Ronan Lyons | Personal Website
Ronan Lyons | Personal Website

india

The balance of economic power in 2050 – spot the odd ones out

With talk of a change in the global economic pecking order, particularly around the new IMF chief, this post takes a long look at the world economy. It contrasts the current shares of world output with those of five hundred and two thousand years ago. The lessons of history – and the weight of maths – hold valuable lessons for Europe, as it seeks to find a new role in the world economy. Read more

Global economic growth changes drivers, not gears

This post reviews the latest IMF data on global economic growth to 2015 and puts it in the context of what has happened since 1980. In real terms, the global economy will reach $100 trillion by 2015, more than three times its 1980 level. What might surprise Westerners, however, is that the pace of economic growth will actually be faster in the period 2008-2015 than the 1980s, 1990s or pre-Recession 2000s. This is because while growth is slowing in the West, which now contributes to the list of world’s slowest growing economies like never before, it’s accelerating across Asia and Africa. Read more

India, the sleeping giant of urbanisation

This post explores the now freely available World Development Indicators, from the World Bank. In particular, it looks at urbanisation and the role for cities in development and creating wealth and well-being. Over the past 50 years, China in particular has urbanised fast. Over the next 50, India may be the centre of city growth. This presents development challenges but on balance is a huge opportunity. Read more