Moody’s Talks - Global Economy Unwrapped

Gaurav and the team are joined by Ben Acton-Bond for a special episode on Germany. Ben explains how the German economy is likely to fare in the face of higher U.S. tariffs, amid mixed signals from the recent data. The team debates whether Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s plans to ramp up spending on infrastructure and defense will lift Germany out of its years-long slump or if a recession is still a si...

Steve, Katrina and Gaurav welcome Karl Godderis, the CEO of EUROCHAM in Malaysia for an in-depth conversation about the expanding trade relationship between the EU and Southeast Asia. While tariffs are not an issue, both sides must face the EU’s regulatory environment. Katrina and Gaurav also say goodbye and thanks to Steve on the eve of his retirement.  Questions or Comments, please email us at G...

Gaurav, Kamil, and Barbara return for a timely discussion on the rising risks of recession in Europe. They begin by unpacking four major threats currently weighing on the region’s outlook. Gaurav opens with an analysis of the Israel-Iran conflict and its potential economic spillovers, including developments in oil markets. Kamil follows with a look at the implications of an escalating trade war, w...

Fresh off the heels of a U.S.-China trade truce reached in London, Ambassador Kurt Tong ,  Managing Partner at The Asia Group joins the Asia podcast crew. The team discusses the implications of the chaotic U.S. policy and how China and the broader region are readjusting to the dramatic shifts. Steve and Kurt sneak in some baseball references. Go Phillies! Guest: Kurt Tong, Managing Partner at The...

With new euro zone data releases, and an ECB decision to boot, there is plenty to talk about. Gaurav and team roll up their sleeves and do what they do best: analyze the numbers.  Gaurav and Kamil kick off with a deep dive into our economic forecasts for Europe, unpacking the key assumptions and highlighting the downgrades made since Donald Trump’s election as U.S. President. They examine the role...

Steve and Stefan discuss with their colleague Jesse Rogers the complex role of China in the Mexican economy and in Mexico’s exports to the U.S. Jesse shares his research showing China’s important role in Mexico’s domestic economy, particularly for autos, transportation and other infrastructure-related goods. But China plays less of a part in Mexico’s U.S.-bound export trade, unlike, say, in Vietna...

Gaurav, Barbara and Kamil welcome David Muir as they discuss the latest U.K. economic data and the potential economic benefits of the three trade deals recently signed by the U.K. government. While the U.K.-U.S. deal looks quite narrow, the trade agreement with India is much broader in scope and might yield some long-term benefits. Crucially, the EU-U.K. deal isn’t a game changer—but it does repre...

Hot on the heels of the U.S.-China tariff truce, the team chat about all things trade. The episode kicks off with a trip down memory lane, as Steve tries to place the current chaos in the history of economic moments-in-time. Harry then gives the lay of the land following the weekend’s negotiations, and Katrina and Stefan explore signs of rerouting in the latest export data from China.  Questions o...

Gaurav and the team discuss the newly signed U.S.-U.K. trade deal and whether the de-escalation in global trade tensions will continue. The conversation then turns to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Andrew is skeptical that the recent U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal will bring a lasting ceasefire any closer, Gaurav and Barbara take stock of Europe’s energy security, while Kamil weighs in on the economic a...

With the Australian election upon us, David Robertson, Chief Economist at Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, joins the team to discuss the outlook. Productivity is front of mind, having languished for the last few years amid only timid economic reforms; a clear-cut election victory could provide the political capital to change that. Elsewhere, the RBA’s priorities are shifting from taming inflation to sup...

David Muir joins Gaurav and Andrew for a deep dive into the UK. The conversation takes a fiscal turn very quickly as the three dissect public finances and ponder the potential for tax rises in coming years. Trump tariffs add to the problem as the UK will not be able to rely on tailwinds  from the global economy. The possibility of meeting Labour’s manifesto pledge of achieving the fastest rate of...

This bonus episode is a recent webinar led by our Chief Economist, Mark Zandi. It includes many colleagues on the Moody’s Analytics economics team from around the world. The webinar reviews the many U.S. and global ramifications of the emerging U.S. tariff policy.  This conversation features expert input from leading economists, including Mark Zandi, Cris deRitis, Steve Cochrane, Gaurav Ganguly, M...

Steve and Stefan speak one-on-one about their expectations as trade negotiations ramp up between the U.S. and many of its Asia-Pacific trading partners. So far, however, the U.S. and China are not on speaking terms; Asian financial markets have stumbled, and currencies of Asia’s developing economies have depreciated against the dollar. There is much uncertainty about the near term, but Steve and S...

