GDP per head: $10,620 (PPP: $28,330)

Inflation: 1.3%

Budget Balance (% GDP): - 6.9

Population: 32.8m

Politics have not yet settled since the ousting in 2018 of the United Malays National
Organisation (UMNO) after more than 60 years in power. There have been two
governments since and, judging by the weakness of the current Perikatan Nasional
coalition and its leader, the prime minister, Muhyiddin Yassin, 2021 will bring a third,
though elections are not scheduled until 2023. Mr Muhyiddin may prevail in an early
vote, but a return to an UMNO premiership is possible. Political uncertainty will damage
an economy already reeling from covid-19.

New Zealand

GDP growth: 1.4%

GDP per head: $40,760 (PPP: $41,680)

Inflation: 1.6%

Budget Balance (% GDP): - 7.8

Population: 5.0m

Strengthened by a widely lauded response to covid-19, the prime minister, Jacinda
Ardern, led her ruling Labour Party to a resounding election victory in October. The
centre-left party won 49% of the vote and a rare outright parliamentary majority, which
will push policy to the left. The public-health success came at the cost of a deep
recession. Recovery will be slow.