International Economics

How can macroeconomic policies and capacity development contribute to sustainable macroeconomic outcomes?

Our international macroeconomists are skilled in a variety of macroeconomic areas, including growth and inflation modeling, tax policy, monetary policy, and macro-prudential policies. Building on these skills, they use various methods to assess the impact of specific policies or interventions on variables such as GDP, inflation, interest rates, the balance of payments, public finance, and financial stability.

SEO advises governments and international organisations on the impact of macroeconomic policies on inequality, sustainability, and resilience. We also assess the macroeconomic impact of economic crises, pandemics, and climate change. This includes advisory services to international development partners such as the African Development Bank, World Bank, and IMF, as well as national governments, regarding policies aimed at promoting economic diversification and enhancing economic resilience.

Our economists also have extensive experience in evaluating technical assistance and training programmes aimed at improving the capacity of government officials to collect tax and customs revenues, effectively utilise macroeconomic statistics, and implement effective macroeconomic policies. For instance, SEO has evaluated numerous capacity development trust funds for the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF).

Finally, our experts also provide direct advice to governments on evaluating and enhancing the effectiveness of their macroeconomic policies, such as changes in tax policies or subsidy programmes. This includes training government officials in cost-benefit analyses and other methods for policy evaluation.

Who are the winners and losers of trade policies?

SEO has developed a state-of-the art global trade model that can predict the economic impact by country and by sector of policies that affect trade costs (such as changes in tariffs, sanctions, tax treaties, or trade agreements). By combining SEO’s global trade model with our macroeconomic and labour market models, our economists can estimate the direct and indirect impact of such policies on trade, investment, GDP, and employment in each sector of an economy. This includes an assessment of the distributional effects on low-skilled or low-income groups. In addition, we also assess the potential of development programmes to increase a country’s exports in specific areas, based on an in-depth analysis of existing capacities, value chain linkages and comparative advantages.

Wat are the causes and consequences of international migration?

SEO’s economists are highly experienced in assessing the determinants and effects of international migration. Among other methodologies, we have developed a global migration model to compute the impact of policies on international migration flows and socioeconomic indicators. In addition, our are experts in assessing the interlinkages between education systems, labour markets, and migration.