Japan and its Rice Crises

When you think of the Japanese economy, what immediately comes to your mind? The supposed “lost decade”, its deflationary policies or zero interest rates that reduce the effectiveness of its fiscal policies? Or perhaps, you think more positively, zooming in on the advanced technology industry or its high investments in human capital. But what you probably didn’t think about, unless you read the title, were … Continue reading Japan and its Rice Crises

Hong Kong’s Economic Turning Point

Hong Kong’s Turning Point: Turbulence to Transformation? Since the return of Hong Kong to China in 1997, the Hong Kong government has depended on limiting the release of land parcels to drive up prices and maximize revenue, allowing it to maintain low taxes, which in turn attracts businesses, talent, and foreign investment. Branded as “Asia’s World City”, Hong Kong rose rapidly to become the widely … Continue reading Hong Kong’s Economic Turning Point

Op-Ed: Rebalancing the Lion: The Reforms Temasek Needs

(After the article was written, the fund mentioned (Temasek) made the reform Sean directly suggested) Introduction  With omnipresent skyscrapers and dazzling city lights, Singapore has long been synonymous with financial excellence. A cornerstone of this success has been Temasek, the state-owned multinational investment firm that has deftly managed a significant portion of the government’s reserves for the past half-century. As of 2024, it boasts a net … Continue reading Op-Ed: Rebalancing the Lion: The Reforms Temasek Needs

Great Expectations and India’s Economy

In 1979, Deng Xiaoping announced China’s intention to “open up” to the world’s economy. It has been a pariah state to the west since its Communist revolution in 1949, and its later “Cultural Revolution”. The reforms, which involved opening Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in harbour areas like Shenzhen, dividing up collectivised farmland and allowing private businesses to operate, saw China’s GDP grow by over 9% … Continue reading Great Expectations and India’s Economy

The Economics of Chinese New Year

“The Economic Impact of Chinese New Year: Growth, Disruptions, and Opportunities”  The Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, just took place. It is not only a time of cultural celebration but a period of great economic activity in China. The impact on its economy is huge, affecting tourism, retail, manufacturing and also transportation.  The Spring Festival is one of the most celebrated annual … Continue reading The Economics of Chinese New Year

Mapping India’s Economy

Mapping India’s Economy: Where It Is and Where It’s Going  “India’s economy is likely to stand firm in an uncertain world”, according to Goldman Sachs. Recently, the nation’s economic climb has been amid the centre of global discussions. Their $3.7 trillion GDP has now surpassed the UK, ranking fifth largest in the world. The quote deduces that in a world of corrupt governments and economic … Continue reading Mapping India’s Economy

The TSMC and a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan

Chinese military action against Taiwan seems to grow increasingly likely by the day; the US intelligence community’s latest estimate believes a potential invasion of Taiwan could occur as early as 2027. The implications of military action in Taiwan would be devastating to US national output, because Taiwan houses much of the manufacturing capacity of a company that is key to the US economy: Taiwan Semiconductor … Continue reading The TSMC and a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan

The Rise in China’s EV Production

The Transition away from fossil fuels is one of the key economic driving forces of this decade. A key way for countries to wean themselves off hydrocarbons is through the replacement of internal combustion engines with electric battery powered engines. Electric Vehicles (including plug in hybrids) have seen a surge in production over the last few years. China is at the forefront of this global … Continue reading The Rise in China’s EV Production

Boom to Bust: The Implications of China’s Real-Estate Crisis

Overview China’s economic boom over the last three decades has been well documented; its gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an average rate of 9% annually between 1989 and 2022 and is forecasted to overtake the American economy by 2035 according to Goldman Sachs. But economists frequently overlook a major vulnerability of the Chinese economy: its fragile real-estate industry. For decades, China’s economy has been … Continue reading Boom to Bust: The Implications of China’s Real-Estate Crisis

From Emerging Giant to Economic Titan: India’s Journey to #5

In the final quarter of 2021, India overtook the UK and became one of the world’s top 5 largest economics (amongst powerhouses such as the US, China, Japan, and Germany). Now the country is projected to be the 3rd largest economy by 2027 ($5.4 trillion GDP by 2025) and has the largest population, overtaking China in April 2023. It is interesting to witness how a former … Continue reading From Emerging Giant to Economic Titan: India’s Journey to #5