Shot Heard Around the World: WTO Vindicates Korea
WTO’s decision to uphold Korea’s right to retaliate against U.S. tariffs could severely impact Washington’s approach to the international institution.
UN Sanctions Continue to Devastate North Korean Trade
Recent data on China-DPRK trade hints at intensifying pains for the North Korean economy as Pyongyang seeks sanctions relief at Summit with President Trump.
The Hidden Economic Hazard: Rent
The minimum wage increase has been much maligned, but a bigger threat to business dynamism in Korea may be the cost of renting retail space
The Sharing Economy and Korea’s Fragile Social Safety Net
Protests against Kakao Mobile reflect the precariousness of taxi drivers’ livelihood and the fragility of Korea’s social safety net
Antitrust Activism for a More Inclusive Economy
Building a fairer economy will require shifting the balance of power between small businesses and chaebols – and the Moon administration can do more.
Samsung Diversifies into Automotive Chips
Samsung has taken a step toward supplying processing chips for next-generation vehicles, which also lessens U.S.-China trade war risks for the company
North Korea’s Pegged Won Wiggles, But Doesn’t Break, Yet
North Korea’s won slipped against the dollar in recent weeks, bringing into question whether Pyongyang is running out of hard currency amid sanctions.
Kim Jong Un’s 2019 New Year’s Speech: An Economic Perspective
Despite the positive tone and candidness, Kim Jong Un’s new year’s address is ultimately disappointing since he gives little indication that real reforms are in the works
Kim’s post-Singapore Economy—Something from Nothing Isn’t Working
Pyongyang’s promise of prosperity runs up against hard realities that even the Worker’s Party cannot deny. With little changes to the broken economic structure, time may not be on Kim Jong-un’s side.
Looking Beyond the Playbook
A key factor holding back Korea’s economic recovery may be President Moon’s faithfulness to the policy tools that preceding governments used to address faltering economic growth