Supported by elevated oil prices and an ongoing post-pandemic recovery, the Middle East is poised to grow strongly in 2022 and conditions will remain relatively good for much of the region in 2023‑24.

On July 16th the government announced that it was resuming payments to casual workers forced to be absent from their jobs because of the coronavirus, amid the start of another wave of covid‑19 cases. Workplace disruption will add further to supply-side inflationary pressures.

Digital disruption has revolutionised the payments landscape around the world. Covid-19 accelerated the uptake of digital wallets and other forms of mobile transactions, while disruptors are rapidly moving to cross-border payments, fuelled by the war in Ukraine.

The US dollar is benefiting from the US economy’s better prospects compared with the euro zone. The US is less exposed to the negative economic consequences of the war in Ukraine, not least because it imports little energy from Russia.

In EIU’s latest global outlook video, global forecasting director Agathe Demarais, and senior analyst Matthew Oxenford, explore Germany’s outlook amid a reduction in Russian gas supplies, and what this situation means for the euro zone.

Europe is facing a looming energy supply crunch this winter. Our infographic shows how energy shortages, high prices and an ensuing economic downturn will affect countries across the region.

Emerging markets (EMs) have lagged developed markets when it comes to sustainable finance, but a surge in 2021 increased their relative share of flows.

The year 2022 was challenging for international business, reflecting escalating geopolitical tensions, high inflation, tighter monetary policy, looming recessions and an ongoing pandemic.

Reports suggest that China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC, a state planning body) has permitted four domestic companies to resume imports of Australian coal, ending an unofficial ban that was imposed in 2020 in response to political disagreements on a range of topics.

In 2023, ruling political parties standing for re-election across Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America will face an uphill battle at the election polls amid still-high inflation and slowing growth.