Right down: Le Pen barred

2025-02-10

The Big Mac index was invented by The Economist in the 1980s as a lighthearted guide to whether currencies are over- or under-valued. Here‘s how it works.

2025-02-08

How do you run a scam operation?

Perks, recruitment, outsourcing and a monthly landscaping budget—this is Scam Inc.

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2025-01-30

As some of Donald Trump’s most controversial choices (https://www.economist.com/united-states/2025/01/29/kash-patel-is-a-crackpot?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners) for top jobs are questioned this week, our correspondent analyses how supine Republicans may be in his second term. Has the luxury business passed its peak (https://www.economist.com/business/2024/12/16/why-louis-vuitton-is-struggling-but-hermes-is-not?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners) (09:57)? And why scientists are finding new ways to deal with an invasive pest in

2025-01-29

Is America becoming a tech oligarchy? Our business columnist explains why Silicon Valley’s moguls don’t have as much influence over President Trump as it might seem

2025-01-23

A sophisticated, predatory, multi-billion dollar industry is emerging from the shadows. It is already more lucrative than the illicit drug trade. And it’s about to get bigger and much more powerful.

The Economist’s Sue-Lin Wong follows a trail that starts with the collapse of a bank in rural Kansas to uncover a global, underground scam economy built around human trafficking, corruption and money laundering. Can it be stopped?

Coming soon.

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2025-01-23

After the collapse of the governing “traffic light” coalition in December, the hard-right AfD has a renewed swagger (https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/01/16/how-the-afd-got-its-swagger-back?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners). How long can other parties keep it from power? We speak with Syrian refugees (https://www.economist.com/europe/2024/12/12/syrian-refugees-in-europe-are-not-about-to-flock-home?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners) heading home at last, following the defenestration of Bashar al-Assad (10:30). And remembering David