4 things to know about Russian internet usage

Apr 13, 2018
Russians really love YouTube.
Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies at a joint hearing of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and Senate Judiciary Committee  about Facebook on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on April 10.
JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images

Russia will hold presidential vote as economy struggles

Mar 16, 2018
Russia holds a presidential election this Sunday. Observers say incumbent Vladimir Putin is almost certain to win. Putin has been keen to sell his people a narrative of a strong, resurgent Russia, but many are disappointed by the state of the nation’s economy. Click the audio player above to hear the full story. 

For its tax plan to succeed, the GOP may need a better pitch to the middle class

Nov 8, 2017
Elections, it’s been said, have consequences, and last night’s local contests were no exception. The Republican losses come at an awkward time in the politics of the American economy — specifically, the tax overhaul plan the GOP’s trying to get through Congress. And even more specifically, in light of the results last night, making the […]

With North Korea looming, Japan heads to the polls

Oct 20, 2017
Japan is holding a snap election on Sunday. Prime Minister Shinzō Abe is widely expected to retain power, with his party maybe losing a few seats from its huge majority. In many ways, the election is a referendum on the prime minister’s economic reforms, known as Abenomics. It’s also a vote about national security. Click the […]

Tech companies head to Capitol Hill over political ads

Is Congress ready to regulate Facebook and Google?
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, looks on as Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia introduces the Honest Ads Act on Capitol Hill on Oct. 19. The legislation is designed to increase the transparency of political ads on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

How Germany's election shake-up could change its economy

Sep 25, 2017
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has begun the long process of forming a new coalition government. Merkel won the largest number of votes by far in Sunday’s election, but millions of Germans defected from the mainstream parties and supported the anti-Islamic, anti-immigration Alternative for Deutschland. For the first time since World War II, a far-right party will be […]

For public good, not for profit.

Democratic leaders try to formulate a sound economic message

Jun 22, 2017
Democrats are having a hard time crafting an economic message that gets through to voters. They lost two special congressional elections earlier this week. Some Democrats say being the anti-Trump party is a weak platform on which to take a stand and reach Americans who feel their concerns and needs are not being met. What […]

A big win for France's centrist party in parliamentary elections could push forward labor reform

Jun 9, 2017
Last month, France elected pro-business political newcomer Emmanuel Macron as president, but the French aren’t done voting. The country’s parliamentary elections kick off Sunday, and the president’s new centrist party is expected to win a large majority. If that happens, Macron could have the support he needs to reform France’s strong labor protection laws, which […]

The party that could drive a 'radical centrist movement' in Britain

Jun 6, 2017
The Liberal Democrats are going nowhere in the upcoming U.K. election. Here is why The Economist is endorsing them.
An European Union flag and a British flag fly in front of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.
DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images