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2015: Recession, High Inflation and Political Risks
BRAZIL ECONOMICS · Forecast · 19 Feb 2015

Executive Summary There has been a change in the economic policy bearings, starting with a fiscal adjustment and correction of administered prices. But the positive results will not appear in 2015. In the next 12 months the forecasts point to: a) a recession, with a 1% dip in GDP, along wit...

Predictions, Predictions
CHINA FINANCIAL · Report · 19 Feb 2015

Special Points To Highlight In This Issue: China continues along the path of weak economic data followed by strong expansionary reactions from Beijing, but with the economy bouncing about in an overall downward trajectory. Until the middle or end of this year I do not expect any clear signs that ...

How is the SA Economy Doing?
SOUTH AFRICA · Report · 19 Feb 2015

According to official figures released by Statistics South Africa, the unemployment rate dropped to 24.3% in the last quarter of 2014 from 25.4% in the preceding quarter. As good as the news seems, one should, however, be cautious in interpreting this outcome. The unemployment figures reported by...

Politics: Corruption Scandals Piling Up
MEXICO · Report · 18 Feb 2015

Executive Summary Graft in Mexico’s political system was once again the subject of front page headlines in the international news media last week as an extensive investigative report in The New York Times revealed questionable real estate dealings in the United States by a career politician and f...

Economics: Cuts Deep in Case of Infrastructure
MEXICO · Report · 18 Feb 2015

Executive Summary In addition to the structural reforms directly related to the economy, one of the current presidential administration’s major objectives is a program for developing infrastructure on an unprecedented scale, which in turn is intended to serve as a catalyst of broader economic gro...

Peace Process: The buck stopped at Qandil
TURKEY · In Brief · 17 Feb 2015

Hopes of a historic breakthrough in the peace talks between AKP and Kurdish rights actors were dashed when PKK refused to pull out from Turkey, while Davutoglu responded by turning down PKK’s prior conditions for doing so. The Process is not dead, everyone in Turkey wants peace, but it is best to...

Weekly Tracker: February 15-21
TURKEY · Report · 15 Feb 2015

Executive Summary According to press reports, Ankara and Kurdish rights party HDP are on the verge of announcing a major deal in the ethnic peace talks. From what we read, the deal may still be vetoed by PKK, or scuppered by the passage of the Internal Security Reform Bill. The contents leaked to...

Crazy budget disregard IMF staff-level agreement
UKRAINE · In Brief · 15 Feb 2015

On Feb. 14 the Cabinet approved revised draft budget 2015. So far we know only few numbers but it looks like the suggested spending plan did not experience any austerity measures. In particular, the authorities outlined central budget revenues target at UAH 498 billion which is UAH 134.4 billion ...

Government Too Weak to Pass Reforms
PERU · Report · 13 Feb 2015

Executive Summary Congress repealed the new law that aimed to introduce a distinct labor regime for young people. It was proposed without any marketing strategy, and the public reacted with widespread disapproval; polls indicated that 70% of Peruvians were against it. This result also highlights ...

President Zuma’s 2015 State of Nation Address
SOUTH AFRICA · Report · 13 Feb 2015

The run-up to President Zuma’s second State of Nation Address (SONA) since the start of his second term in office was nothing short of sensational – full of political anticipation and potential drama within the Parliament. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the second largest opposition party, ...

Politics & The New Five-Year Economic and Fiscal Program
PANAMA · Report · 12 Feb 2015

Executive Summary On January 27, by unanimous decision, the nine judges of the CSJ agreed to look into the evidence regarding corruption acts attributed to Ricardo Martinelli and opened the process to investigate his presumed involvements in corruption practices of several million dollars in the ...

IMF staff-level agreement reached: time to deliver budget cuts
UKRAINE · In Brief · 12 Feb 2015

The IMF mission has reached a staff-level agreement with the Ukrainian government for a new economic reform program under an extended facility fund format. Within this program Ukraine is expected to receive $17.5 billion from the IMF and extra funds from other international donors. No doubt it is...

The Setting For The Budget Speech
INDIA · Report · 11 Feb 2015

Executive Summary Optimists believe that if Budget 2015 works out right, trend growth in India will accelerate from 6.5%. Pessimists believe that the gulf between the existing structures of government and the requirements of the economy is growing and is steadily becoming a drag on growth. Theref...

Banking Sector: A Big Move Back Towards Normality
HUNGARY · Report · 11 Feb 2015

Executive Summary Life in the domestic banking sector has been unusually eventful in recent weeks. In a surprise move, the government signed a memorandum of understanding with the EBRD on its future policy intentions regarding the banking sector. Committing to bank privatization, the reduction of...

Year of the Bellwether
PHILIPPINES · Forecast · 11 Feb 2015

Executive Summary Since the start of the year, financial markets have used sharply lower oil prices, expected to last for some time yet, as their bellwether, predicting continuing good fortune for the incoming Year of the Ram.Low oil prices plus the ECB’s large stimulus package and a modified Sup...