Speaking of debt: Framing, guilt, and economic choices

In many Germanic languages, the word for ‘debt’ also means ‘guilt’. This column explores whether the linguistic overlap leads to greater debt aversion in Germany,
Dollar slips as traders focus on Fed cut bets, risk sentiment improves

Markets pricing in Fed rate cuts for both October and December. The U.S. dollar slipped against a basket of peers on Wednesday after comments from
Yen and euro struggle as Japan and France’s political dramas heat up

French political quagmire leaves euro at two-month lows. The yen stabilised on Friday but was still headed for its steepest weekly drop in a year
Greening GovTech: Digital transformation for climate action

Around the world, governments are racing to digitize services and tackle climate change. Yet too often, these efforts happen in silos—or even pull in opposite
Infrastructure diplomacy in the shadow of the Belt and Road: Lessons from Japan’s experience

Infrastructure diplomacy has become a central arena for strategic competition. This column examines how China’s Belt and Road Initiative has reshaped Japan’s overseas infrastructure engagement
Assessment of disruptive innovation in science and technology policy: Insights from meta-science research trends

Technological innovation, including disruptive innovation, is a driving force for economic growth and social change, but early identification of such technologies and assessments of their
Addressing food insecurity in the Middle East and North Africa: innovations in data monitoring

Food insecurity remains a critical issue affecting millions of people across the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (MENAAP). The region faces a wide
How real-time data misled policymakers during the post-COVID recovery

Preliminary data releases can diverge significantly from subsequently revised figures, complicating economic policy decisions made in real time. This column shows how real-time GDP releases
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
The return of inflation: Why ‘look through’ can backfire under incomplete information

Central banks facing post-pandemic inflation often considered ‘looking through’ supply shocks. Using a New Keynesian framework in which agents gradually learn whether a cost-push shock

