GlobalSource Partners | Country Insights

Nobody had the illusion that GDP growth in the first quarter would bring cheer to the government, but the result was even more frustrating than many imagined: growth was only 0.2% (0.7% annualized), worse than the 0.4% in the last quarter of 2013 (Graph 1). Of even more concern than the extremely...

Political Insights: Week of June 2

BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 02 Jun 2014

The House agenda contains several controversial topics, including the suspension of the act by the National Agency of Electric Energy (Aneel) denying compensation of R$ 7 billion to residential electricity consumers, the end of social security contributions from inactive civil servants, and the r...

Turkey’s Stable Disequilibrium

TURKEY · Report · 01 Jun 2014

Executive SummaryJune will witness the selection of presidential candidates by major parties. We bet on Erdogan for AKP, but the opposition is yet to find viable champions. We still assign 65% chances to an Erdogan victory, citing three major reasons: No cross-party votes in either round, the pos...

Jokowi Likely to Take It

INDONESIA · Report · 29 May 2014

Executive Summary On the heels of the parliamentary elections, Indonesian politics are heating up. The field has been winnowed to two presidential candidates (from an initial four), and two vice presidential candidates, who will stand for the July 9 vote. This means the election will be decide...

Finally an agreement with the Paris Club

ARGENTINA · In Brief · 29 May 2014

The government announced today that it finally reached, after long and complex negotiations, a first firm agreement with the Paris Club regarding its outstanding debt, which Argentina last defaulted in 2002. The current amount under negotiation stands today, based on April the 30th, at USD 9.7bn....

V, J, or L?

PHILIPPINES · Report · 29 May 2014

With the consensus forecast pegged at 6.4%, most analysts found the 5.7% 1Q14 GDP growth announced today surprising.But not us. We have maintained a below-consensus full-year forecast of 6.1% since early this year, expecting the first two quarters to be on the weaker side given the boost from ele...

Inaction Speaks Louder than Words

VENEZUELA · Report · 28 May 2014

Executive Summary The two dialogue processes that began in April are stuck. The government has made clear that it doesn’t intend to make a single concession to the opposition and that its promises to the business sector are mere words. The government has no incentive to make meaningful political ...

Fending Off the Aggressor

UKRAINE · Report · 27 May 2014

Executive Summary Criminal violence is exploding throughout Eastern Ukraine, while the economy sinks further into the red. Yet positive developments under the surface lead us to take an optimistic outlook. Ukrainian society is sick, and the road to recovery will be hard. But at least the patient ...

Political Insights: Week of May 27

BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 27 May 2014

Several important events are expected this week.The STF rules on the case that questions savings account losses during economic plans of the late 80s and early 90s.The Central Bank makes its interest rate decision.Minister of Finance Guido Mantega meets with industry representatives to discuss pa...

2014 Economic Performance Off To A Bad Start

SOUTH AFRICA · Report · 27 May 2014

According to official figures released by Statistics South Africa, the inflation-adjusted gross domestic product (GDP) shrank by 0.6% on a quarter-on-quarter (q/q), seasonally adjusted annualized (saa) basis in the first quarter of 2014 (see Graph 1). Anemic mining and manufacturing activity was ...

PAN Seeks Road to Recovery

MEXICO · Report · 27 May 2014

Executive Summary Gravely worn down under the weight of its first 12 years in power, the National Action Party saw its extended process of internal decomposition greatly aggravated by its defeat in the 2012 elections. The setback also intensified the internal division that opened up in 2010 betwe...

Housing at a Crossroads

MEXICO · Report · 27 May 2014

Executive Summary Data on first quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was the most significant item in a week chock full of major economic indicators. According to the report, the Mexican economy grew 1.8% above year earlier levels, a figure closely in line with our own estimate of 1.7%. The facto...

Understanding the Paradox of the Labor Market

BRAZIL ECONOMICS · Report · 26 May 2014

There is a contrast in the Brazilian labor market: on the one hand, the unemployment rate has been holding steady at minimum historic levels, indicating a situation near full employment, while on the other hand new hiring has been growing at a pace near zero, indicating weakening. Indeed, the job...

Our Worst Fears Confirmed

ECUADOR · In Brief · 26 May 2014

This weekend President Correa announced his decision to give green light to the initiative promoted by legislators from Alianza Pais of amending the constitution to allow "indefinite re-election" for all elected public representatives. His arguments were based on what he perceives as a an "eviden...

Zuluaga takes 1st place in first round. There will be a run-off on June 15th

COLOMBIA · In Brief · 25 May 2014

With more than 99% of the votes accounted for, Oscar Ivan Zuluaga captured 29.27% of the votes, while President Santos came in second, with 25.63%. This means, of course, there will be a run-off election on June 15th, three weeks from now. Abstention exceeded 60%. Martha Lucía Ramírez, from the C...