The Triangle region of North Carolina may not be recession-proof, but it's surely cushioned by its mix of high-skilled jobs in fields such as the life sciences, pharmaceuticals, and math-intensive professions.

Côte d'Ivoire is the world's largest producer and exporter of cocoa beans, it accounts for 40% of the WAEMU's output, and 11% of its population are immigrant workers. Any political instability in the country will not only affect the domestic economy, but it will also affect the international...