Kenya plans to switch to privatization to stimulate the economy after exhausting fiscal consolidation, its Treasury secretary said https://t.co/o0lIXaxTmO ...

In the last decade, Fritz went from an economic mess to the entropy of Europe, at least by some metrics. Just behind me, Sidama Square became the focal point for protest during crisis economic crisis. Now, it's less of a political landmark, more of a tourist watch.What really happened and how did the Greeks do it. The years of austerity following the bailout agreements caused immense social and economic hardship. Still, the fiscal consolidation allowed the country to conclude its bailout programs in 2018.No ...

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the Finnish economy but emphasizes the need for fiscal consolidation and structural reforms to support economic recovery and growth potential [25][30]. Core Insights - The Finnish economy is slowly recovering from a recession, with a projected real GDP growth of 0.7% in 2025 and 1.1% in 2026, driven by declining interest rates and improved purchasing power [30][32]. - Finland has a strong comparative advantage in renewable electricity and engineering, which positions it well for the green industrial transition, but faces challenges in productivity growth and labor market mismatches [25][28]. - The report highlights the importance of attracting foreign talent to address skill shortages and enhance economic growth, alongside the need for reforms in higher education to increase attainment rates [51][43]. Summary by Sections Economic Recovery and Public Finances - The Finnish economy is gradually recovering, but growth lags behind Nordic peers and the OECD average, with a contraction of 0.1% in 2024 [31][30]. - Fiscal pressures are increasing due to rising defense, health, and pension expenditures, with a fiscal deficit of 4.4% of GDP in 2024 [37][30]. - Structural reforms are necessary to improve public spending efficiency and address labor market mismatches to sustain recovery [39][30]. Higher Education Attainment - Finland's higher education attainment rate has stagnated, ranking 30th among OECD countries, contributing to labor shortages in highly skilled positions [44][43]. - The higher education system is primarily publicly funded, and reforms are needed to increase the number of first-entrant places and expand the range of post-graduate qualifications [49][43]. - Encouraging business funding for higher education research is essential to free up resources for new entrants [25][43]. Attracting Foreign Talent - Attracting high-skilled foreign workers is crucial for addressing current and future skill shortages, particularly in sectors like ICT and green energy [51][52]. - Language proficiency remains a barrier for foreign workers, necessitating expanded language training programs and flexible workplace language policies [53][52]. - Initiatives to provide more internship opportunities for foreign students are needed to improve retention rates post-graduation [54][52]. Transition to Net Zero - Finland is not on track to meet its 2035 net zero greenhouse gas emissions target, with a need for increased forest growth and reduced soil emissions [57][56]. - Investment in low-emissions technologies is essential, but current policies and emissions accounting methods hinder progress [67][56]. - The report emphasizes the importance of public-private partnerships to crowd in private investment for the green transition [67][56].

Investment Rating - The report indicates a positive outlook for EM local currency funds, suggesting a new phase of inflows as investors anticipate USD weakness [10][17]. Core Insights - EM fixed income investors are shifting towards local market funds, with a notable preference for non-USD denominated assets, reflecting expectations of USD weakness [10][21]. - The GBI-EM Global Diversified Index has returned approximately 8.5% year-to-date, outperforming hard currency returns of 1.6% [10][22]. - The report highlights a significant rally in the TWD, driven by exporters selling USD and foreign inflows into Taiwan equities [34][40]. Summary by Sections EM Fixed Income Strategy - The report outlines a historical perspective on EM fund flows, categorizing them into four phases from 2008 to the present, with a recent shift towards local currency inflows [18][21]. - The analysis suggests that a weakening USD is crucial for sustaining inflows into local currency funds, with projections indicating further USD depreciation [17][18]. LatAm Oil & Gas - Strong capital expenditure levels in Latin America are expected to drive a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 3% through 2030, primarily from Brazil, Argentina, and Guyana [4]. LatAm Macro Strategy - The report assesses risks to central bank pricing in Latin America, indicating mixed rate valuations but identifying potential pockets of value in the region [5]. IMF Spring Meetings Takeaways - The IMF's latest projections indicate a weaker global growth outlook, with emerging markets facing increased fiscal risks and debt levels [60][63]. - The report notes that while fiscal balances are under pressure, there are positive developments in several countries, including Argentina and Nigeria, which may support their reform programs [70].

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - South Africa is experiencing a severe learning crisis in its education sector, with low education outcomes compared to the resources invested and the country's level of development [21][33] - The report emphasizes the need for comprehensive reforms in basic education to transform the education system into a driver of inclusive growth [22][32] Summary by Sections Part 1: The State of the Economy - In 2024, South Africa's GDP growth was estimated at 0.8%, which is below the average growth rate of 4.1% for middle-income countries [24][45] - The fiscal deficit reached 6% of GDP, the highest level since 2009, leading to an increase in public debt to 74.9% of GDP [26][28] - Economic growth is projected to gradually improve towards 2% over the next three to five years, driven by better infrastructure services and a favorable external environment [27][44] Part 2: The Overdue Reform and Emerging Priorities in the Basic Education Sector - The education sector faces three key challenges: a learning crisis, increasing financing constraints, and limited efficiency and equity in public spending [35][40] - The report suggests three actions for better learning outcomes: focusing on foundational learning, leveraging the private sector for education service delivery, and improving efficiency and equity in public spending [38][41] - South Africa's government traditionally spends about 4.3% of GDP on basic education, which is higher than most upper-middle-income countries, but the current financing model is under threat due to reduced fiscal space [40][41]