The Meridian

A publication built on evidence

Economic analysis of the Global South has long been dominated by publications headquartered far from the regions they cover

Nov 2025

This inaugural issue of The Meridian represents an attempt to correct that imbalance. For too long, economic analysis of Africa, Asia and Latin America has been produced in London, New York and Frankfurt—often applying frameworks designed for entirely different economic structures. The result is coverage that frequently misunderstands the constraints facing policymakers in import-dependent economies, the trade-offs inherent in managing limited foreign reserves, or the political economy of countries where the majority of the workforce operates outside formal employment.

We have assembled 28 investigations spanning three continents. Each is grounded in verifiable data from institutional sources. The approach prioritises rigour over rhetoric, evidence over assertion. Every claim is sourced. Every methodology is disclosed. A public corrections page exists because accuracy matters more than institutional reputation.

This is not advocacy journalism. Conclusions follow evidence, not the reverse. Editorial independence is maintained through diversified funding that prevents capture by any single interest: no government subsidies, no corporate underwriting of specific coverage, no undisclosed conflicts. When we are wrong, we say so clearly.

Measuring what matters

Conventional metrics often fail. A country can post 5% GDP growth while its citizens face accelerating food inflation and depleting foreign reserves. Headline figures conceal more than they reveal. This explains the development of proprietary indicators by our Human Intelligence Unit: the Tin Tuna Index tracks the cost of a week's basic groceries relative to minimum wage; the Fiscal Stress Index measures government capacity to meet obligations without destabilising monetary policy; the Economic Resilience Assessment evaluates structural vulnerabilities across multiple dimensions.

These are not theoretical constructs. They measure lived economic reality for populations navigating import dependence, currency volatility and limited fiscal space. The tools emerged from field research and economic modelling across 46 countries. Data collection continues daily at www.thestateofthemind.com, our dedicated intelligence unit.

Beyond these monthly issues, www.themeridian.info publishes daily economic intelligence. Briefings cover central bank decisions, fiscal policy shifts, trade negotiations and market developments across the Global South. The analysis is technical but accessible, detailed but concise.

Scrutiny welcomed

All data is downloadable. Methodologies are published in full. Competing analyses and contradictory evidence are not merely tolerated but actively welcomed. This publication exists to inform decision-makers in government, finance and civil society—not to advance predetermined positions.

The investigations that follow examine fiscal sustainability in Kenya, foreign exchange management in Nigeria, energy transition challenges in South Africa, lithium governance in Chile, manufacturing policy in India, debt restructuring in Zambia, inflation dynamics in Argentina, monetary policy in Bangladesh, infrastructure financing in Ethiopia and two dozen other topics spanning three continents.

Each piece is written for readers who require accuracy over narrative convenience, who understand that economic policy involves trade-offs rather than optimal solutions, and who recognise that serious analysis demands intellectual humility alongside technical competence.

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Errors will occur. When identified, corrections will be published immediately and acknowledged prominently. Disagreements about interpretation, methodology and emphasis are inevitable—indeed, essential to rigorous analysis. What will not appear: unattributed claims, undisclosed assumptions, or contested judgement presented as objective fact.

The world hardly needs another publication offering confident predictions about unknowable futures or uncritical celebration of fashionable policies. It needs clear assessment of present constraints and honest evaluation of available evidence. Verifiable data, transparent methodology, intellectual honesty, editorial independence: these are the commitments that define this publication.

We will not always meet them. But the standard remains non-negotiable.