Finance & economics
International debt
How lower American interest rates will boost Africa
One of the world’s worst-named financial instruments is newly relevant
Financial conflict
Can Israel’s economy survive an all-out war with Hizbullah?
The country’s banks are experiencing capital flight
No rush
China’s central bank tries to save the economy—and the stockmarket
But it will need more help from the government
Political economy
Governments are bigger than ever. They are also more useless
Why voters across the rich world are miserable
End of the road
The world’s poorest countries have experienced a brutal decade
Why has development ground to a halt?
Competition policy
European regulators are about to become more political
That will worry many in Silicon Valley
Free exchange
What the history of money tells you about crypto’s future
The thread from shipwrecks and sheep flocks to digital currencies
Ignoring the noise
Why the Federal Reserve has gambled on a big interest-rate cut
The bold move carries economic and political risks
Buttonwood
The Federal Reserve’s interest-rate cuts may disappoint investors
Jerome Powell could still surprise on the hawkish side
Smashing pots, selling iron
How China’s communists fell in love with privatisation
Even though they are not very good at it
Foreign-exchange markets
Norway’s weak currency presents a mystery
The country’s economy is thriving yet the krone is becoming less and less valuable. What’s going on?
Free exchange
An American sovereign-wealth fund is a risky idea
Donald Trump’s latest proposal has worryingly broad support