BCI in the fourth quarter of 2018 has worsened, dropping to 29.9 index points, which is a 5.5 index point loss over the previous quarter. The BCI drop is based on the worsening of past performance and expectations in many business sectors. Compared to other sectors, manufacturing and agriculture assessed their past performance and expectations the most pessimistically. In contrast, the retail trade sector is the most positive.

On Monday, November 12, the ISET Policy Institute hosted a workshop entitled “Economic Instruments for Water Resource Management”. The Energy and Environment Policy Research Center at the ISET Policy Institute (EEPRC) presented its policy paper on the topic in front of several institutional stakeholders and interested citizens.

Recently, Geostat has released its preliminary estimate of real GDP growth for the third quarter of 2018. The Q3 growth rate now stands at 4.0%, which is 3.2% below the ISET-PI’s last forecasted value. As a result, the estimated real GDP growth for the first nine months of 2018 amounted to 4.9%. ISET-PI revised its forecast of real GDP growth for the fourth quarter of 2018 to 3.7% - down from 6.4% in October.

On November 9, ISET hosted the presentation of the South Caucasus Regional Trade Study, which was carried out by the Private Sector Development Research Center (PSDRC) through an SDC-funded project, “Facilitation of Trade in the South Caucasus”, implemented by the UNDP.

As part of its MA in Economics program, ISET has launched a new Concentration in Modern Data Analysis (MDA), which is aimed at providing young professionals with expertise in data (including big data) management and analysis using modern analytical tools.