A rebalancing is happening in the global economy with the adoption of protectionist policies amid rising tensions between the U.S. and China, writes RSM US Chief Economist Joe Brusuelas in the March issue of The Real Economy.
Countries are looking out for their own interests amid these mounting trade tensions. Call it the new mercantilism—rooted in tariffs and trade protection—as nations embrace tariffs to protect their industries, Brusuelas writes.
Additionally, the U.S.-China trade tensions are reaching other nations, further intensifying the trade conflict. Investors, firm managers and policymakers should expect an increase in currency manipulation as other economies seek to gain competitive trade advantages.
The U.S. and its trade bloc are trying to rebalance the global economy through unilateral measures organized around the use of tariffs that raise the cost of accessing the American market.
Also in this issue, RSM's Peter Ramer analyzes the impact of tariffs on middle market businesses, and Mike Graziano explains why an expected boom in M&A activity among consumer products companies has yet to materialize.
We look at these topics and more in this issue of The Real Economy.
Numerous regulations are making sustainability a larger compliance issue.
Tax incentives are one part of companies’ broader decarbonization efforts.
Training is the most common action taken toward compliance, but also the top hurdle.
The Real Economy Blog was developed to provide timely economic insights about the middle market economy. It is offered as a complement to RSM’s macroeconomic thought leadership, including The Real Economy monthly publication and the proprietary RSM US Middle Market Business Index (MMBI).
Middle market organizations, which make up the “real economy,” are too big to be small and too small to be big. They have distinct challenges and opportunities around resources, labor, technology, innovation, regulation and more.
