Global

Economic uncertainty continues its reign of confusion, vexing financial leaders, regulators, and consumers with worrisome inflation and unpredictable markets. Experts weigh in on whether we can avoid a recession, what today’s banking and political difficulties signal about the future of lending and saving, and how workplace developments, A.I. advances, and complex geopolit...

The world’s biggest banks and investors have pledged $150 trillion in assets to tackle climate change. But are these commitments actually getting us closer to net zero, considering that many of those making pledges are still profiting from fossil fuels? We know that climate change will require transformation at a scale never seen before; can the financial system propel us...

How should business leaders reconsider their growth strategy amid a new geopolitical, inflationary, and monetary policy landscape? In particular, this discussion will include insights around the macroeconomic and policy implications of the war in Ukraine, the extremely tight labor-market conditions and rising cost of talent, the dangers from persistently high inflation, th...

Perhaps the most palpable of the pandemic’s economic aftershocks have been dramatic and widespread supply chain disruptions, which have upended expectations for businesses and consumers across the country and the world. Companies that rely on the production of semiconductor chips — think computer companies, automakers, and producers of any kind of “smart” device or system...

As the rest of human activity has been globalized, so has corruption — and to such a degree that it has fueled global inequality, created extremist groups, and converted democratic institutions into autocratic regimes stripping wealth from entire nations. These organized criminals are supported by technology that can anonymize money, by a global criminal-services industry,...

Cryptocurrency is largely seen as an investment vehicle in the United States, with regular reporting on its value in the marketplace. But in other countries, especially in the developing world, such currencies are increasingly used for routine transactions, displacing more traditional money. There is growing trust and interest in this blockchain-based mechanism for both tr...

Most of the tactics that allies are employing to stem Putin’s aggressions in Ukraine are economic in nature: oil and gas embargoes, severe international banking restrictions, shutdowns of foreign business operations, and more — all with the objective of crippling aspects of Russia’s economy. But will they work? Is handcuffing a country’s economy an effective way to counter...

The recent frenzy around NFTs and cryptocurrency have thrust blockchain into the spotlight. But is the true promise of the technology more profound? Joe Lubin, co-creator of Ethereum and one of the original pioneers in blockchain, joins Financial Times’ Gillian Tett to discuss the state of cryptocurrency and the implications of decentralization for the global economy.

Semiconductors are the brains powering essential technologies. A shortage is hammering industries ranging from automotive to consumer electronics to equipment makers, making clear how critical semiconductors are to American economic competitiveness and national security. But the US share of global semiconductor manufacturing stands at just 12 percent today, down from near...

In economics, debt policy can be a deeply polarizing issue. And yet, top US economists are finding that, lately, there are more innovative policy recommendations to agree on than usual. Join this conversation with economic luminaries from across the political spectrum for their insights on how to manage US debt and what it will take to get — and keep — the American economy...

Double-digit unemployment and some permanent job losses are among the long-term consequences of Covid-19. But there is one positive side of the crisis, says Hank Paulson, former secretary of the US Treasury: The pandemic has laid bare the structural deficits that define us at the moment — deficits that we can attack and resolve. In this wide ranging conversation with Gilli...

Through the rise of European populism — from Brexit in the West to Orban in the East, from the Swedish far right in the North to the Italy's Northern League in the South — European politics and economics have been completely altered by the emergence and strengthening of populist movements. But what are the economics behind the erosion of the centre in Europe and where is i...

There is an overwhelming tendency to see economic goals in terms of metrics like GDP, unemployment, or in terms of very specific policies or policy strategies — like populism versus centrism. Yet, this can reflect a confusion of means and metrics with ultimate end goals in terms of what matters most for raising human well-being. If increased job polarization, potential job...

Last year the State of Washington, one of the most progressive in the country, voted against a carbon tax. Why? Do we face major resistance as climate policies land on ballots across the country, even though awareness and concern for the issue is at a historical high? Can we avoid hurting middle-class Americans and focus instead on corporations? What is working in other co...

Corporate leaders are being challenged to declare a purpose beyond profit, but that’s not enough given all the challenges that society faces. So how do you actually deliver on a purpose you've professed? Hear from leaders whose companies have connected their mission to the greater channel of benefits for society by practicing shared value. How are these companies simultane...

After decades with no significant geopolitical rivals, the United States now faces the emergence of China as a major adversary. How will this change the landscape of the emerging world order? What new forms of geopolitical conflict will arise, and what new forms of cooperation are necessary?

It’s hard to be dispassionate about money. Whether we have a lot, not enough, or a comfortable amount of it, our emotional relationship with money is often fraught. Fascinating research on this subject reveals that luxury cars often provide no more pleasure than economy models, that commercials can actually enhance the enjoyment of watching television, and that residents o...

The world faces many challenges—from climate change to political instability to widening inequality—that transcend borders and impact us all. If today’s young people are to be equipped with the imagination and skillsets to tackle these growing threats, educational excellence is key. How do we build successful education systems at scale and in every community? And what expe...

The hard work of diplomacy, often mostly invisible, is arguably more important now than ever. In a shifting geopolitical landscape characterized by the emergence of Russia and China as significant rivals to the United States, new dangers threaten the American idea and an American-led world order. And yet, our diplomatic muscles have atrophied. Ambassador William Burns, pre...