The Koreas: North and South Exchange Words; Likely Much Ado About Nothing
The increasing terse back and forth between North and South Korean leaders has raised alarms in the world’s diplomatic centers and press rooms. While there is always a slight chance … Continue reading
United States: Start of Negotiations on the International Services Agreement but Impact Could be Limited
Services liberalization – long a pillar of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Doha Round – made a comeback earlier this month when the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced it would … Continue reading
Japan: LDP Implements Spending Measures Taking Country Into Deeper Debt Hole
One of the primary goals of the newly elected Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) government is to reverse Japan’s long-standing economic woes. However, given the scale of this problem, its unlikely … Continue reading
Singapore: Service Sector Maintains Stability While Nation-State Looks for Manufacturing Recovery
Singapore’s economy is based on manufacturing – 25 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) – and service – over 60 percent of GDP – industries. Its focus on exports … Continue reading
Japan: Economic Recovery Not Possible Without Improving Global Conditions
The Japanese government released new data on Monday showing the country’s economy entering yet another recession – the third since 2008 for the world’s third largest economy. This unattractive pattern … Continue reading
All Sorts of Things 