Asia Pacific / Politics May 10, 2022
China’s green Belt and Road push leaves plenty of gray areas
Since China launched the Belt and Road initiative in 2013, the project has come under a lot of criticism for funding polluting activities overseas. That’s started to change with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent pledge to stop supporting foreign coal projects. In the past ten ...
Commentary / World May 5, 2022
Preventing developing-economy debt disasters
by Rabah Arezki and Mahmoud Mohieldin
The best way to protect people from poverty and food insecurity such as that caused by the Ukraine war is to build a more inclusive social-protection system. But money remains a problem.
Asia Pacific Apr 28, 2022
A powerful dynasty bankrupted Sri Lanka in just 30 months
by Kai Schultz
In recent weeks Sri Lanka has run out of cash to pay for essential goods like food and fuel, leading to long petrol lines and daily 13-hour power cuts.
Business Apr 22, 2022
Japan banks target growth in cooling U.S. high-yield debt market
by Makiko Yamazaki and Yuki Nitta
The banks are facing increasing risks and dwindling opportunities, testing their staying power.
Business / Economy | ANALYSIS Apr 22, 2022
As Russia faces potential default, investors weigh legal options
by Rodrigo Campos and Karin Strohecker
Foreign creditors would typically try to band together to negotiate, go to court or in some cases seek arbitration in cases of default, but current sanctions make this difficult.
Business / Economy Apr 21, 2022
Hunger and blackouts are just the start of an emerging economic crisis
by Shawn Donnan, Eric Martin, Andrew Rosati and Jihen Laghmari
Compounding the danger is the most aggressive monetary tightening campaign the Federal Reserve has embarked on in two decades.
Asia Pacific Apr 14, 2022
China hesitates on bailing out Sri Lanka and Pakistan as debt soars
Often accused by the U.S. of using "debt diplomacy” for political advantage, Xi Jinping’s government is becoming more reluctant to pull out the checkbook.
World Apr 7, 2022
Tesla-backed startup made cheap power a debt burden for the world’s poorest
by David Kocieniewski and Gavin Finch
Solar pay-as-you-go plans have been hailed as the answer to bringing clean, affordable electricity to millions, but the system can break down catastrophically.
Commentary / Japan Mar 25, 2022
Is Japan at risk of a downgrade?
by Jinho Choi and Kimi Xu Jiang
The COVID-19 pandemic stalled the Japanese government’s debt-control efforts, now it also has to deal with the economic fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Commentary / World Feb 28, 2022
The 2% inflation target should be consigned to history
by Marcus Ashworth
It’s time for rigid inflation targets to be scrapped and for more flexibility to be breathed into monetary frameworks.
Commentary / World Feb 2, 2022
Financial illiteracy is not why people struggle
by Stuart Trow and Marcus Ashworth
It’s human nature to pay the creditors who shout the loudest rather than tackling financial problems in an organized fashion.