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EconoGraphics

May 20, 2015

Who’s Buying European Companies?

By Global Business & Economics

Who is purchasing European companies? Looking at the five biggest foreign acquisitions of European corporates since 2011 shows that the US are the biggest buyers by a considerable margin, with the China, Hong Kong, Brazil, and Japan following behind.

Brazil China

EconoGraphics

May 12, 2015

Two Decades of Sovereign Debt

By Global Business & Economics

Sovereign default is considered to be a rare event. But as the lessons of the past two decades show, they are far from extraordinary. According to the IMF, the main sovereign debt restructurings from the period spanning 1998 – 2010 totaled $117.6 billion. When Greece’s 2012 default is added to that sum, it means that […]

Economy & Business Fiscal and Structural Reform

EconoGraphics

May 5, 2015

Creating the Digital Single Market

By Global Business & Economics Program

European E-Commerce is still largely confined within national borders.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

EconoGraphics

Apr 28, 2015

Do Sanctions Work After All?

By Global Business & Economics

International Relations scholars disagree about whether economic sanctions are an effective tool to coerce countries to follow a certain course of action.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

EconoGraphics

Apr 21, 2015

Exit, or Voice?

By Global Business & Economics

In March, the UK, Germany, Italy, and France decided to join the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), shocking the Obama administration.

Brazil China

EconoGraphics

Apr 14, 2015

Who is Investing Abroad?

By Global Business & Economics

While the US still leads the world in outflowing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), the emerging markets are catching up quickly. Chinese outflowing FDI, in particular has grown tremendously: since 2005, it increased more than 30-fold in 8 years from $5 billion to $166 billion. While initial Chinese foreign investments focused on natural resource industries, over time the investments have spread to diverse industries like agriculture, manufacturing, and professional services. BRIC FDIs are emerging as key growth drivers for low income countries, improving their business environment, building infrastructure, creating jobs, and adding much-needed revenue to government coffers.

China Russia

EconoGraphics

Apr 7, 2015

Is Europe still vulnerable to a Greek default?

By Global Business & Economics Program

Private banks throughout Europe have significantly reduced their exposure to Greek debt (bank, public, and non-bank private sector debt) over the last five years. After Greece came under market pressure and eventually obtained ECB and IMF financial assistance in 2010, most European banks started to rapidly reduce their exposure to Greece. For instance, between 2010 and 2014 French banks' holdings decreased from $63 billion to $2 billion.

Economy & Business Eurozone

EconoGraphics

Mar 31, 2015

The IMF’s Changing Role in Europe

By Global Business & Economics

The International Monetary Fund's purpose and scope of work have changed since its founding after World War II. Whereas at first the Fund aimed to maintain monetary and exchange-rate stability among its members who were primarily advanced economies, today it faces its first credible challenge to its status as the world's lender of last resort.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

EconoGraphics

Mar 24, 2015

How Much Does it Cost for Cubans to Access Information?

By Global Business & Economics

When President Obama announced his landmark policy shift towards Cuba, easing the 54-year-old embargo, one of the first companies to announce they would begin operating in Cuba was Netflix. The online video company's decision was surprising, if only because Cuba's internet is one of the slowest in the world.

Americas Cuba

EconoGraphics

Mar 17, 2015

Who Will Finance Public Debt?

By Global Business & Economics Program

Today, the cap on US government spending (or the "debt ceiling") is officially reinstated, and with it, the threat of another clash over the national debt. Policymakers will have a runway of just months before they must decide to lift the cap on borrowing or temporarily allow it to be raised

Brazil China

Content

Econographics

Jul 23, 2026

Kenya wants to monetize its data. But at what cost?

By Aadyaa Maddi, Karen Sowon, and Giulia Fanti

As data becomes a strategic resource, Kenya wants to cash in. But without stronger safeguards on consent, privacy, and valuation, its data strategy could become a cautionary tale.

Africa Digital Policy

Econographics

Jul 23, 2026

Mexico can turn USMCA pressure into an industrial opportunity

By Ernesto Stein, Phil Lovegren

Mexico’s record exports mask an uncomfortable reality: its fastest-growing industry—data processing machines—relies overwhelmingly on Asian inputs. A carefully redesigned USMCA could help the country move up the value chain.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

Econographics

Jul 22, 2026

The US just threatened new tariffs on Canada. Here’s why they may not work.

By Madeline Chalecki

The latest escalation in the US-Canadian tariff standoff highlights the limits of using trade restrictions as a negotiating tool—and the risks of getting trapped in a cycle of retaliation.

Americas Trade and tariffs

Econographics

Jul 20, 2026

Germany is finally waking up to the China challenge. And Beijing is gearing up to respond

By Jessie Yin

As Berlin confronts the effects of the China Shock 2.0, the EU will need to proceed strategically. After all, Beijing has expanded its economic statecraft toolkit to counter the EU's anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties.

China Economy & Business

Econographics

Jul 10, 2026

Inside the power struggle over Venezuela’s debt restructuring

By Bart Piasecki

As Venezuela prepares to restructure $240 billion in debt, a high-stakes contest over oil revenues is unfolding—one that could reshape creditor recoveries, US-China competition, and the country’s economic future.

Economy & Business Fiscal and Structural Reform

Econographics

Jul 7, 2026

A weak yen spells trouble for Japan—at home and abroad

By Hung Tran

Japan’s weak yen is not a market anomaly. Structural capital outflows, shifting investment patterns, and dollar strength are keeping pressure on the currency—and creating potential new tensions with Washington.

Economy & Business Japan

EnergySource

Jul 2, 2026

With US sanctions temporarily lifted, is Iranian crude back on the menu?

By Lize de Kruijf, Chloe O’Connor

The US-Iran deal waives sanctions on Iranian oil sales, but Washington will need further steps to meaningfully shift global crude trade and ensure clearer visibility into Iranian oil transactions.

Dollar Dominance Energy & Environment
The flags of Canada, the United States, and Mexico

EconoGraphics

Jun 30, 2026

The five stages of a USMCA shakeup

By Madeline Chalecki

While the agreement may survive at the end of negotiations, years of uncertainty, tariffs, and prolonged talks could reshape North American trade.

Americas Economy & Business

Econographics

Jun 24, 2026

As democracies grow old, it becomes harder to adopt sound economic policies

By Martin Mühleisen

By slowing growth and tightening fiscal space, aging in democracies may contribute to an increase in political polarization.

Economy & Business Fiscal and Structural Reform

Econographics

Jun 19, 2026

Central banks can’t afford to keep missing their inflation targets

By Jack Muldoon

While the Iran war explains the sudden rise in inflation, relying on this excuse obscures that there is potentially a long-term problem central banks will need to confront as they manage the long tail of this crisis.

Economy & Business Macroeconomics