Programs & Projects

Global Economic Futures

Global Economic Futures

Trade wars, populism, and geopolitics. The world is quickly becoming more fraught as complex forces threaten to disrupt and reshape the global economy in profound ways. In this context, the Lowy Institute launched the Global Economic Futures project aimed at better understanding this rapidly changing global economic landscape, where it might take us, and the key choices to be made.

The project examines the future shape of the global economy especially given rising tensions between the world’s two largest economies – the United States and China – and the possible implications for, and changing roles of, major regional economies, including Australia, India, Indonesia and others.

Experts
Latest publications
News and media
Economic diplomacy: Indonesia trade, ASIO business & deglobalisation
Economic diplomacy: Indonesia trade, ASIO business & deglobalisation
Dealmakers The latest set piece showdown between the Labor Party leadership and its union base over a trade deal – this time with Indonesia – comes with some overlooked…
China, the Pacific, and the “debt trap” question
China, the Pacific, and the “debt trap” question
“Debt trap” diplomacy has been a recurrent rallying cry for critics of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its overseas infrastructure lending activities. Over the past two…
Ocean of debt? Belt and Road and debt diplomacy in the Pacific
Analyses
Ocean of debt? Belt and Road and debt diplomacy in the Pacific
China has not been engaged in debt trap diplomacy — at least not yet
US-China trade talks: No deal yet, but a breakthrough of sorts
US-China trade talks: No deal yet, but a breakthrough of sorts
It is only a start, but the Friday trade talks agreement between China and the US is still the best news for the world economy in the almost three years since Donald Trump won the…
Economic diplomacy: Auditing globalism, trade woes, ASEAN’s future
Economic diplomacy: Auditing globalism, trade woes, ASEAN’s future
Dismal science Revision season is well underway at the top of the institutions that underpin the globalised economy, those same institutions now in the cross hairs of Prime…
Economic diplomacy: Tourism power, defining China, and Vietnam jackpot
Economic diplomacy: Tourism power, defining China, and Vietnam jackpot
Paying the piper Last Thursday as Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne was talking up the role of values in foreign policy to a business audience in Canberra, Indonesia was…
What’s so strategic about baby-food?
What’s so strategic about baby-food?
The discussion about China’s bid for baby-formula supplier Bellamy’s Organic shows the usual confusion about just what should guide decisions on foreign investment in…
Economic diplomacy: Indonesian trade, ADB v BRI and Chinese money
Economic diplomacy: Indonesian trade, ADB v BRI and Chinese money
Slow but steady It has often been said that despite periodic diplomatic upheavals, Australia has been fortunate to have a sprawling multi-ethnic Asian neighbour to its north that…
A light amid the gloom of the US-China trade war
A light amid the gloom of the US-China trade war
Despite an optimistic bounce in global financial markets Friday, the relentless trade war between the US and China resumed Sunday. Threatened 15% tariffs by the US on another $250…
Economic diplomacy: Exporting education, tapping Vossies, more
Economic diplomacy: Exporting education, tapping Vossies, more
Study this It was only about a decade ago that some economists started declaring that the price of iron ore was the single most important indicator of the outlook for the export…