Constantin Gurdgiev — 2/4/15: Russia Business Outlook: Q1 2015

Mostly on Russia but also BRICS.

Excluding Brazil (see my PMI analysis of the BRIC for more on this) all other BRIC economies have posted a sharp drop in expectations starting with Q1 2012. This trend remains persistent through Q1 2015, with Brazil joining the line up in full in Q1 2015.

Not a good sign for the global economic growth prospects...

true economics
2/4/15: Russia Business Outlook: Q1 2015
Constantin Gurdgiev | Adjunct Lecturer in Finance with Trinity College, Dublin, and Chairman of the Ireland-Russia Business Association

Christopher Hartwell — The wild card factor for Europe's economy in 2015 remains Ukraine

How the Ukrainian war plays out will influence the economies of the EU member states, which are already under pressure by the threat of a Greek exit from the euro and the uncertainty surrounding the new monetary policy of the ECB. A worst-case scenario is a “triple-dip” recession even worse than 2012 or 2008.…

The election of the extreme left-wing Syriza in Greece has brought the Eurozone exactly what it does not need at this moment: uncertainty.… [this link is worth following]

Russia Direct | Opinion
The wild card factor for Europe's economy in 2015 remains Ukraine

Christopher Hartwell | Head of Global Markets and Institutional Research at the Institute for Emerging Market Studies (based at the Moscow School of Management - SKOLKOVO). He has also worked for the World Bank Group and the U.S. Department of the Treasury as a USAID contractor. He holds a Ph.D. in economics from the Warsaw School of Economics and a Master’s in public policy from Harvard, as well as B.A. in political science and economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Steve Keen's 2015 Outlook

The global economy is dominated by a private debt bubble that governments and mainstream economists ignore.

IDEA Economics: Institute For Dynamic Economic Analysis
Steve Keen's 2015 Outlook

Steve Keen |  Head of the School of Economics, History and Politics at Kingston University in London

Zero Hedge — These Are The Two Most Crowded Trades As We Enter 2015

Short 10 yr US Tsys, and long USD.

Zero Hedge
These Are The Two Most Crowded Trades As We Enter 2015

Tyler Durden

See also

Sober Look
Rising deflationary risks in the United States

ECRI — India Overtakes China with Brighter Outlook to Start 2015

ECRI has updated the Indian Long Leading Index (INLLI), which has a good record of anticipating cyclical turns before conventional leading indexes. This includes the March 2011 to September 2012 growth rate cycle downturn that caught many by surprise.

The latest INLLI reading provides insight into the current optimism surrounding India’s economic prospects that stands in contrast to the consensus view on emerging markets in general.

ECRI

India Overtakes China with Brighter Outlook to Start 2015

Young India is much more bullish demographically than aging China, owing to the one child policy.

But this can work against India if it doesn't develop quickly enough and cannot provide for its growing population  — which is why China instituted its one child policy.

John T. Harvey — Business Cycles 101, And My Forecast For The New Year

Let me start by saying that regardless of the accuracy of what I write below, unexpected events will occur during the year that will invalidate at least some part of the forecast. I would therefore like to lay out the specific assumptions underlying the predictions so that it’s possible for the reader to later make their own adjustments. After this I will offer my view on what 2015 holds.…

The old cet. par. hedge. :) "Assessment of prospects" might be a more apt phrase than "forecast."

Forbes
Business Cycles 101, And My Forecast For The New Year
John T. Harvey | Professor of Economics, Texas Christian University

Akin Oyedele — Goldman's Top Economist Jan Hatzius Just Answered The 8 Most Important Questions For 2015

Goldman Sachs's chief economist Jan Hatzius just published answers to what he believes are the eight top questions for next year. 

Here's a list of the questions and our quick summaries of his thoughts…

So in summary, the US economy will grow together with the dollar, faster than its global peers. But inflation below the Fed's target will push its rate hike back to at least September, and the impact of lower oil prices will continue to be felt throughout the economy.

Basically good new. Low wage growth is good news for capital, bad for labor though and bad for inequality, the driver of which is capital share versus labor share.

Business Insider
Goldman's Top Economist Just Answered The 8 Most Important Questions For 2015
Akin Oyedele