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Curated by Project Syndicate

Most Read of 2015

10 commentaries

The year that just ended witnessed an extraordinary array of economic and political challenges, including disunion in Europe, decelerating Chinese growth, and deepening turmoil in the Middle East. Understand what happened – and what to expect – with the year's ten most-read Project Syndicate commentaries.

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  1. The Trans-Pacific Free-Trade Charade
    Big city skyline

    The Trans-Pacific Free-Trade Charade

    Oct 2, 2015 Joseph E. Stiglitz & Adam S. Hersh warn that the biggest regional trade and investment agreement in history is not what it seems.

  2. Economists vs. Economics
    Paul Krugman Panayiotis Tzamaros/ZumaPress

    Economists vs. Economics

    Sep 10, 2015 Dani Rodrik examines the recent wave of criticism of the discipline by its leading figures.

  3. Europe’s Attack on Greek Democracy
    lines at greek atms Panayiotis Tzamaros/ZumaPress

    Europe’s Attack on Greek Democracy

    Jun 29, 2015 Joseph E. Stiglitz explains what is really at stake in this weekend’s referendum.

  4. The Liquidity Time Bomb
    pocket watch Viewminder/Flickr

    The Liquidity Time Bomb

    May 31, 2015 Nouriel Roubini warns that policy measures to reduce short-term market volatility have increased long-term risk.

  5. The Education Myth
    Vermont schoolhouse Don Shall/Flickr

    The Education Myth

    May 31, 2015 Ricardo Hausmann pours cold water on the idea that more and better schooling leads to rapid and inclusive growth.

  6. How Scary Is the Bond Market?
    Scared Tom Lin/Flickr

    How Scary Is the Bond Market?

    Mar 16, 2015 Robert J. Shiller reminds us that crashes are relatively rare, and that contagion is unprecedented.

  1. op_ghilarducci1_Jeffrey GreenbergUniversal Images Group via Getty Images_USelderlyworker Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    The Perils of Retirement in America

    Teresa Ghilarducci

    The US retirement system is failing American workers. But after decades of pushing fake fixes – especially forcing people to work longer – US policymakers have an opportunity to make real progress in bolstering Americans' economic security in old age.

    proposes a Grey New Deal that would boost economic security for all US workers in old age.
  2. nishtar8_AMAURY HAUCHARDAFP via Getty Images_africavaccine Amaury Hauchard/AFP via Getty Images

    Fifty Years of Immunization Success Call for 50 More

    Sania Nishtar touts the remarkable results of global collaboration on routine vaccination and foresees continued progress.
  3. GettyImages-2149550584 Photo by MARK PETERSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

    Trump on Trial

    From a long list of criminal indictments to unfavorable voter demographics, there is plenty standing between presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump and a second term in the White House. But a Trump victory in the November election remains a distinct possibility – and a cause for serious economic concern.

  4. woods56_Alex WongGetty Images_georgieva Alex Wong/Getty Images

    The IMF Chose the Right Leader the Wrong Way

    Ngaire Woods thinks the Fund’s process for selecting its managing director is woefully out of step with today’s world.
  5. bildt122_Mikhail SvetlovGetty Images_trumpputin Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

    Trump Is Putin’s Only Hope Now

    Carl Bildt considers the implications of Ukraine finally receiving the Western military aid it has been waiting for.
  6. frankel159_Getty Images_customer service Getty Images

    How to Rebuild Trust in Public Institutions

    Eleanor Carter & Carolyn J. Heinrich highlight the value of face-to-face interactions at a time when governments are phasing out in-person services.
  7. isenberg1_TIMOTHY A. CLARYPOOLAFP via Getty Images_trumptrial Timothy A. Clary/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

    Is Trump Above the Law?

    Nancy Isenberg

    Contrary to what former US President Donald Trump would have the American public believe, no president enjoys absolute immunity from criminal prosecution. To suggest otherwise is to reject a bedrock principle of American democracy: the president is not a monarch.

    explains why the US Supreme Court must reject the former president's claim to immunity from prosecution.
  8. deryugina1_BEN BIRCHALLPOOLAFP via Getty Images_ukraineflagsoldier Ben Birchall/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

    Ukraine Is Far From Doomed

    Tatyana Deryugina & Anastassia Fedyk compare Russia's full-scale invasion to World War II and see reason to hope – as long as aid keeps flowing.
  9. glennerster2_Scott OlsonGetty Images)_vaccines Scott Olson/Getty Images)

    The Pandemic Financing Developing Countries Need

    Rachel Glennerster urges multilateral development banks to establish mechanisms that enable at-risk vaccine purchases.

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