Ukraine's economy went from Soviet chaos to oligarch domination to vital global trader of wheat and neon – and now Russian devastation

Mar 23, 2022 13:59 pm UTC| Economy

Many factories and businesses still function. Other industries like those in information technology have barely missed a beat, with workers continuing to work from areas out of the direct line of fire. But Ukraine has...

Ukraine: the 2008 financial crisis is a bigger cause than we realise – just like 1929 with the second world war

Mar 23, 2022 13:34 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy

The historical parallels are uncanny. A decade or so after the two most devastating financial crises in modern capitalism, in 1929 and in 2008, a terrible conflict begins in Europe that threatens to draw in the entire...

SEC proposes far-reaching climate disclosure rules for companies

Mar 23, 2022 10:23 am UTC| Law Economy

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission released its long-awaited proposal to require companies to disclose their climate risks to investors, and its arguably the most significant action on climate change yet under the...

Red gold: the rise and fall of West Africa's palm oil empire

Mar 23, 2022 10:22 am UTC| Economy

For thousands of years, the oil palm - indigenous to West Africa - has had an intimate relationship with people. An explosive expansion of oil palm groves throughout western and central Africa in the wake of a dry period...

Why Russian gas could disrupt Germany's plan for a bolder climate agenda

Mar 23, 2022 10:20 am UTC| Economy

After 16 years under conservative Angela Merkel, Germany gained new leadership late last year. Following a climate election that saw the issue surpass COVID-19 as voters top concern, Europes largest economy is now ruled by...

Global Geopolitics Series

Russia sanctions: new impetus for Chinese yuan to move up the reserve currency ladder?

Mar 23, 2022 10:15 am UTC| Economy

The invasion of Ukraine by the Russian forces has led to the most aggressive financial sanctions by Western countries against another country in modern history. Two financial sanctions stand out in particular. Firstly,...

What explains food price hikes in Kenya. And what should be done

Mar 23, 2022 10:11 am UTC| Economy

Kenyans are caught in the grip of higher food prices brought about by a combination of adverse weather, rising input costs which have been worsened by the Ukraine war as well as policy adjustments the government agreed...