Articles

On Global Markets

Cheap Groceries?

Voters, as they have made clear over the last few years, hate inflation. And to most of the general public, it appears that ‘inflation’ does not just mean the pace of year on year prices rises but something about the level of prices. People would generally, and understandably, like things to be cheaper – especially […] 
On Global Markets

The Economics of Rearming

One consequence of the more tumultuous geopolitical environment of the 2020s has been a material rise in global defense spending, and one that looks set to continue. As the IMF noted in its World Economic Outlook this April: After decades of declining global defense spending, rising geopolitical risks and more frequent military conflicts are pushing […] 
On Global Markets

The Yen Intervention

There is a well-rehearsed choreography to Yen interventions. It usually starts with ‘sources close to the Ministry of Finance’ letting it be known that they are unhappy with the current level of the Yen, or at least displeased, with the sharpness of recent moves. That is sometimes enough to persuade investors to back away. If […] 
On Global Markets

Communications Confusion

A couple of weeks ago, this column reported on a Finance Experts Panel poll on the Fed’s new communications strategy. Or, as it might be termed, anti-communications strategy. Kevin Warsh, the new Chair, has taken a radically different approach to his most recent three predecessors. As that column explained, ‘he worries that forward guidance means […] 
On Global Markets

Brexit: Ten Years On

To mark the tenth anniversary of the United Kingdom voting to leave the European Union, the Clark Center’s US and European Economic Experts Panels recently looked – once again – at the vexed issue of Brexit. Brexit is one of those issues which has the potential, at least in the UK, to provoke a fierce […] 
On Global Markets

European Autonomy

Earlier this month, the European Union unveiled its rather unimaginatively named European Technological Sovereignty Package. One imagines that had this been a proposal emanating from the US Congress, it would have had a punchier and more bombastic name; the Safeguarding America Act or some such. Name aside, though, the package was certainly ambitious. As European […]