The debate about who can say what online is heating up once again, and Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are in the firing line. From policing the digital realm to the spread of disinformation, The Economist discusses global concerns over the freedom of speech on the internet. 

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The speech police are coming for social media

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has left its mark on everything from international relations to government spending budgets. As a new era of rearmament beckons, The Economist explains what a "war tax" means for the global economy.

The cost of the global arms race

The progress we've made with artificial intelligence goes beyond ChatGPT. The Economist explores how "artificial neural networks" (essentially computer-generated brains) are neuroscience's latest step towards understanding the real thing.

Artificial brains are helping scientists study the real thing

Rapid progress in generative AI—the sort that underpins OpenAI’s Chatgpt—has caused many to consider a technology-driven dystopia seriously. The Economist questions the very nature of humans in a world of AI.

What would humans do in a world of super-AI?

How digital payment systems are changing global finance

A new wave of digitisation, driven by smartphones, is changing payment systems worldwide. The Economist discusses the arrival of digital-payment platforms and who could be the surprising winners in this emerging world.

As payments systems go digital, they are changing global finance

Private fossil auctions have raised alarms throughout the palaeontology world. Here, the Economist argues that the market for dinosaur specimens should be regulated, not banned.

Trade in dinosaur fossils is good for science

Thanks to China and the West, Africa is on the cusp of a new period of austerity. However, The Economist reports that rising rates are hurting some of the continent's brightest economic stars.

Africa faces a mounting debt crisis

Why Britain is updating its laws on surrogacy

Although still controversial in the U.K., surrogacy has become accepted in a way that would once have been unimaginable. The Economist discusses how the rise of non-traditional families and technological advances has forced Britain to update its laws.

Why Britain is updating its laws on surrogacy and gamete donation

Media companies are drowning in debt, cinemas are struggling to draw an audience, and streaming is changing the Hollywood economy. The Economist discusses the causes and consequences of the writer's strike and why Netflix will always come out on top.

Writers on strike beware: Hollywood has changed for ever

The age of AI has arrived. So how worried should you be about a machine replacing your job? The Economist explains why concerns of an imminent economic and working world revolution are overstated.

Your job is (probably) safe from artificial intelligence

America's mounting debt is now posing a risk to the global economy. But what can be done about it? The Economist discusses the dangers of reaching the debt ceiling and the various proposed solutions.

America faces a debt nightmare

China needs foreign workers. Why won’t it embrace immigration?

China's average age is rapidly increasing while its working population is decreasing, raising questions about future economic growth and care burdens. The Economist discusses opposition to multiculturalism as the country's labour force struggles.

China needs foreign workers. So why won’t it embrace immigration?

From the United States to Europe, the economy is in crisis. The Economist warns governments worldwide must act fast before public debts become unmanageable.

Governments are living in a fiscal fantasyland

Dominic Raab's resignation after an independent investigation found him guilty of bullying has raised a series of uncomfortable questions about workplace conduct. The Economist discusses the role of fear in the workplace and what it takes to rise the managerial ranks.

If enough people think you’re a bad boss, then you are

It's been 26 years since Labour beat the Conservatives in a British general election, and it could be about to happen again. The Economist argues that Britain's Labour leader Keir Starmer has made his party electable once again. But there is still more to do.

Is Keir Starmer ready for office?

The knock-on effects of Russia's invasion of Ukraine are being felt across many industries, including organised crime. The Economist explains the long-term impact of the war on criminality worldwide, from drug trafficking to arms dealing.

How the war split the mafia

The post-pandemic office landscape has changed. With companies tightening their belts and reducing discretionary spending, The Economist explores what makes a good office perk, from snack bars to unlimited holidays.

What makes a good office perk?

Bolivia's economic model is bust. After two decades of statist policies exacerbated by short-term problems, The Economist explains why the country's financial problems have been long in the making.

Bolivia is on the brink of an economic crisis

A bubbling mixture of excitement and fear makes weighing the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence difficult. But, The Economist reveals that lessons can be learned from other industries and past technological shifts.

How to worry wisely about artificial intelligence

The U.S. economy is broken. But how can we fix it? The Economist reflects on the last global financial crisis and America's impressive opportunity for growth.