Of Interest
you are currently viewing:Global Imbalances: Old Questions, New Answers?April 6, 2026-Widening global current account imbalances are best addressed by simultaneous domestic policy adjustments. Industrial policy and tariffs offer a costly fix with unreliable effects on imbalances. Global current account imbalances are widening again, reversing a decade of steady decline following the global financial crisis. History suggests a clear risk: widening imbalances have often been accompanied by concentrated and lower-quality growth, triggered sectoral dislocations across trading partners, and preceded financial crises or abrupt reversals of capital flows. With the global economy already absorbing multiple shocks, such a disorderly adjustment could be exceptionally costly. Source: imf.org |
Rewiring global value chains in a changing global environment
February 25, 2026--Global value chains are the backbone of the world economy,even at a time when they are undergoing structural and policy-driven changes in the face of a rapidly changing global environment.
Over the past two decades,international production networks have been tested in various ways - by the COVID-19 pandemic, by intensifying geopolitical frictions,by financial shocks and by accelerating climate challenges.
Women's Economic-Opportunity Laws Only Half-Enforced Globally
February 24, 2026--Only 4% of women worldwide live in economies that provide nearly full legal equality
Laws designed to ensure equal economic opportunities for women are only half-enforced on average across the world, indicating that the barriers that keep women from contributing fully to growth and prosperity are far steeper than previously thought, according to a new report from the World Bank Group.
Ranked: The World's 50 Largest Economies, Including U.S. States
February 20, 2026--19 U.S. states rank among the world's 50 largest economies in 2025.
California ($4.30T) is now the world's 4th-largest economy, ahead of Japan and India.
Texas ($2.94T) is larger than Italy and Russia; Florida's economy is bigger than Australia's.
Technology will take our jobs? We've heard that one before
February 19, 2026-Professions threatened by technology have proven surprisingly resilient throughout history.
That's worth recognizing as artificial intelligence assumes more tasks, though this particular story won't necessarily end well for everyone.
Ramon Novarro was very good at one thing. Or so it seemed.
Charted: The Growth of $100 by Asset Class (1965-2025)
February 19, 2026-Key Takeaways
Stocks had the best returns, turning $100 into $43k-roughly 29x the return of cash and about 5x that of gold.
Real estate and government bonds beat cash, by a factor of 1.4x and 1.9x respectively.
How Do Interest Rates Impact the Real Estate Market?
February 14, 2026--Real estate performance has historically strengthened during periods of falling interest rates.
Lower rates reduce financing costs and improve real estate valuations, supporting returns.
With rate cuts expected into mid 2026, real estate could benefit from a renewed tailwind.
