This scenario is set against a backdrop of military, political and economic uncertainty that makes forecasting the scale of shocks and their macroeconomic impact particularly risky. But one thing is certain: the tightening of external constraints on the Eurozone, which is facing more volatile prices on global energy markets. Whilst, unlike in 2022, the risk is less one of shortages, its vulnerability to...

The powerful political and geopolitical consequences of the conflict in the Middle East will extend far beyond the more immediate ones that this scenario aims to identify. This conflict is not an isolated incident, but rather it is part of a series of supply shocks (the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine, Houthi attacks) that highlight critical dependencies on a few key chokepoints (eg, commodities...

The UK economy, still bearing the marks of the 2022 energy crisis, is confronting a fresh external supply shock stemming from the war in the Middle East. The economic situation prior to this conflict was fragile: GDP growth was still very modest in the second half of 2025; the unemployment rate had risen; and a surge in inflation eroded the household purchasing power against a backdrop of subdued wage...

Open and tightly integrated into international trade, Asian countries are exposed to the disruption caused by the ongoing conflict in the Gulf. Most of them have reacted quickly, worrying about the impact of the war on energy supplies and trade flows. 

Like 2001 was for China (the year it joined the WTO), will 2026 turn out to have been a pivotal year in India’s trading history? The country, now the world’s fifth largest economy in GDP terms, remains a minor player in international trade (17th in terms of exports, accounting for 1.8% of total world exports). Due to a rather protectionist stance focused on its domestic market, particularly in...

As the Year of the Fire Horse begins on 17 February, what can we expect from the Chinese economy in the coming months? In Chinese astrology, the sign of the horse is associated with strength and the natural desire to move forward, while the element of fire reflects energy and passion. After the Year of the Wood Snake (careful thought and subtlety), will the Year of the Fire Horse bring rapid change, bold...

In an uncertain environment posing challenges to competitiveness and unable to rely on external demand, European economies are managing to accelerate activity at a pace in line with their potential. Whether through measures to facilitate disinflation or support for private and public investment, fiscal stimulus is coming to the rescue, while central banks are taking a break, with inflation fully under...

It may appear surprising that the spectacular abduction by the United States of Nicolás Maduro – a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter – has unleashed only the faintest of financial shockwaves. Not only did markets easily absorb this event, they immediately wanted to know what would happen next. There has been no massive flight to safe assets, no financial dislocation, no lasting pressure on...

Against a backdrop of ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, but with the US trade fog lifting, growth rates are expected to remain steady or even pick up. Fiscal measures will contribute to this resilience in a variety of ways: from tax cuts in the US to aggressive fiscal policy in Japan, via Keynesian stimulus in the UK and spending linked to the NGEU plan on the one hand and the German recovery on the...

On 3 December 2024, South Korea was thrown into political crisis. Struggling in parliament, where he had lost his majority, President Yoon declared martial law in a move he claimed was justified by North Korean and Chinese interference. 

The immediate mass mobilisation of opposition members of parliament and civil society put a stop to this attempted power grab and paved the way for proceedings that...