Bi-Weekly Geopolitical Report
Weekly Geopolitical Report – Reflections on Trade: Part III (May 15, 2017)
by Bill O’Grady This week, we continue our discussion on trade by examining the reserve currency issue. What is the reserve currency? When a country runs a trade surplus, it creates excess saving that must be either invested overseas or held as foreign reserves. If a gold standard is being used, the excess saving/foreign reserves can… Read More »
Weekly Geopolitical Report – Reflections on Trade: Part II (May 8, 2017)
by Bill O’Grady In this multi-part report, we offer several reflections on trade that we hope can provide some insight into how to use macroeconomics to judge the veracity of certain claims. In Part I, we laid out the basic macroeconomics of trade. This week, in Part II, we will discuss the impact of exchange rates… Read More »
Weekly Geopolitical Report – Reflections on Trade: Part I (May 1, 2017)
by Bill O’Grady Donald Trump ran on a platform opposing free trade. Although Congressional support for free trade has been waning for some time, the general consensus among economists is that free trade makes the economy more efficient and supports global stability. However, the steady erosion of manufacturing jobs in the U.S. and the shrinking of… Read More »
Weekly Geopolitical Report – Between a Rock and a Hard Place: The Gibraltar Dilemma (April 24, 2017)
by Thomas Wash Days after Theresa May triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, Brussels issued a nine-page document outlining its guidelines for Brexit negotiations. One of the guidelines gave Spain the authority to veto any deal between Gibraltar and the European Union (EU). The U.K. is currently recognized as holding sovereignty over Gibraltar and thus… Read More »
Weekly Geopolitical Report – The EU at 60: Part II (April 10, 2017)
by Bill O’Grady (Due to the Easter holiday, the next edition will be published April 24th.) Last week, we began our retrospective on the EU. This week we will examine the post-Cold War expansion of the EU, including a discussion of the creation of the euro and the Eurozone. With this background, we will analyze the… Read More »
Weekly Geopolitical Report – The EU at 60: Part I (April 3, 2017)
by Bill O’Grady On March 25th, European Union (EU) leaders from 27 nations gathered in Rome to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the organization. Although the EU currently consists of 28 members, the U.K. was absent due to its recent decision to leave the EU. On that day in 1957, France, West Germany,… Read More »
Weekly Geopolitical Report – It’s Tsar, Not Comrade (March 27, 2017)
by Bill O’Grady February 12th was the 100-year anniversary of the Russian Revolution. Surprisingly, the Kremlin has taken a very low-key stance on the centenary. We believe the government’s decision to downplay this historical event offers an insight into Russian President Putin’s thinking. In this report, we will present a history of the Russian Revolution, showing… Read More »
Weekly Geopolitical Report – The Rise of AMLO: Part II (March 20, 2017)
by Thomas Wash In their next general election, Mexicans will cast their vote for the 64th president of the country’s history. The two frontrunners are Margarita Zavala from the National Action Party and Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) from the National Regeneration Movement (MORENA). Although the election won’t be held until July 2018, current polls suggest… Read More »
Weekly Geopolitical Report – The Rise of AMLO: Part I (March 13, 2017)
by Thomas Wash Although many populist movements today, especially in the West, are viewed as a recent phenomenon, it is worth noting that Latin America has had a long history with populism. Populists in South American history include Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, Juan and Eva Perón, along with Nestor and Cristina Kirchner, in Argentina, Juan Evo… Read More »