Credit: Reuters This article concerns the apparent policy decision facing China as to whether it should cut interest rates and loosen lending so as to decrease the deflation in Chinese growth. Historically China has artificially manufactured low exchange rates so as to benefit their exports to other countries. This new policy therefore represents a step away from this traditional approach.

"NEW YORK-U.S. sugar users are pressing for more low-tariff imports of the sweetener as an annual window opens for the federal government to relax trade restrictions." The linked article concerns the potential that the US government have to revise the quota placed on sugar imports. While the quota is designed to protect domestic products, there are no calls for the government to increase the maximum amount so that sugar levels can be brought to acceptable levels without having to pay increased domestic prices.

The article concerns the recent reveal by WikiLeaks of free-trade agreements between the nations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (members include the United States, Japan, Australia and Singapore). The article states that Australia has made considerable concessions to nations such as Japan and the US by permitting increases in regulation over intellectual property, specifically for cancer related drugs. The new regulation could mean that government permitted monopolies could be extended, meaning patients may be forced to pay more for treatment for longer periods of time.

This article concerns the challenges facing the new leader of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, specifically the prospect of fiscal stimulus to the economy, the breaking down of government bureaucracy, and the supply-side reforms that may make this possible. It also discusses the personal experience Widodo has in combatting similar challenges as Jakarta Governor, and concludes that, on their own, supply-side reform will not "boost the economy in the short term, but announcing some positive reforms should encourage investors and that should help with the demand side as well."

This article concerns the publication by the Office of National Statistics that, after six years, the weekly wages have met inflation rates.

The cost of meats, fish and eggs led last month to the biggest increase in food prices in nearly two and a half years, according to government data. An index that tracks those foods rose 1.2 percent in February and has climbed 4 percent over the last 12 months. This article outlines the effect of diminishing supply on national food prices. The example featured in this brief article is on the increase price of breakfast foods in the United States.

The attached article compares and contrasts the contribution made to aggregate demand by varying foreign and domestic demand. It states, that despite relative increases in demand overall (especially in public opinion), domestic demand figures are still low. Instead, foreign trade appears to make up the majority of aggregate demand in the overall economy.

The attached article concerns the apparent recovery of the British economy according to the business lobby group 'British Chambers of Commerce'. They forecast economic growth to reach 2.8% this year (a rise of 0.1% from previous forecasts). This is extremely pertinent given the imminent announcement of the new government budget on March 19th.

This article refers to the current price feud between two of America's largest mobile phone providers, T-Mobile and AT&T. Having earlier employed aggressive tactics to try to gain consumers from AT&T, T-Mobile recently suffered a set back as a result of a counter-move by AT&T, who offered monetary compensation for those consumers switching from T-Mobile. As a result of the apparent price war, Wall Street has become increasingly concerned by the prospect of a dramatic loss of profits in the industry, as both firms may eventually settle at the so called Nash Equilibrium point.

After 75 years of barring foreign investment into her oil fields, the Mexican government (particularly President Enrique Pena) is set to repeal laws that had previously ensured a state monopoly of Mexican crude oil. As one of the biggest crude resources in the Western Hemisphere, this move poses a dramatic increase in North American crude exports, which will rise to second in quantity behind only Saudi Arabia. The bill to end the monopoly was approved by the Mexican Congress in mid-December and could see foreign investment eventually rise to approximately $15 billion per year. However, potential issues arise in the form of material delays, local opposition to drilling and a lack of pre-existing infrastructure.

This article published in the Telegraph regards the purchase of up-and-coming Israeli mapping program Waze for an estimated $1bn. The move is one that serves to increase Google's monopolistic stance in the digital mapping industry, as the purchase restricts the availability of effective substitutes to map services owned by Google.