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.
Albania is advancing with its programme to join the European Union (EU), but the large informal economy and endemic problems still hold it back. Annual real GDP growth is expected to slow down over the near term. Albania offers a large labour force,…
Algeria is repressed for economic freedom and corruption is endemic. Whilst the export base relies heavily on hydrocarbons, its progress will remain positive, given demand from Europe for natural gas, but the economy is set to underperform peers in…
American Samoa receives considerable aid from the US, but has a stable political landscape. The economic base is very narrow and largely involves fisheries. However, there is significant scope for tourism development. Age-related issues are expected…
Andorra is a politically stable country, but public finances have been weakened by the costs of fighting the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The economy swiftly recovered from the pandemic, but the country is considerably exposed, due to…
Although corruption is being tackled, it remains pervasive in Angola, whilst one party’s grip on power weakens democracy. Economic momentum is slowing, largely owing to elevated inflation, but the foreign investment climate is improving and new trade…
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…
Armenia's economic freedom ranking has declined to 'moderately free,' marked by persistent corruption and ongoing high tensions with neighboring Azerbaijan. Despite these challenges, economic growth is projected to remain robust in 2023, surpassing…
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…
Australia is one of the freest economies in the world, with limited corruption and improving government finances. The economy is facing slowing growth and inflation continues to be high, but the export environment is becoming more favourable as…
Although Austria enjoys solid economic freedom and a strong rule of law, a shift to the far right could create policymaking instability. Whilst unemployment is relatively low and inflation is falling, the economy is set for a marked slowdown in the…
Azerbaijan’s authoritarian tendencies undermine democracy, whilst tensions with neighbours are increasing. Maintenance in the oil sector adversely affected the economy and the sector’s dominance continues to result in limited export diversification.…
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…
Although Bahrain’s political system lacks freedoms and corruption remains pervasive, an extremely low tax burden raises economic freedom. Whilst inflation has again entered negative territory and economic development is moderating, the foreign…
Although public debt is contained, Bangladesh has major challenges for economic freedom and corruption remains endemic. The economy has performed strongly, but inflation is rising as a result of political instability and reliance on textiles is…
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…
Whilst some aspects of economic freedom require improvement and corruption is growing, as is political instability, Belgium enjoys a strong rule of law. Inflation has been falling, but the economy is underperforming the peer average, although it is…
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.…
In Benin, economic freedom is on the rise alongside advancements in tackling corruption, yet it is constrained by a decline in democratic principles and increasing public debt. While the economic growth is set to outpace regional peers, it is…
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…
Although Bhutan has solid rankings for peace and terrorism, a lack of trade freedom is inhibiting economic freedom. Owing to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its effect on tourism, the economy is likely to struggle in the short term, although…
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…
Candidacy for European Union (EU) membership could improve Bosnia and Herzegovina’s (BiH) economic freedom, although corruption is pervasive. The country has a relatively diversified economic base and whilst inflation is moderating, the economy is…
Botswana is among the freest countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, with cultural emphasis on peace and participation. The economy, led by the diamond trade, has rebounded post-pandemic, yet faces challenges in export diversification and a high youth…
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…
Brunei Darussalam enjoys political stability and low levels of corruption. However, civil liberties are impinged upon by autocratic rule. With huge reliance on hydrocarbons, the economy is prone to various risks. An ageing populace could exert…
With its very low tax burden and strong state finances, Bulgaria enjoys economic freedom, although political instability has been common. High inflation is adversely affecting the economy, but joblessness remains low. Although skills shortages are…
Burkina Faso faces challenges amid political instability, violence and weak rule of law. Economic challenges are compounded by external shocks and a dependence on agriculture, yet rising mining exports offer some respite. Country’s young, growing…
Burundi faces significant challenges marked by political instability and rampant corruption. High public debt raises concerns about fiscal health. The country’s largely agricultural economy is affected by energy shortages and minimal foreign…
Cabo Verde has one of the most politically stable landscapes in Africa. However, the country stands among the ‘moderately free’ in economic freedom ranking. Continuous recovery of tourism helps to maintain economic growth, which is expected to remain…
Although state finances remain sustainable, the ruling party’s grip on power is eroding democracy and freedoms, whilst corruption remains a key problem. Economic growth continues to be robust, but external sector weakness exists and dependence on…
Conflict and corruption blight Cameroon’s political landscape and have kept economic freedom depressed. Nevertheless, the economy exhibits strength in the face of global challenges, but inflation remains elevated and reliance on hydrocarbons is…
Canada’s political stability and solid economic freedom form the foundations for strong private sector development. The economy will slow in the short term, whilst the country remains prone to global commodity price changes and is overly reliant on a…
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…
In the Central African Republic, political instability and violence persist, with the government's control limited largely to the capital. Endemic corruption and high levels of violence further exacerbate challenges in an economy highly reliant on…
Chad faces endemic corruption and autocratic governance, with ongoing terrorism threats. Economic growth is set to outpace regional peers over the long term due to relatively contained inflation, FDI inflows and oil revenues. The rapidly growing…
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…
Economic freedom is negatively impacted by authoritarianism in China, with the state becoming increasingly repressive. The zero-COVID-19 policy has adversely affected the economy, but removal of restrictions could result in strong short-term…
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.…
Comoros is ‘mostly unfree’ in economic freedom ranking, with corruption prevalent and civil liberties restricted. The economy is expected to outpace regional peers in the short term, but the economic base is narrow and exports are undiversified. The…
Congo-Brazzaville faces significant challenges with low levels of government transparency and pervasive corruption. The economy is heavily reliant on oil, yet efforts towards diversification are in progress. The population is young, however, is…
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is afflicted with growing political divisions in a precarious security and humanitarian climate. Growth should be supported by the mining sector in 2021, as trade improves and inflation descends. Strong…
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…
Although Côte d’Ivoire is politically stable, corruption is rife and the rule of law is weak, whilst state finances have deteriorated. Economic momentum continues to outperform the regional average and inflation is low, but exposure to agriculture is…
A low corporate tax rate and better finances are leading to enhanced economic freedom in Croatia, although corruption continues to be an issue and politics is moving to the right. Adoption of the euro could boost investment and tourism, but the…
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…
Cyprus is relatively free and peaceful, but disputes over offshore hydrocarbon resources remain heated. Economic growth is forecast to slow down over the near term, while inflation is set to decline and remain below the regional average. Ageing is…