Economy & Markets
Asian central banks, currencies, trade flows, commodities and the supply chains wiring the Indo-Pacific.
Detroit sees China's EV dominance but remains stuck in reverse
China now produces nearly 75% of the world's EVs and dominates battery manufacturing. Detroit, despite recognizing the threat, is scaling ba
Trump's multi-pronged push to end China's critical minerals grip
Washington has launched a series of measures to secure domestic and allied supplies of critical minerals, aiming to end reliance on China. B
How Asian Cities Can Reverse Deepening Urban Inequality
By 2050, Asia-Pacific cities will add 1.2 billion people, yet nearly 700 million already live in slums. Innovative programs in Thailand, Mon
California's Chip Supremacy May Not Translate into Productivity Gains
California dominates advanced chip production, but the link between transistor scaling and economic productivity is weakening. The state ris
Inside Dordoi: Kyrgyzstan's shipping-container economy
Dordoi Bazaar in Bishkek is a sprawling market built from shipping containers, employing tens of thousands and generating millions in tax re
China's bamboo growth model versus India's eucalyptus approach
China's decades of investment in basic education and infrastructure enabled rapid growth, while India's focus on elite institutions left mos
AI era demands hybrid state-market model, not old ideologies
The AI revolution demands more than pure capitalism or state planning. China's hybrid model, combining state coordination with market compet
US Polysilicon Tariffs Push Solar Makers Toward Domestic Supply Chains
The US is imposing a 15% tariff and price floors on polysilicon and derivatives to compel solar makers to use domestic materials. The move f
US microreactor startup Valar Atomics secures $1B in Series B funding
Valar Atomics, a California startup, has raised $1 billion to commercialize its five-megawatt helium-cooled microreactor. The company, backe
AI's Circular Deals: Why Market Diagrams Mislead Investors
Loop diagrams of AI deals suggest circular profits, but the reality is complex supply chains and long-term capex. The diagrams are rhetorica
Why Asia Should Brace for Higher US Interest Rates
The Federal Reserve is signaling a possible rate hike, which could roil Asian markets. Higher US rates typically strengthen the dollar and s
Two wars deepen global oil crisis with no end in sight
Ukraine's drone strikes on Russian refineries and Iran's attacks on Middle East oil infrastructure are worsening the global energy crisis. R