Financial fragmentation as a vulnerability in euro area bond markets
As European governments scale up investment, bond market stability is more critical than ever. This column shows that financial fragmentation can undermine that stability by
The unbearable lightness of the sovereign greenium
Since 2016, many governments have issued ‘green’ debt instruments to support the transition to a low-carbon economy. This column shows that a yield discount on
Insuring labour income shocks: The role of the dynasty
Beyond government and market-based insurance, the family remains a key institution for coping with economic risk. This column uses detailed Norwegian data to study how
Leading firms are falling behind in developing East Asia
For decades, East Asia has been a paragon of economic dynamism. But today, in an era of rapid global technological advances, productivity growth in the
Confusopoly unveiled: How firms use complexity to raise prices
Can entire markets strategically confuse consumers to raise prices? This column tracks the prices of nearly all mobile phone tariffs and handsets in the UK
Understanding inflation with textual analysis: How news about commodities improves predictions
Commodity prices have historically been considered leading indicators of inflation, but the relationship has weakened since the mid-1980s, making them less reliable predictors. This column
Grants to women-owned businesses: when what’s for her does not stay with her
What explains why grants to women-owned microenterprises often fail to yield improvements in business outcomes, especially as compared to grants to men’s microenterprises? This is
From battlefield to market: How disruptions in Ukraine affected grain price trends
Commodity price spikes at the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine contributed significantly to global inflation in 2022-23, which caught many policymakers off guard
Fentanyl: The transnational vector of violence
Since 2013, synthetic opioid overdoses have surged in the US, claiming over 70,000 lives each year. This crisis has had international spillovers, reigniting drug-related violence
Understanding the impact of private equity on employees
The growth of the private equity in recent years has raised concerns about its consequences. This column matches 2.5 million workers who were employed by
