In the last 20 years or so Africa has been an intermittent strategic interest for the US. Successive US presidents have attached contrasting levels of importance to the continent. This has been clear from their policies and strategic engagement. But with the rise of China as a strategic competitor in Africa the focus on US-Africa […]
the pros and cons of borrowing abroad versus at home
A government which decides to borrow – either because it has programmed a budget deficit or needs to refinance maturing debts – faces two, non-mutually exclusive possibilities: borrow domestically in the local currency or borrow externally in a foreign currency. Developed countries borrow predominantly at home and in their currencies. This is because they have […]
the business benefits of hiring people with intellectual disability
There are many reasons to employ people living with intellectual disability. Most obvious is that it’s the right thing to do – it helps promote social justice, diversity, corporate social responsibility, and equal opportunity. Even so, data released in 2020 (the latest available) show just 53.4% of people with disability are in the labour force, […]
Fed rate hikes, recession fears and political backlash leave ESG investors at a crossroads
The Federal Reserve raised interest rates again on May 3, 2023, by a quarter point, making it the Fed’s 10th rate hike since March 2022 in an ongoing fight to tame inflation. These rate hikes have been reverberating through the economy, raising prospects of a recession amid heightened concerns about the fragile state of banks. […]
A hawkish Fed signals further rate hikes and sees a slowing economy – but not recession
The U.S. Federal Reserve hiked its benchmark interest rate by a further three-quarters of a percentage point on July 27, 2022. The jump was expected by most economists, although some had thought the central bank would go further in its attempts to put the brakes on soaring inflation and impose a full point increase. The […]
Rural Americans aren’t included in inflation figures – and for them, the cost of living may be rising faster
When the Federal Reserve convenes at the end of January 2023 to set interest rates, it will be guided by one key bit of data: the U.S. inflation rate. The problem is, that stat ignores a sizable chunk of the country – rural America. Currently sitting at 6.5%, the rate of inflation is still high, […]
Speaker McCarthy lays out initial cards in debt ceiling debate: 5 essential reads on why it’s a high-stakes game
Speaker McCarthy lays out initial cards in debt ceiling debate: 5 essential reads on why it’s a high-stakes game
Poorest Americans are hit hardest by soaring prices on necessities
The fastest rate of inflation in 40 years is hurting families across the U.S. who are seeing ever-higher prices for everything from meat and potatoes to housing and gasoline. But behind the headline number that’s been widely reported is something that often gets overlooked: Inflation affects different households in different ways – and sometimes hurts […]
does the EU have what it takes to fight greenwashing?
Increased social awareness and pressure from shareholders in the investment fund industry have prompted sustainable funds to take off. The latter are particularly attractive to retail investors because they offer access to a wide range of assets and risk profiles. In recent years, however, this industry has had to contend with an increasingly competitive environment: […]
Global demand for cashews is booming. How Ghana can take advantage to create jobs
The global cashew industry has grown rapidly over the last decade, driven by increasing consumption of cashew nuts around the world. And the market for raw cashews is forecast to continue growing at an annual rate of 4.27% between 2020 and 2025. It is expected to reach almost US$7 billion by 2025. The growing demand […]