Economics Commentary

Europe Renews Austerity Fight

A number of key voices are pushing for relaxed finances and slower structural shifts.

Cold Water for Hot Trade Deals

The TPP and TTIP trade arrangements still have their toughest work ahead of them.

Too Big To Free Ride

The government awards the largest banks all sorts of privileges, working against the public interest.

China's Unhealthy Elites

Food, cigarettes, booze, women—China's traditional power culture takes a toll on the body.

No Big Victory for Pakistani Democracy

This was the first Pakistani government to serve a full term, but there's no great cause for optimism.

Shut Down Kaesong, South Korea

The industrial area shared with the North is a source of hard currency for a nation that threatens it.

The Bitcoin Bubble and a Bad Hypothesis

Under the efficient-markets hypothesis, a worthless digital currency should have never gotten off the ground.

The Meaning of Gold's Plummet

Rapidly expanding central-bank balance sheets threaten the global economy.

The Next Housing Bubble

A bid to get banks to lend more to subprime borrowers will fail because of new regulations.

Don't Forget Free Trade with Turkey

Keeping Ankara out of the new Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership helps nobody.

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May 20, 2013