerships, Tokyo should keep its eye trained on maintaining a strong economic presence on the continent. more

In 2012, Foreign Policy and the Fund for Peace ranked Zimbabwe the fifth most likely country to fail. Yet, despite its numerous challenges, Zimbabwe has not collapsed, and Robert Mugabe continues to maintain his grip on power. With elections expected during 2013, all indications suggest that Mugabe will run for re-election and win. How is a country whose government is seemingly so isolated from the rest of the world able not just to survive, but to prosper? more

Belarus’ options in foreign policy have become increasingly constrained by human rights issues on the one hand, and its need for foreign investment and external loans to keep afloat its struggling economy on the other. How Belarus chooses to navigate these trade-offs will determine whether a rapprochement with the EU is possible or whether it will instead move irrevocably into the sphere of Russia, thereby losing some of the autonomy it has enjoyed since independence in 1991. more

Now nearing the midpoint of his first full term in office, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan will count on the advantages of incumbency and party dominance in seeking another term when Nigeria votes again in 2015. Yet insecurity, corruption and stalled policy implementation have provoked broad criticism, and the remainder of his term is likely to be characterized by high levels of political tension. more