The International Monetary Fund’s latest global economic forecast makes for unhappy reading. You may remember that, some years back, it was fashionable to ask whether the world economy could continue “flying on one engine” — meaning the United States. America’s boom and import appetite boosted other economies. After the U.S. crash in 2008, the role of global engine shifted to the so-called BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) and other “emerging-market” nations. Their strong growth offset some weakness in America, Europe and Japan. The new world helped rescue the old.
Well, you can forget that. There is no engine anymore.
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