Economics

Mohammad Fouad In economic policy discourse, numbers are presumed to speak truth. GDP growth, poverty rates, unemployment figures, and fiscal balances are the dashboards of modern governance—objective metrics designed to inform planning and enable accountability. Yet numbers can mislead. When indicators become ends in themselves—targets to hit rather …

Alisya Kinyara Is the digital economy truly empowering and inclusive, or is it silently reinforcing new forms of exploitation, masked behind algorithms and convenience? This question grows more urgent as millions of gig workers across Southeast Asia, particularly motorcycle taxi drivers in countries like Indonesia and Vietnam, begin …

Abdul Haq The public and dramatic clash between the incumbent President Donald Trump and tech tycoon Elon Musk—two of the United States’ most popular and powerful figures—has escalated the political chaos of a novel sort in the U.S. political culture. In addition to shocking their supporters, their recent …

In today’s fast-changing world, where uncertainty and power rivalries are on the rise, some voices are calling for a return to old-style diplomacy—a new version of the 1945 Yalta Conference. This idea, often referred to as “Yalta 2.0,” imagines the world’s major powers—the United States, Russia, and China—coming …

Peter Rogers The image of Donald Trump shaking hands with Ahmad al-Sharaa, Syria’s current leader, in Riyadh is one that, until recently, would have seemed unimaginable. Al-Sharaa, once on the U.S. most-wanted list with a $10 million bounty for information leading to his capture, now stood alongside Trump …

In the digital era, personal data is becoming one of the most important resources for innovation and economic growth. A recent survey shows that 58% of most Americans use email and 59% engage with social media multiple times a day, with dependence on these platforms growing steadily. Businesses …

In today’s digital age, we live in an ever-accelerating cycle of technological consumption. Every year, millions of people around the world rush to replace their smartphones, laptops, televisions, and other electronic devices with newer, faster, thinner models. But there’s a pressing question we rarely ask: Where do all …

In a world increasingly dominated by algorithms, data flows, and AI-driven decisions, public finance is no longer just about balancing budgets or issuing bonds. It is becoming a strategic pillar of digital governance. As governments digitize their services, systems, and structures, public finance must evolve—not gradually, but fundamentally. …

On 8 December 2024, a shocking headline broke across news outlets around the world: rebel groups took control of Syria, ending the devastating reign of the Assad regime in power since 2011. Previous Syrian president Bashar al-Assad consolidated his power after a popular rebellion escalated into a civil …