Economy, Finance and Trade

In 2021, the recovery will be mainly supported by household consumption and public investment in reconstruction efforts following the earthquake at the end of 2019. Household consumption, the mainstay of demand, is expected to grow in the second half...

Benin’s economy should continue to grow at a solid pace in 2019. However, the economic impact of the pandemic has already begun to materialise through higher Eurobond spreads and lower cotton prices, while a more widespread domestic outbreak could ...

Despite many limitations, the economy is performing well. Djibouti is expanding its transportation and utilities infrastructure to leverage its strategic location as a shipping hub and host to military bases. Private consumption is another driver ...

Malta’s economy will improve but grow at a moderate pace in 2021. The economy will be affected by the continued measures in place to contain the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The all-important tourism and services industries will be ...

Chad’s economy will continue to recover in 2020. The non-oil economy is projected to grow at 3.0% this year backed by higher public investment and domestic arrears repayment as well as a pick-up in cotton and livestock. Oil GDP is expected to grow by...

The economy will recover slightly in 2021, but faces a number of serious problems. Real GDP growth will be mainly driven by external demand for medical and pharmaceutical goods and services, and for nickel. Public demand, is expected to be ...

Political stability has resulted in a favourable business environment, whilst economic freedom is solid. However, corruption is pervasive and state finances are worsening. The economy is forecast to recover well from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) ...

Vietnam’s Economic Freedom ranking has been improving. However, individual freedoms continue to be repressed and corruption is widespread. Strong economic performance will be powered by a growing manufacturing sector. Increasing incomes are forecast ...

Lithuania demonstrates that it enjoys political stability, which fosters business development. The economy is expected to bounce back strongly from the negative effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Nevertheless, high unemployment could ...

Jordan has a favourable business environment. However, economic freedom is curtailed by poor fiscal health, which is exacerbated by management needed of refugees at its borders. The economy is set to recover well from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) ...

Relative peace characterises Czech society, which enjoys high levels of economic freedom. The economy is expected to rebound well from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the medium term, supported by solid foreign investment inflows. Rapid ageing...

PEST analysis (political, economic, social and technological) describes a framework of macro-environmental factors assessed as a strategic tool for environment scanning, understanding risks and opportunities, market growth or decline, business ...

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Political instability hampers economic freedom in Sri Lanka, which continues to be negatively affected by the legacy civil war. Economic recovery is anticipated to be slow, most notably affected by the contraction in tourism as a result of the ...

Pervasive corruption could undermine President Joko Widodo’s push to develop Indonesia’s infrastructure. The economy should recover lost ground in 2021, but is over-reliant on China and has elevated unemployment. The growing consumer market should ...

Political instability and an Economic Freedom ranking that is ‘mostly unfree’ create challenges for businesses. However, Kenya is expected to recover quickly from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, thanks to rising domestic demand, but unemployment...

Government stability rankings for Uzbekistan are challenging, as is a lack of economic freedom. However, reforms could change the political and business landscapes enabling greater foreign investment. The economy has weathered the Coronavirus ...

Singapore’s political stability and superior economic freedom foster business development. Although the economy is expected to recover strongly from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, its highly open external sector is susceptible to demand shocks,...

Endemic corruption, poor rankings for global peace and terrorism, and political instability characterise Nigeria. Moreover, high unemployment and elevated inflation threaten economic growth. Nonetheless, a major regional trade deal could transform ...

In 2021, Zambia’s recovery will be sluggish, constrained by the debt crisis. It will be mainly driven by household consumption, which should benefit from the easing of restrictions associated with the pandemic. However, high inflation, which will be ...