Standardised coverage and timely analysis of natural resources he...
Standardised coverage and timely analysis of natural resources helping you to understand the opportunities and risks commodities brings business and economies today.
Anguilla enjoys political stability and low corruption levels, with relatively high trust in the government. Its economy was severely impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, given its substantial exposure to tourism. However, the country…
Antigua and Barbuda has autonomy over its political affairs. However, the country is prone to corruption and suffers from high public debt. The country swiftly recovered from the pandemic-related economic downturn, thanks to rebounding tourism.…
Economic freedom is lacking in Argentina and the political landscape is unstable, whilst corruption continues to infiltrate the highest echelons of power. Hyperinflation is causing economic pain; however, currency weakness could help exporters. A…
Aruba has a stable political environment with solid governance. However, perceptions of corruption are rising on the island. As one of the most dependent territories on tourism in the world, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has ravaged the economy…
Limited taxation enables The Bahamas to enjoy relative economic freedom, but state finances are deteriorating. Significant exposure to tourism and adverse weather could scupper economic development in the short term, whilst unemployment is high. A…
Barbados enjoys political stability and is relatively free of corruption. Its break from the Commonwealth could destabilise this institution in the long term. Economic activity has been severely curtailed by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, given…
Belize’s future remains uncertain, given claims over its territory, whilst corruption is rife. Substantial exposure to tourism could aid the economic rebound from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but foreign investment prospects remain bright.…
Bermuda has a stable political environment. However, state finances are stretched and could be further pressurised by a rapidly-ageing populace. The economy is expected to outperform peers in the short term, supported by solid activity in the…
Considerable state involvement hinders economic freedom in Bolivia, whilst government finances remain weak and a threat to stability. Although inflation has been controlled effectively, through subsidies and solid food production, the economy is…
President Lula’s rise to power may not reduce political instability and polarisation in Brazil, and could negatively affect economic freedom, which is already ‘mostly unfree’. Exports have shown resilience and inflation is falling, but economic…
The British Virgin Islands’ (BVI) tax haven status is damaging the territory’s reputation and could lead to political instability. Economic performance is likely to outpace peers in the short term, owing to tourism recovery and strength in financial…
The Cayman Islands benefit from political stability, but their position as a secretive financial offshore centre raises incidences of corruption. Tourism is the main economic activity, which has been negatively impacted by the pandemic yet aided…
Chile enjoys economic freedom and relatively low corruption, which has helped its private sector to develop, although political instability remains. The economy is slowing down markedly, as copper production is impeded, and unemployment is relatively…
Democracy has seen progress in Colombia, but the rule of law is weakened by organised criminal factions. Although slowing, the economy has outperformed peers, but the country is grappling with high inflation and reliance on oil remains substantial.…
Political stability and better government finances are adding to economic freedom in Costa Rica, but corruption is on the rise. Foreign investors continue to flock to the country, but the economy is moderating and prices are falling. Discretionary…
As one of the most ‘repressed’ countries globally, the autocratic communist regime is also creating social tensions. US sanctions continue to wreak havoc with the path of economic development, whilst Cubans leaving the country surge amid economic…
The Netherlands maintains considerable clout over the affairs of Curacao, which is leading to growing calls for a full split from the European nation. Given that the economy is highly dependent on tourism and oil refining, it has suffered at the…
Dominica enjoys relative political stability but whilst corruption is not a major problem, it has permeated the executive branch of government. Considerable dependence on agriculture and an underdeveloped tourism sector will lead to economic…
A more business-friendly government, elected in 2021, could improve economic freedom. However, protests by indigenous factions have been violently suppressed. Economic performance is expected to be stronger than the regional average, whilst…
Although government finances improved in El Salvador, the state continues to exhibit authoritarian tendencies and corruption remains an issue. Whilst inflation has fallen, economic momentum is moderating and the country’s high dependence on…
Support from France is crucial to the development of French Guiana, but while the relationship is generally cooperative, instances where tensions arise happen. The country has a strong space industry. Population growth will be strong, but it is…
Grenada enjoys political stability, although its state finances have deteriorated as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Tourism accounts for a large share of exports and output, which is likely to lead to economic underperformance…
