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R. James Breiding

R. James Breiding

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R. James Breiding is the author of Swiss Made: The Untold Story Behind Switzerland’s Success (Profile Books, 2013) and Too Small to Fail: Why Some Small Nations Outperform Larger Ones and How They Are Reshaping the World (Harper Business, 2019).

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  1. Insatiably Seeking Status
    breiding2_PETER PARKSAFP via Getty Images_louisebourgeousspider Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images

    Insatiably Seeking Status

    Jul 10, 2023 R. James Breiding explains why the primary value of famous artworks lies in their buyers' appetite for positional goods.

  2. Give America a Debt Brake
    breiding1_ Fatih AktasAnadolu Agency via Getty Images_national debt clock Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

    Give America a Debt Brake

    May 29, 2023 R. James Breiding thinks the United States could learn a valuable lesson from a policy Switzerland put in place in 2003.

  1. rodrik213_James WakibiaSOPA ImagesLightRocket via Getty Images_kenyasolar James Wakibia/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
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    Bridging the Climate-Development Gap

    Dani Rodrik & Ishac Diwan explain how to free up fiscal space for sustainable development in many low- and middle-income countries.
  2. sheng141_XinhuaMao Siqian via Getty Images_hong kong Xinhua/Mao Siqian via Getty Images
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    Lower Transaction Costs for Greater Innovation

    Andrew Sheng & Xiao Geng highlight the link between access to global markets and investment in research and development.
  3. Ashoka_Say-More_Ghersi-via-GettyRF
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    Ashoka Mody on Indian corruption, growth, jobs, and more

    Ashoka Mody explains the roots of the lack of accountability in India, highlights shortcomings in human capital and gender equality, casts doubt on the country’s ability to assume a Chinese-style role in manufacturing, and more.
  4. chowdhury1_BIJU BOROAFP via Getty Images_india flooding BIJU BORO/AFP via Getty Images
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    Why India’s Women Are More Vulnerable to Disasters

    Joyita Roy Chowdhury & Prarthna Agarwal Goel call attention to gender inequalities that exacerbate the effects of floods and other natural catastrophes.
  5. spence164_Thierry MonasseGetty Images_eu integration Thierry Monasse/Getty Images
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    Europe in the Age of Industrial Policy

    Michael Spence

    While China and the US take advantage of scale to pursue large-scale investment in critical sectors, the EU struggles to follow suit, owing to its decentralized fiscal structures and rules limiting government subsidies to industry. A new EU-level investment program is urgently needed.

     advocates a federal investment program, funded by EU sovereign-debt issuance and administered centrally.
  6. brown99_Elke ScholiersGetty Images_g20 Elke Scholiers/Getty Images
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    Fixing Global Governance

    Gordon Brown explains how to make the G20 and the Bretton Woods institutions fit for purpose once again.
  7. stark9_DANIEL ROLANDAFP via Getty Images_ecb DANIEL ROLAND/AFP via Getty Images
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    The EU Needs Fiscal Union

    Lucrezia Reichlin laments the pro-cyclical bent of the European Commission’s proposed reforms to fiscal rules.
  8. castellino1SAM PANTHAKYAFP via Getty Images_water SAM PANTHAKY/AFP via Getty Images
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    The Roots of the Global Water Crisis

    Joshua Castellino explains why overhauling the current economic paradigm is crucial for preserving Earth’s natural systems.
  9. marin26_Sean GallupGetty Images_german ev Sean Gallup/Getty Images
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    The Electric Vehicle Revolution Comes for German Industry

    Dalia Marin explains how Europe can reverse engineer China’s approach to industrial policy.

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