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Trump coronavirus2

In the World, World politics 28th October 2020

History Will Tell If The Coronavirus Is To Trump What Hurricane Katrina Was To George W. Bush’s Legacy

Regina Borromeo (Robeco ) | Since the summer, our view has been that voting momentum will follow the path of the pandemic and the economic recovery. Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic has been compared to George W. Bush’s mishandling of the disaster response to Hurricane Katrina, which coincided with a fall in the President’s polling and approval ratings. National polls have seen Biden extend his lead to over 10% recently, a larger spread compared to 2016 when Hilary Clinton ran against Trump. 

Trump Biden 1

In the World, World politics 26th October 2020

The Race Is Tightening Between Mr Trump And Mr Biden

The final presidential debate between Mr Trump and Mr Biden was yesterday evening. This final head to head between the candidates before the election on 3 November came after the second debate was cancelled due to Trump’s infection with coronavirus. Despite the chaotic back and forth between both candidates during the first debate, there are notably different views between both candidates about corporate taxes, energy and US-China trade

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In the World, World economy 24th October 2020

The Planet’s Temperature Will Rise 3.9°C, Despite The Covid-19 Crisis

Today is the International Day against Climate Change. Schroders analyzes how the Covid-19 crisis has influenced this phenomenon. The conclusion is that, despite the fact that confinements have reduced greenhouse gas emissions, the forecasts for global warming are still far above the commitment made in Paris in 2015. In particular, the latest update of the Schroders Climate Progress Dashboard suggests that the current speed of climate action will increase temperatures by 3.9°C, almost twice the Paris Agreement target of 2°C.

Standard Poors

In the World, World economy 23rd October 2020

The Risk Of Huge Increase In Spending And Public Debt Due To Covid-19 Will Lead To More Ratings Downgrades

S&P has warned of the possibility of a second wave of sovereign credit rating downgrades around the world. So far in 2020, the firm has downgraded ratings or outlook for 60 countries. The problem lies in the effects of COVID-19 that be will dragged on over the next few years. In fact, some countries will add 15-20 GDP points to their public debt, which otherwise would have taken four or five years to accumulate. In addition, public spending will continue to be above normal for a period that can extend 3-5 years.

Tindoufok

In the World, World politics 22nd October 2020

Morocco And Western Sahara: Human Rights Component Critical To UN Mission

On 28 October, the UN Security Council is due to vote on the renewal of the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) which has thus far not included a human rights component. MINURSO was established in 1991 to monitor a ceasefire agreement between Moroccan armed forces and the Polisario Front, a Sahrawi pro-independence movement which administers Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria.

china

In the World, World economy 21st October 2020

China: Small Data, Big Impact

Unemployment in China, which rose to 6.2% in February, is down to 5.4% in September – only marginally higher than 5.2% in December 2019. Industrial production increased 6.9% year on year in September – the highest increase since December 2019. This data point has vindicated the strong recovery in Purchasing Managers Indices (PMIs) – which are important, but only show month on month change in activity. Retail sales – an important barometer of consumer wellbeing – have also bounced back and risen by 3.3% year on year in September after being negative between January and July this year.

Indonesiaok

In the World, World economy 20th October 2020

Bold Steps: Indonesia Tackles Labor And Investment Reforms To Realize Its Demographic Potential

Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world with 273-million people, which is expected to expand by 21% by the year 2050 to 331-million Indonesians. The challenge of how to provide jobs for the increase of 28 million working age people by 2050 on top of an already excess capacity 185 million people in 2020 is a pressing concern… After being informed by the World Bank that few firms consider Indonesia in the diversification push out of China, President Jokowi asked his ministers to come up with a reform agenda. Covid-19 forced the government to focus on short-term challenges in H1 2020, but on 5 October 2020, the government passed the Omnibus Bill that overhauled Indonesia’s investment and labor laws.

US elections2020

In the World, World economy 18th October 2020

The Scale Of US Election Spending Explained In Five Graphs

William Horncastle via The Conversation | The amount of money spent on US elections eclipses the annual total economic output of some small countries. The total spending by candidates, political parties and independent campaign groups in the 2016 race was US$6.5 billion – comparable to the GDP that year of Monaco, Kosovo or Liechtenstein. The 2020 election cycle is forecast to smash previous spending records, with the Center for Responsive Politics estimating it will cost US$11 billion. That would be comparable to the 2019 GDP of Equatorial Guinea or Chad.

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In the World, World economy 17th October 2020

Chinese Lessons For Recovery

Covid-19’s first victim continues to recover, with structural measures increasing the economy’s robustness and boosting its currency. That is not without risks, however. Lately, the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) has been valiantly trying to slow down the appreciation of its currency, the renminbi, vs. the U.S. dollar. In part by trying to encourage capital outflows. “That will not be easy,” argues Elke Speidel-Walz, our Chief Economist for Emerging Markets.