Beyond words: Fed chair voice sentiments and US bank stock price crash risk
Investors and policymakers increasingly rely on verbal guidance rather than policy moves. This column examines whether the emotional sentiment of the chair of the Federal
The looming global debt disaster
Despite a succession of shocks since 2020, the global economy has held up remarkably well—so far. But the margin for error is dwindling. Total global
The World Bank’s new global poverty lines in 2021 prices
The World Bank has revised its estimates of global poverty to reflect new data on prices and national poverty lines from more than 160 countries
A smarter way to grow rice
“Have you had your rice today?” In Viet Nam, this everyday greeting reflects just how central rice is to life—so essential that the day doesn’t
The global growth slowdown is bad news for trust in government
GDP growth appears to be on a global slowdown. This column uses survey data from individuals across 161 countries since 1990 and data for the
Use it or lose it: How cognitive skills change with age
Cognitive skills are commonly assumed to begin deteriorating from the age of 30, which could pose a significant challenge for rapidly ageing populations. But this
Homeowners care about inflation, renters less so
Consumers have vastly different views about inflation – shaped by personal experience, financial literacy, and exposure to economic news. This column examines how consumers’ housing
From partner to rival: The sectoral evolution of China’s trade
Over the past decade, China has shifted towards greater self-reliance while enhancing its export competitiveness in advanced economy markets. This column introduces a new index
