As Brian Caplen continues his travels around the Pacific Island countries, he looks at how these places can protect themselves – both physically and economically – against the frequent natural disasters they contend with.
Latest articles from Editor’s blog
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Will the EU and UK heed Wall Street's Brexit warnings?
October 11, 2016The CEO of JPMorgan Chase says that the eurozone has been weakened by the Brexit vote, while the head of Morgan Stanley believes New York may be the ultimate victor of the divorce. Brian Caplen explains why both the EU and the UK should heed these warnings.
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Deutsche Bank's woes go beyond US fine
October 4, 2016Deutsche Bank’s travails concerning the US Department of Justice and a settlement due to the mis-selling of mortgage backed-securities are grabbing the headlines, but, says Brian Caplen, the cause behind the bank's predicament goes much deeper.
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Will Brexit be good or bad for Switzerland?
September 13, 2016Switzerland's relationship with the EU has been strained at times, but could the terms the UK arranges as it prepares to leave he union provide a boost for Swiss banks? Brian Caplen thinks it might.
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Will Japan’s economy recover in time for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020?
August 23, 2016Japan's spluttering economy shows little sign of recovering before the country hosts the summer Olympic Games in 2020, and holds a lesson for others, writes Brian Caplen.
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Why isn't infrastructure investment booming?
August 16, 2016One the face of it, it's an easy win: governments spend money on infrastructure projects and the spluttering economies of the developed and developing world would be transformed. However, as Brian Caplen explains, the solution is more to do with political commitment than available funding.
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Are regional banks really safer than their global counterparts?
August 9, 2016With BNP Paribas announcing the sale of First Hawaiian Bank, Brian Caplen examines whether banks that do business through a narrow channel really are stronger that those with multiple earning sources.
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What do the EU’s bank stress tests really tell us?
August 2, 2016Banks within the EU may have largely passed the stress tests to show how they would survive adverse economic growth in the years to 2018, but the problem with adverse scenarios, writes Brian Caplen, is that the form they take is notoriously difficult to predict or replicate.
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The 40% costs cut: why banks must face up to a tough future
July 26, 2016Banks are under pressure from the prolonged low-interest-rate environment and increased regulatory pressures. For most Western lenders, the only solution going forward is to cut costs, but at a level that few will want to take on.
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Brexit will not make trade deals easy
July 19, 2016Trade agreements everywhere are hostage to politics and protest, meaning that the UK can't expect an easy ride as it prepares for post-Brexit life, writes Brian Caplen.