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Ed Nusbaum talks to Ivo Daalder about the outlook for emerging markets

Nathan Goode welcome growth opportunities extra government scrutiny brings

I was interviewed last week on CNN to discuss the continued strength of global business optimism uncovered by our Q2 IBR economic update. The interviewer was particularly interested in the reasons behind business confidence around the world reaching a record high since we started asking this question in 2003. So let’s take a look at what the survey is telling us.

It will not surprise an international audience that the build-up to the World Cup has been overwhelmingly negative in Brazil. Scenes of local protesting about the huge sums of money lavished on stadia in Manaus and Brasilia, which are likely to poorly used after the main event, have been broadcast around the world.

Business growth indicators in the hospitality and tourism sector took a bit of a nosedive globally in Q1 according to our International Business Report (IBR). Expectations for increasing revenues, profits and investment all fell over the past three months.

The third edition in our 'Future of Europe' series looks at three distinct aspects of the regional business, economic and political landscape: recovery, integration and expansion.

Two in five mid-market businesses around the world either currently outsource a back-office process, or plans to in the near future.

I must admit that the optimism of business leaders around the world evident in our quarterly International Business Report (IBR) economic update was almost as surprising as it was pleasing.

Poland’s economy avoided recession during the 2009 financial crisis,and rebounded strongly in 2010-2011. Poland: dynamism at the heart of Europe.

Polska gospodarka uniknęła kryzysu finansowego w 2009 roku. Po okresie spowolnienia, w latach 2010-2011 powróciła na ścieżkę wzrostu. Polska nie mogła jednak całkowicie uniknąć skutków globalnego kryzysu. Wymiana z Europą stanowi bowiem ponad 80% całego polskiego handlu zagranicznego. Gospodarka rosła więc wolniej w porównaniu do czasu sprzed kryzysu gospodarczego, osiągając w latach 2012 i 2013 tempo około 1,5% rocznie.

The economy expanded by an estimated 4.5% in 2013, the fastest rate since the financial crisis. Oil and gas remain central to the success of the economy – the price of oil remains well above US$100 per barrel and the UAE is thought to have the seventh largest reserves in the world (98bn barrels) – accounting for close to 50% of total exports.

Dynamic businesses at the forefront of M&A activity highlights an increasing importance for M&A in driving growth. There is a clear acknowledgment from the 12,500 businesses surveyed that acquisitions will be needed to supplement existing operations.

24%: that is the proportion of women holding the most senior roles in businesses across the globe.

Developers, property companies, investors and homeowners suffered disproportionately during the financial crisis. But now, finally, expectations for profitability, jobs and orders are all on the rise.

The role of leaders in creating successful businesses and driving growth is crucial. How these leaders run their teams and make decisions can be the difference between success and failure. But do the leadership characteristics displayed by leaders vary from region to region?

The next 12 months hold a number of opportunities and challenges for Latin America. An estimated 600,000 visitors will descend on Brazil for the FIFA World Cup. They will be joined by television viewers across the globe as Brazil attempts to show the world that despite stadia construction delays and social unrest during the Confederations Cup last summer, it is open for business.