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The Indian budget speech
INDIA · In Brief · 10 Jul 2014 · 1 response

The speech is a disappointment. It sounds much like the budget speeches of the last 10 years: A lot of focus on trivial and small actions that pursue one narrow target group after another. There was little evidence of the big thinking that's required. It reiterates the problem of the BJP: they wo...

Mexico's Telecom Reform produces results earlier than expected
MEXICO · In Brief · 09 Jul 2014

Last week telecom’s secondary laws were approved in the Senate. Today as the Lower House passed the new legislation, with no major changes, América Móvil (AMX), announced they’ll divest some assets in order to avoid the sanctions of being a dominant telecommunications player, as was established b...

Economic strategy thinking at the Ministry of Finance
INDIA · In Brief · 09 Jul 2014

Just before the budget, they have released an important document that gives a good big picture about economic reforms in India: http://indiabudget.nic.in/es2013-14/echap-02.pdf

Brazil Presidential Election
BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 09 Jul 2014

The effects of the German massacre on the elections The scenario of a Brazilian defeat in the World Cup had been considered.Despite the fact that Brazil always plays with an obligation to win, everybody knows that the game must be played and that only one team wins the Cup.However, a scenario in ...

The Economic Strategy of the Modi Government
INDIA · Report · 08 Jul 2014

The Economic Survey and the Budget Speech of the next two days are a crucial milestone for the Modi administration. Contrary to the claims made during the campaign, there is little sign of a plan, a team or a coherent strategy for economic policy. The Budget speech is unlikely to rival July 1991 ...

Public Disconnect on Structural Reform
MEXICO · Report · 08 Jul 2014

Executive Summary Now that the last major obstacle to a resumption of the reform process has been cleared – all but two states have made changes to the electoral laws necessary for them to comply with those adopted on the federal level – Congress has quickly begun to address bills regarding the t...

Buying Power Up, but Sales Flat
MEXICO · Report · 08 Jul 2014

Executive Summary During the first six months of 2014 we have witnessed a recovery in the main determinants of private consumption, but so far it has failed to help accelerate growth in sales. The flow of workers actively paying into the social security system through the first five months of 201...

Domestic Politics Are Back
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · Report · 08 Jul 2014

As the September 2014 local elections for numerous Russian federal entities draw nearer, incumbent elites are utilizing all the instruments they have to prevent the competition from even registering for the election. The Presidential Administration would prefer that the governors win in a fair co...

Can Private Investment be Rekindled?
PERU · Forecast · 07 Jul 2014

Executive Summary We believe GDP will recover mildly in H2, driven by recovery in mining production, and a slight improvement in investment growth. But it’s hard to envisage a major improvement this year, though the government’s new measures for cutting red tape, and other impediments to investme...

Decline of Confidence in Industry Points to Further Deceleration of Growth
BRAZIL ECONOMICS · Report · 07 Jul 2014

The dip of 0.6% in industrial production in May is one more factor that indicates mediocre GDP growth in 2014. This result leaves a negative carry over of 1.2% to the second quarter, meaning the second-quarter figures will probably show further contraction of industrial output (which has been fal...

Political Insights: Week of July 7
BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 07 Jul 2014

This week is expected to be relatively quiet from the point of view of politics.On Tuesday, activity in Congress will be reduced as the Brazilian National Team faces Germany in the quarterfinals of the World Cup.The House may vote on MP 641, which deals with the commercialization of electric ener...

Muddle-Through Forever?
TURKEY · Forecast · 06 Jul 2014

Executive Summary Thanks to the ongoing support from top central banks, markets have been making the most out of Turkey’s cyclical adjustment story. Since the January troughs, bonds rallied by 300 bps while the lira appreciated by some 10% against the basket; markets also held up reasonably well,...

Default or Not Default
ARGENTINA · Forecast · 06 Jul 2014

Executive Summary This report presents two scenarios: a first scenario in which an agreement with the holdouts is reached avoiding a new default; and a worst-case scenario without agreement and default. Needless to say, in the default scenario we expect macroeconomic instability to increase signi...

Terrorists left Sloviansk, activists report
UKRAINE · In Brief · 05 Jul 2014

Activists report that separatists left Sloviansk, the town which was the strongest point of resistance at the region. Terrorists made the step after Sloviansk was totally taken into circle by Ukrainian army. If this information is true, it is a very good news witnessing substantial progress in mi...

Brazil Presidential Election
BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 04 Jul 2014

Datafolha: World Cup Improves the Mood of Voters, but Dilma Still Faces Challenges The Datafolha Institute released a new poll yesterday (7/3), conducted on July 1-2, which shows increased intended votes for President Dilma Rousseff (PT).Compared to the June poll, Dilma gained 4 percentage points...