French subsidies help to maintain political stability on Guadeloupe, although the islands are prone to civil unrest against socio-economic conditions. Substantial reliance on tourism resulted in recession in 2020, caused by the negative impact of the…
A weak rule of law is adversely affecting economic freedom, whilst Guatemala is witnessing political instability and suppression of freedom of expression. Although resilient, output growth is slowing as remittances reduce and the US economy falters…
Political instability has been partly to blame for a deterioration in peacefulness in Guyana, although efforts to tackle corruption are improving. The economy was the best performer globally in 2020, but major oil discoveries also raise the country’s…
Haiti suffers from considerable political instability and corruption is rife. Economic development will be severely hindered in the short term, owing to the devastation caused by the 2021 earthquake and the unstable political landscape, with…
Violence mars Honduran society and economic freedom, although state finances continued to improve. Economic momentum is slowing, as exports and remittances growth slow, but lower inflation will ease the pressure on households. Whilst the population…
Although generally stable and democratic, Jamaica is failing to control organised crime and corruption. Economic growth swiftly returned after the pandemic, but the country is over-reliant on the US. Consumer expenditure is growing, but ageing,…
Although Martinique does not suffer from undue corruption, its political environment has been prone to secessionist tendencies. Given that the economy is highly dependent on tourism, its recovery from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic remains slow.…
Organised crime continues to negatively impact Mexico, owing to a weak rule of law, which is also beset by pervasive corruption, but government spending is a bright spot in economic freedom. The economy will continue to underperform peers, but…
An authoritarian regime using violence has reduced peace in Nicaragua and caused political instability. Consequently, the economy has suffered a prolonged recession, which has been exacerbated by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. A major trade…
Corruption undermines economic freedom in Panama and protests have been widespread, although state finances are strengthening. Economic momentum has slowed, but foreign investment is increasing and the Panama Canal continues to play an important role…
A weak rule of law and endemic corruption hamper economic freedom in Paraguay, although the tax burden remains very low and government finances are sustainable. In the medium term, the economy will outperform the regional average and inflation has…
Although political instability and corruption continue to be themes in Peru, economic freedom is the third best in South America. Inflation is falling, but the economy is slowing and copper exports could be hindered further, whilst uncertainty in the…
Puerto Rico, a US territory, grapples with economic challenges such as high unemployment and debt amid debates about its political status. Culturally diverse, the island faces social issues like poverty and emigration. Yet, initiatives in technology,…
Dependence on the Netherlands for fiscal support is a source of uncertainty for Sint Maarten. Crime rates are high and the country’s sovereign credit has been downgraded. Excessive reliance on tourism caused a severe recession, given the impact of…
St. Kitts and Nevis, a dual-island nation in the Caribbean, showcases political stability within a parliamentary democracy. Its economy hinges on tourism, agriculture, and a citizenship-by-investment program driving foreign investment. The country…
St Lucia’s stable and democratic island is challenged by endemic corruption and worsening labour freedoms. Economic growth recovered to pre-pandemic pace, but attempts at diversification need ramping up. Consumer expenditure is rising, but poverty…
St Vincent and the Grenadines enjoy political stability and low levels of corruption, but crime is rising. A small population that is hardly growing diminishes the appeal of the consumer market, whilst the populace is also ageing. Internet use is…
Suriname remains among the ‘repressed’ countries in economic freedom ranking. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had a detrimental effect on the economy, which has also suffered from currency devaluation causing a spike in inflation. Whilst the…
Although economic freedom is slipping, the Dominican Republic enjoys political stability, but corruption remains endemic. Economic performance has been solid, but is slowing and remains dependent on tourism, whilst the country continues to attract…
Trinidad and Tobago is wealthy and stable; however, it is held back by a weak judiciary and high levels of corruption. Real GDP growth slowly recovered to pre pandemic pace, but oil and gas reserves will soon expire, hampering future growth. The…
Stability and less corruption than peers are cornerstones of Uruguay’s political environment, whilst economic freedom is one of the best regionally. Drought will weigh on short-term economic development, owing to high dependence on agriculture, but…
The US Virgin Islands has a good regulatory environment, which fosters business development. However, a lack of representation in the US is creating frustration amongst islanders. The economy is heavily dependent on tourism and post-pandemic recovery…
Although Venezuela is repressed for economic freedom and suffers from endemic corruption, possibilities of restructuring its significant debt pile have emerged. The economy remains massively reliant on oil and is slowing, whilst hyperinflation…