Enrico Colombatto

  Over the past 80 years, policymakers have recognized the benefits of free-trade principles. They gradually agreed to restrain their discretionary power and abstain from regulating trade to raise cash (tariffs) or create privileged positions for selected producers (non-tariff barriers). International agencies were established to ensure that an increasing number of countries reduced their trade […]

  The 30th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) will be held this November in Belem, Brazil. The global climate summit will review progress and possibly intensify efforts to address climate change. While the detailed agenda has not yet been released, three issues are […]

  International organizations have fared rather poorly over the last 30 years. Those devoted to guaranteeing peace have failed miserably. The same applies to bodies designed to provide aid to the poor or financial resources and expertise to countries facing temporary or structural difficulties. Efforts to provide global financial regulation have not produced the expected results, […]

  The direction of the world economy is unclear. Geopolitical crises may disrupt supply chains (wars in various parts of the world), financial overhangs need resolute answers (public debts and interest-rate manipulation) and self-inflicted wounds (United States President Donald Trump’s preference for confrontational approaches, with occasional second thoughts) sometimes generate unpleasant surprises. Previously, governments responded […]

  In early 2025, inflation was about 2.8 percent both in the European Union and in the United States, barely making headlines. Until mid-March, most commentators were predicting that in the following months the figure would drop further to about 2.5 percent. Everything seemed to be under control. Very few noted that the rates were […]