After almost a century in which economic policymaking was the preserve of technocrats and social scientists, scholars from narrative-based disciplines have begun to feature prominently in policy debates. But by using partial knowledge to advance specific policy prescriptions, they have become even more dangerous than economists. Read Here – Project Syndicate
Failure of the China talks would prove no one can do it, because China is fundamentally at odds with the U.S. That shift would set up a new dynamic with China: a relationship in which the hawks feel unbound to do what they deem necessary to protect the United States. Read Here – The Atlantic
Globalization, digital technologies, and other factors have allowed competitive US corporations to achieve market dominance. If the past is any guide, it is only right that these “superstar” firms should now be challenged by grassroots political movements protesting against an unholy alliance of private-sector and government elites. Read Here – Project Syndicate
In the end, all it took was two tweets from Donald Trump. After weeks of warnings from many on Wall Street that price swings across global markets were too subdued, the American president’s threat to boost tariffs on China sent volatility soaring Monday. Read Here – Bloomberg
China’s President Xi Jinping could meet his American counterpart Donald Trump in Washington as early as June if the two sides can finalise a deal to end the trade war, according to a source familiar with the arrangements. The news comes after US President Trump said on Thursday that Xi would visit the White House […]
Until relatively recently, specialists in international relations had little interest in game theory; some were even “frightened” to hear the term, as the chair of one of my presentations put it to me several years ago. Today, many are better informed about the strategic analysis of political actors’ behaviour and decision-making. Read Here – Project […]
We often forget that the Internet is not as wireless as it seems. Most online data still flow through physical fiber-optic cables laid out across several hundred thousand miles of ocean floor. If a shark were to bite through a cable some or all of the Internet could come to a standstill. These days, however, […]
For too long, multinational corporations – and digital firms in particular – have used existing rules to avoid paying taxes in countries where they do much of their business. But recent encouraging signs suggest that the idea of a global corporate tax on these companies’ profits is gaining traction. Read Here – Project Syndicate
Given the failures to foresee the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent weak recovery, it is easy to think that economists have little to offer in the way of predictions. But when it comes to national-level GDP growth, past projections have largely been borne out; even when wrong, they can be used to diagnose structural problems. […]
You might not know about a minor trade skirmish in the Balkans that started late last year. But you should, because it signals a worrying shift in how national security considerations are altering the fabric of globalisation in ways eerily similar to how they did at the dawn of the 20th century. That first shift […]
looking beyond borders 