In The News

Bloomberg: Nordhaus, Romer Win Nobel Prize

Jonas O Bergman and Rich Miller October 8, 2018
The 2018 Nobel Prize in Economics has been awarded to William D. Nordhaus of Yale University and Paul M. Romer of New York University’s Stern School of Business for research “addressing some of our time’s most basic and pressing questions about how we create long-term sustained and sustainable economic growth,” announced the Royal Swedish Academy. Nordhaus created the first model that studies...

Project Syndicate: Makings of a 2020 Recession

Nouriel Roubini and Brunello Rosa October 1, 2018
A global recession is anticipated in 2020, and Nouriel Roubini and Brunello Rosa suggest it could be severe. Fiscal-stimulus policies are unsustainable and contribute to overheating and inflation, which in turn drives up interest rates. US trade disputes with China, Europe, Mexico and Canada disrupt supply chains and contributes to slowed growth. Adding complications: a US crackdown on...

Global Finance: Consequences of Rising Oil Prices

Laurence Neville September 14, 2018
Oil prices have been volatile, moving from more than $100 per barrel in 2014 to $27 in 2016 to more than $75 today. Oil producers with budgets depending on oil revenue like Venezuela could benefit. Still, global growth depends on stable energy prices, and high oil prices could trigger inflation and threaten emerging economies, which are both more energy intensive and less energy efficient than...

NPR: Venezuelan Refugees Flee, Facing Violence, Closed Borders

Shannon Van Sant August 21, 2018
Venezuela’s politics and economy spiral into chaos and thousands of try to flee for other countries, but face protests, border closures and even attacks including a refugee camp set on fire in northern Brazil. The country of 31 million people borders Colombia, Brazil and Guyana. “The United Nations says more than 7 percent – 2.3 million refugees – of Venezuela's population have fled to other...

The Guardian: Trump’s Sanctions Against Iran Breach of International Law

Gholamali Khoshroo August 14, 2018
The Trump administration has threatened economic retaliation against nations that maintain economic ties to Iran. Writing for the Guardian, Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations Gholamali Khoshroo argues that such a position is “a clear rejection of diplomacy and multilateralism” and “a clear call for confrontation rather than cooperation.” After withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal in May –...

Washington Post: Trump Tweets Warning to Iran’s Rouhani

Carol Morello August 9, 2018
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has not backed down in the face of threatening tweets by President Donald Trump in capital letters. The tweet was in response to a comment by the Iranian president. According to the Islamic Republic News Agency, Rouhani told a meeting of Iranian diplomats that “America should know that peace with Iran is the mother of all peace, and war with Iran is the mother of...

The Economist: Why Morocco Cozies Up to Sub-Saharan Africa

August 8, 2018
As the intra-Maghreb rivalry continues unabated, Morocco cultivates ties with sub-Saharan neighbors. King Mohammed VI has visited 14 African nations since October 2016. A recent article for the Economist notes: “Like their king, Moroccan companies are also lavishing attention on west Africa. The African Development Bank estimates that 85% of Morocco’s outward foreign direct investment (FDI) goes...