The banking system we take for granted is unfixable. The good news is that we no longer need to rely on any private, rent-seeking, socially destabilizing network of banks, at least not the way we have so far.
shows why the current private system is unfixable – and why we don’t need to tolerate it anymore.
Like Vladimir Putin, China's leader is so steeped in a narrative of victimhood and fearful of appearing weak that it is hard to imagine him ever leading China out of the mess he has created. He could well be remembered as the leader who squandered history's most remarkable economic success story.
about the country's increasingly worrisome trajectory, both at home and abroad.
Artificial IdiocyFrank Rumpenhorst/picture alliance via Getty Images
拉各斯—最近,我在尼日利亚首都阿布贾一家餐馆吃饭时发现一对很不搭调的男女。男的看起来上去至少60,却穿着紧身牛仔裤和无袖上衣,带着很粗的金项链,晚上八点多了还戴着深色太阳镜。女的看上去不会超过22,带着三个朋友跟在他身后。她试图让他加入她们的对话,甚至还时不时地凑上去吻他,但她的凯子笑得很勉强,显然越来越不高兴了。
当然,这样的关系并非新鲜事,也绝不限于尼日利亚。如果见到富有老男人物色年轻穷女人,包养她,许诺出资供她上学、旅行、购物,你一定不会感到震惊。令人震惊的倒是这样的关系会发展为更深、更长的关系。
非洲和西方之间的关系,特别是牵涉到医疗问题时,与这个“凯子包养婊子”桥段十分相似。几十年来,医疗创新几乎一成不变地复制于发达国家,认为前辈总是对的。但结果是累赘、昂贵的,甚至难以为继。
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