MAPI – Manufacturers Alliance Economic News and Reports

Issues in Brief

China’s Urbanization Plan: New Opportunities, Overwhelming Challenges
China’s new strategy for urbanization could prove to be a powerful source of productivity gains and economic growth in the coming decade. Foreign businesses operating there will benefit from increased demand and new investment opportunities, but must adjust their strategies and operating policies to remain relevant.

The Competitive Edge: The Big, Smelly Elephant in the Room
Entitlement reform, the “third rail of American politics,” may provide endless fodder for both political parties, but serious action is required to control these programs’ unsustainable growth path. They are already crowding out funding for other national priorities.

An Aging, Urbanizing World
The story of how populations are changing is in many ways the most important story for understanding the global business environment. Dramatic demographic changes intersect with economic activity, with resulting repercussions for manufacturers that would have been unimaginable just a decade ago.

Five Risks to Watch in Europe
Beyond a possible third recession, other potential perils for Europe this year include the specter of deflation, a gas war between Ukraine and Russia, a breakdown in TTIP negotiations and political gridlock. Newly elected Eurosceptics are unlikely to be enthusiastic about transatlantic cooperation.

Economic Update

European Industrial Outlook: Variable Speeds of Growth
Most industrial sectors in the eurozone have emerged from recession but countries are experiencing deepening regional disparities in economic performance. Italy, Finland and the Netherlands languish in effective recessions while Poland, Germany and the UK power ahead amid improving fiscal balances and rising consumer confidence.

U.S. Manufacturing Update June 2014
Last month, factory capacity utilization rose to its highest level since the recovery began and industrial activity was very encouraging. The sector’s biggest constraint is that imports are growing faster than exports, which is worrisome news for the trade deficit.

Asian Manufacturing Outlook: Mixed Picture in 2014, Improvement Expected in 2015
An odd mix of politics, policy, structural change and civil strife contributes to the outlook for Asia through 2015. Continued slowing in China is mostly responsible for the lack of growth momentum, though positive developments in Japan, South Korea and India provide reasons for optimism.

Latin America Manufacturing Outlook: Mexican Factories to Lead Growth While Brazil’s Manufacturers Falter
This biannual report examines the latest trends in selected manufacturing industries in Latin America and provides related forecasts. The focus is on Latin America’s three largest economies—Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina—as these countries account for more than 80% of the region’s manufacturing output.

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