Against a rapidly evolving policy backdrop, Gaurav and the team attempt to unpack the implications of the U.S. “Liberation Day” tariffs on the European economy. Kamil sets out why the hit to euro zone growth from the initially announced tariffs could be bad, but not necessarily catastrophic. But regardless of the exact path of U.S. tariffs, the team agrees that the lasting impact on confidence and...

The Moody’s Analytics team welcomed their colleague and fellow economist Sarah Tan to share their thoughts on the so-called Liberation Day tariffs only hours after they were announced. Tariffs are broader and more aggressive than anticipated, with Asia’s export-dependent economies in the firing line. Steve led with his usual optimism, but Katrina and Sarah persuaded that Beijing’s stimulus would b...

As the European economy faces yet another turbulent period, Gaurav Ganguly hosts Andrew Hunter, Barbara Teixeira Araujo, and Kamil Kovar in a riveting discussion on the cyclical and structural issues confronting the continent and whether it can overcome these obstacles. The team delves into the recurring crises that Europe has faced, from the pandemic to the invasion of Ukraine, and how these even...

Moody’s Analytics economists Gaurav Ganguly and Steve Cochrane welcomed their colleagues Alfredo Coutino, Juan Pablo Fuentes and Jesse Rogers for a review of the Latin American economy. The conversation provides a general economic overview and a more in-depth analysis of the three largest economies: Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. They discussed the economic outlook, potential risks, the role of Chi...

As the European Commission unveils its ReArm EU plan, Barbara Teixeira Araujo joins Andrew, Kamil, and Gaurav in trying to unpack the real implications of this big-bucks €800 billion package. The main question that remains unanswered is, “Is this really Europe’s ‘whatever it takes’ moment?” Barbara seems unconvinced, and the team raises some key questions about the feasibility of the plan, ranging...

As China's top officials gather for the annual Two Sessions in Beijing, we discuss the challenges facing China’s economy, its goals for the year and the parallels to Japan’s stagnation through the 1990s. We also take stock of the latest tariff announcements and give a crack at guessing where they’ll end this year.  To listen to the Demographics Are Not Destiny episode, click here Questions or Comm...

Andrew Hunter and Kamil Kovar, both Senior EMEA Economists at Moody’s Analytics, join Gaurav Ganguly as The Global Economy Unwrapped moves its focus to Europe. The team fact-check two of the U.S.’s key complaints: the EU’s trade position with the U.S. and Europe’s low defense spending. They conclude that the complaints are largely unreasonable on both fronts, but this does not mean that the EU wil...

We introduce our new title, Global Economy Unwrapped, where we will delve into more global topics starting with today’s episode. Hosts Steve Cochrane, Katrina Ell, and Gaurav Ganguly are joined by Moody’s Analytics Deputy Chief Economist Cris deRitis to discuss how President Trump is shaking up the status quo and bringing anxiety and uncertainty to the global economy. They explore how uncertainty...

It’s been an eventful two weeks since our last episode. We kick things off with a recap of what’s happened and a deep dive into the latest industrial production trends across the region and around the world. The conversation quickly turns to U.S. tariffs on China. Are there more to come? What can we glean from China's response? And how will tariffs shake up the manufacturing landscape? Questions o...

Buckle up as we delve into the global car market. Joined by our auto market gurus Mike Brisson and Shannon Nicoll, the team explores the twists and turns of supply chain challenges, the accelerating rise of China as an automotive powerhouse, and the speed bumps of tariffs and trade barriers. The conversation is sure to rev your economic engines.   To read more on this topic: Australia Fourth-Quart...

The team runs through the Asia-Pacific outlook for 2025, highlighting some of the risks flying under the radar. Harry hopes that Beijing can ‘crowbar’ household wallets open as policymakers look to counter the impacts of looming tariffs. Meanwhile, Katrina is worried about the tight Aussie labor market, Steve is optimistic about the region’s prospects this year, and Stefan manages to sneak in an A...

Steve, Stefan and Harry discuss the critical role of semiconductors in Asia’s economy, driving investment in Taiwan and South Korea with some spinoffs in Southeast Asia. Decoupling and reshoring policies in the U.S., Europe, Japan and China, however, will complicate supply chains and shift investment elsewhere. Talent retention will be key to Asia’s future role in the industry. With the team sprea...