In The News

Germany’s AfD and Moscow: Spiegel

April 15, 2019
Governments and researchers try to figure out the appeal of far-right populism and extreme views that resist compromise and cooperation, immigration, education, climate change mitigation and more. It turns out, for Germany, Russia is behind propaganda that has made Alternative for Germany the biggest opposition party in Germanany's Bundestag. Russia's goal: to fracture and weaken the...

European Populism Out of Steam? Times of India

Nayan Chanda April 6, 2019
Populist stances in Europe are attracting less of a following. During the 33 months after a narrow vote, more details about the costs and broken promises of Brexit have emerged. The British confront several options that come down to two choices – leaving with no deal or admitting the proposition was foolhardy while trying to patch together some deal that maintains good ties and trade with the...

Costs of Global Uncertainty: Project Syndicate

Michael Spence March 27, 2019
Global economic activity is on decline as investors and businesses confront uncertainty. The US-China trade war contributes to the hesitation, as trade partners ponder the costs and benefits of global economic connectivity and players retreat toward old patterns. For example, China’s state-owned enterprises, a target for complaints from the United States and elsewhere over subsidies, have an...

Investors and Globalization’s Decline: Barron’s

Avi Salzman and Nicholas Jasinski March 18, 2019
The bout of protectionism and transactional approaches to trade will linger even after China and the United States reach a trade agreemen. “Globalization is being overwhelmed by populism, nationalism, and protectionism,” explain Avi Salzman and Nicholas Jasinski for Barron’s, adding that globalization has long moved in cycles and is “no longer the dominant force.” Trade growth has slowed,...

Global Insect Decline and More Pests: BBC

Matt McGrath February 13, 2019
Intensive agriculture, pesticides, pollution, deforestation, habitat loss, invasive species and a changing climate are decimating populations of bees, ants and beetles, reports research published in Biological Conservation. Meanwhile the populations of houseflies and cockroaches, insects that reproduce quickly and live among humans, could rise. “Insects make up the majority of creatures that live...

El País: Globalization of Polarization

Moisés Naím January 28, 2019
Some political camps reject their opponents’ plans so much – even those supported by hefty majorities of citizens – that they refuse any cooperation, preferring shutdowns and chaos. Such is the case in the United States, Great Britain and numerous other democracies. The angry stubbornness associated with polarization is spreading worldwide, weakening most democracies. “Before, democratic...

Financial Times: Why World Economy Feels Fragile

Martin Wolf January 9, 2019
The livelihoods and routines of more than 7 billion people depend on a stable global economy, and there are always reasons to worry, including long-term structural and cyclical challenges, explains Martin Wolf for the Financial Times. Global growth has slowed, led by a slowdown in the Chinese economy, but central banks and global markets can and do adjust to cyclical changes. While severe...