Misplaced mercantilism and the case for domestic markets
We are being told that the economy of Pakistan is in absolute free fall. Allegedly, the dominos of economic doom are in motion, and despite all our countless stopgap measures,…
Prolonged US government shutdown could raise market risks
Investors have anticipated for weeks the risks of a US government shutdown to markets. Now that it is here, they are hoping it will be brief. A shutdown that lasts…
Trump tilts, again, and markets reload, again
It didn’t take a war speech. Just a social media post. And before anyone could double-check if the words were deliberate or just another digital impulse, markets had already moved.…
Marching bands and market share
Pakistan marks its 78th year of independence at a time when the very idea of sovereignty is being reshaped. In today’s world, economic resilience and diplomatic agility are as critical…
Careem’s exit from ride-hailing market
In June 2025 Careem, the Dubai-based ride-hailing pioneer (now part of Uber), announced it would suspend its Pakistan operations on July 18 after nearly a decade in business. In a…
Pressure without clarity breeds market volatility
With the tariff reprieve deadline behind us and the long-promised Trump-Xi phone call still nowhere on the calendar, global markets are once again squinting at the smoke and worrying about…
Investors seek new tariff-proof market niches as Wall St chaos hits Europe
Investors who rushed out of Wall Street during a month of US policy shocks that raised European growth risks are turning their attention to niche markets such as Latin American…
Carbon markets with a gendered lens
Carbon markets are emerging as an essential financial mechanism in the global effort to combat climate change. By assigning a monetary value to carbon emissions, these markets incentivise emission reductions…
Domestic economic thought, profession, and ‘dual-track’ pricing mechanism
Although Pakistan came into existence at a time when there was a deeply renewed focus on economic thought process globally in the wake of establishment of Bretton Woods institutions a…
Marriage market disequilibrium
WHY are countless educated Pakistani women single? Gary Becker’s economic theory of marriage can provide an answer. A Nobel laureate, Becker revolutionised family dynamics by applying economic principles to marriage…
