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Curated by Project Syndicate

Shut Down and Print Up

9 commentaries

With the US Federal Reserve set to maintain its monetary stimulus, and congressional deadlock forcing the US government to shut down – and, worse, raising the prospect of default – America has become the wildcard of the global economy. Project Syndicate’s contributors assess the domestic and international implications of America's polarizing economic policies and dysfunctional politics.

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  1. The Founding Fathers’ Fiscal Crisis

    The Founding Fathers’ Fiscal Crisis

    Oct 2, 2013 Peter Singer on the constitutional roots of America's fiscal crisis.

  2. America’s Endless Budget Battle
    pa3861c.jpg Paul Lachine

    America’s Endless Budget Battle

    Oct 1, 2013 Kenneth Rogoff What a US Default Would Mean for America and the World

  3. The Taper Chase
    pa1468c.jpg Paul Lachine

    The Taper Chase

    Sep 30, 2013 Martin Feldstein on why the Fed postponed the QE taper.

  4. Don’t Cry for Me, Ben Bernanke
    dr10c.jpg Dean Rohrer

    Don’t Cry for Me, Ben Bernanke

    Sep 27, 2013 Simon Johnson on the consequences of extending QE in the US.

  5. The Taper and Its Shadow
    pa3234c.jpg Paul Lachine

    The Taper and Its Shadow

    Sep 27, 2013 J. Bradford DeLong on QE, interest rates, and systemic risk.

  6. Occupy QE
    pa4169c.jpg Paul Lachine

    Occupy QE

    Sep 25, 2013 Stephen S. Roach on the Fed and why continuing QE is a bad idea.

  1. elerian172_Christopher FurlongGetty Images_rachelreeves Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

    How to Judge the New British Government’s First Budget

    Mohamed A. El-Erian

    If UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves tried to meet all the political demands that have been placed on her, her budget would likely result in disappointing growth and financial instability. Instead, the new government's first budget should be judged according to four longer-term criteria.

    lists four criteria for assessing the chancellor's attempt to meet a long list of unrealistic demands.
  2. pistor37_Dan KitwoodGetty Images_deepmind Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

    Outsourcing Our Future to For-Profit AI

    Katharina Pistor worries that we have already ceded control to self-interested private corporations and their shareholders.
  3. fayolle4_FLORENCE GOISNARDAFP via Getty Images_amazonforest Florence Goisnard/AFP via Getty Images

    Investments in Nature Will Decide Our Future

    Ambroise Fayolle

    At COP16 in Colombia this month, delegates from nearly 200 countries will discuss how to accelerate action to protect 30% of the planet’s land and maritime areas by 2030. Central to that goal will be unlocking more investment through public-private partnerships, de-risking mechanisms, and other innovative strategies.

    points out that biodiversity loss and ecosystem damage jeopardize all other global development goals.
  4. skidelsky_Hasan MradDeFodi Images News via Getty Images)_immigration Hasan Mrad/DeFodi Images News via Getty Images)

    The Roots of Europe’s Immigration Problem

    Robert Skidelsky calls attention to the conditions that lead African migrants to risk their lives crossing the Mediterranean.
  5. palacio144_WU HONGAFP via Getty Images_brics WU HONG/AFP via Getty Images

    The BRICS Still Don’t Matter

    Jim O'Neill thinks the grouping continues to show that it serves no purpose beyond generating symbolic political gestures.
  6. ginsburg4_ Andrew HarnikGetty Images_trumpmaga Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

    Why Another Trump Term Would Be Worse Than the First

    Tom Ginsburg & Aziz Huq see a pattern of authoritarian movements becoming more effective when given a second shot at power.
  7. kivi1_ Ezra AcayanGetty Images_pressfreedom Ezra Acayan/Getty Images

    The Case for Press Freedom Just Got Stronger

    Katrin Kivi highlights the findings of two new reports that illustrate the many benefits of protecting independent media.
  8. yi16_Photo by STRAFP via Getty Images_aging Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images

    China’s Pension Crisis Is Here

    Yi Fuxian argues that the country’s efforts to mitigate the effects of rapid demographic aging are too little, too late.
  9. tharoor195_ Idrees AbbasSOPA ImagesLightRocket via Getty Images_elections india Idrees Abbas/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

    Why Must Indians Vote So Often?

    Shashi Tharoor argues that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposal to hold all elections on the same day is a non-starter.

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