Economy
The Invisible Wall Blocking Industrialization: Case of Tajikistan
Despite cotton’s long-standing role in Tajikistan’s economy, efforts to upgrade the textile sector have repeatedly stalled. The obstacle is neither a simple shortage of...
Follow the Money – Week of April 29, 2026
EXECUTIVE TAKEAWAYS
The Iran conflict escalated from geopolitical crisis to economic inflection point this week.
Oil surged past $109 as the Strait of Hormuz remained largely...
SpaceX Sets Mars Targets as Benchmark for Musk’s Compensation
SpaceX's board has approved a significant compensation plan for Elon Musk, aiming for ambitious goals including colonizing Mars and operating data centers in space....
Tariffs, Trump, Terroir
A year’s passed since Donald Trump imposed swingeing “Liberation Day” duties on the US’s trade partners, forcing many to negotiate “reciprocal” trade agreements to...
One Europe, One Market: The EU’s Most Ambitious Economic Commitment in Years
On April 24, 2026, the presidents of three of the European Union's most powerful institutions gathered on the sidelines of an informal summit in...
Is the Russian Economy Strong or Just Under Pressure?
Russia’s economy is not collapsing, but it is also not as strong as the Kremlin wants the world to believe. The government’s argument has...
The Commonwealth as a Commercial Bridge for the Space Economy
The recent launch of Artemis II and SpaceX’s steps toward an IPO mark a pivotal moment for the space economy. Yet as global attention...
Ghana’s Gold for Fuel Strategy Buys Time But Deeper Fixes Needed
Ghana introduced a gold for oil payment system in 2023 to reduce reliance on U.S. dollars for fuel imports. The policy aimed to ease...
Russia Is Not Dumping Gold
Russia has now sold physical gold from central bank linked reserves for the first time in about a quarter century, and the headline number...
RBI’s Digital Currency Proposal for the BRICS 2026 Agenda
Authors: Edberg D. Cheeran and Chris Teres Jos*
In 2026, the global financial system is witnessing a shift that could alter the functioning of world...