The pace of economic expansion in the world economy as a whole last year was strongly influenced by the cyclical slowdown in the USA. The increase in the real GNP of the industrialised countries, for example, fell from almost 5% in 1984 to just under 3% in 1985. Does this mean that the phase of...

After the price of oil began falling sharply during the first few months of 1986 the prospects for a more pronounced and long-lasting economic upswing in the industrialised countries were generally regarded as having improved. The increase in demand and production in 1986, however, was more...