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Blog Post

Sep 27, 2021

Inclusive growth needs financial inclusion. Can Central Bank Digital Currency help?

By Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou

1.7 billion adults remained unbanked as per the 2017 wave of Findex dataset, with large disparities in financial inclusion still existing across countries, gender, income, education, and rural-urban lines. CBDCs have the potential to enhance financial inclusion and reduce these disparities.

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

Blog Post

Sep 24, 2021

Evergrande’s debt distress: Withdrawal symptoms of China’s debt-fueled growth model

By Hung Tran

On September 24th China’s giant property developer Evergrande Group entered a 30-day grace period before being declared in default. Although they may not default, this slowdown highlights the key contradiction in China’s policy goals.

China Economy & Business

Blog Post

Sep 9, 2021

Afghanistan’s economy under the Taliban: the challenges ahead

By Inbar Pe'er

If their past is any indication of the future, the Taliban will find funds. But their ability to properly manage monetary policy remains to be seen. If they don’t, they’ll surely lose the economic war, and the people of Afghanistan along with it

Afghanistan Economy & Business

Blog Post

Aug 5, 2021

Foreign Direct Investment: A new strategy for the United States

By Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou

With the recent inbound and outbound slowdown in US FDI, state-backed investment in strategic industries must be part of a US FDI strategy for the remainder of the twenty-first century.

Economy & Business International Markets

Blog Post

Jul 27, 2021

The time for US immigration reform is now

By Jeff Goldstein

The US is currently grappling with a multi-decade long trend of declining population rates leading to fewer and fewer workers. To meet the challenges of the future, US policymakers must manage declining population growth – and one of the best arrows in their economic policy quiver is comprehensive immigration reform.

Future of Work Macroeconomics

Blog Post

Jul 22, 2021

China and Sub-Saharan Africa trade: A case of growing interdependence

By Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou

China’s total merchandise trade with Sub-Saharan Africa has increased by 1864% since 2001. Its increased presence in the region not only increases its access and influence, but also poses significant economic and security risks for the US and EU.

China East Africa

Blog Post

Jul 15, 2021

The Fed should scrap its reverse repo in favor of a standing repo facility

By Hung Tran

The recent growth of the Federal Reserve’s Overnight Reverse Repo (ON RRP) has validated concerns that it has too large a footprint on US money markets, creating potential financial stability hazards. To address this, the Fed should abolish the ON RRP and instead launch a Standing Repo Facility.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

Blog Post

Jun 28, 2021

China’s anti-foreign sanctions law: Companies in the crosshairs

By Hung Tran

On June 10, 2021, China’s National People’s Congress passed the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law. This has raised the complexity and risk of doing business globally, especially as sanctions and counter-sanctions are likely to proliferate in the intensifying US-China strategic competition.

China Economic Sanctions

Blog Post

Jun 17, 2021

Financial services and the privacy challenge

By Dante A. Disparte

While technology alone is not a panacea for the privacy and security challenges facing the financial industry, it has shown us where policy, regulations, and incumbents have failed to perform. Finance should be accessible and equitable – and protect users’ privacy.

Financial Regulation International Financial Institutions

Blog Post

Jun 10, 2021

Development finance in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Chinese model

By Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou

In recent years Chinese investment in Sub-Saharan Africa has outpaced distributions by the World Bank Group by more than $20 billion USD. These investments have been focused in energy, transport, metals, and real estate imply a modern bartering system is at play where developing countries in these regions pay for Chinese investment and construction in their economies through guaranteed long-term supply of hydrocarbons, agriproducts, or minerals.

Africa China