The gap between the world’s richest and the poorest countries is growing rapidly, and most poor countries have recently experienced a sharp increase in population. This is the conclusion reached by the World Organization of Creditors (WOC), by comparing the latest figures for GDP adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita.

Of the 185 countries for which the IMF provides data, we chose the 15 richest by GDP adjusted for PPP per capita, the 15 poorest countries by this indicator, and added the BRICS countries for comparison. The total was 35 states, sorted by GDP, accumulated FDI in the country, volume of foreign debt, and other economic indicators. In addition, we analyzed social indicators for each state, such as population growth, unemployment, literacy, etc.
Among the top 15 countries with the highest wealth, seven are European, including Luxembourg (No. 2 on our list by GDP [PPP] per capita), Norway (No. 4), Switzerland (No. 9), as well as Austria, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Sweden. Also at the top of the list are the oil powers – Qatar (No. 1), Brunei (No. 5), and the UAE (No. 8). Also among the 15 leaders are Singapore, Hong Kong, and such developed countries such as the USA, Canada, and Australia.

Moscow, Kiev, Astana, Almaty, Minsk and Baku – which of these cities is the most developed and suited for living? In anticipation of the IV Astana Economic Forum, the WOC analytic service compared the capitals using several criteria.
WOC research examines the level and quality of life in Moscow, Kiev, Astana, Minsk, and Baku. Almaty is also included in the list of cities as Kazakhstan’s largest city in terms of GRP and population. Analysts put these six political and financial centers from several CIS countries under the microscope.

Global foreign direct investment flows in 2012 fell by 20%. FDI in developed countries dropped a third compared with 2011, whereas it fell by only 3% in developing countries. Vice President of the European Investment Bank Anton Rop discussed the reasons behind these trends with the World Economic Journal.

The revival of global macroeconomics exists only in words, while in reality the situation in many countries remains extremely difficult. According to the preliminary results for 2012, global economic growth was only 3.3%, while for the majority of large developed economies it was zero. It’s no wonder that UNCTAD, summing up the results for 2012, noted the 18% reduction of global growth of foreign direct investments (FDI). Analysts of the World Organization of Creditors are confident that investments in developing markets look much more logical and promising today.

WEJ is beginning a new category on investing in emerging markets. Starting things off is American company Hines, which had its beginnings in small warehouses and today deals in the largest businesses and trading venues in the world. Hines came to Russia more than twenty years ago.
Making a Name for Themselves
The company’s history begins in 1957, when a young engineer by the name of Gerald D. Hines created a tiny firm. It started building warehouses and small office buildings. These were the first bricks laid along the road to larger projects. Ten years later, Shell Oil hired Hines to build an office in downtown Houston. After this, the company’s portfolio was filled with large projects such as: The Galleria, Penncoil Place, Transco Tower, and more than 400 other skyscrapers.

Today, Hines Interests Limited Partnership is one of the largest corporations in the world, with offices in 18 countries. The company currently invests in real estate, development, and property management.
More than 20 years ago, the company started taking interest in emerging markets, where they still invest. In 1992, Hines set up shop in Russia.
Green Business

In late December 2012, the Turkish Prime Minister stated that Standard & Poor’s undeservingly raised Greece’s rating from SD (selective default) to B-, meaning 6 steps up at once, and that in general, the agency’s activities were “completely politicized.” The question that comes up whenever new ratings are released is whether the global rating agencies do not actually reflect the economic situation, as much as they influence the international financial markets by what they themselves do. How fair is that statement?