10 must-read economics stories of the week

Welcome to your weekly update – a curated list of some of this week’s most interesting stories on economic growth and social inclusion.

1. Facts and figures. Profound social instability and structural unemployment or under-employment are this year’s most inter-connected risks, as shown in the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2016 which was published this week. (World Economic Forum)

2. Here’s a snapshot of the state of the U.S. economy in eight charts. (The Wall Street Journal)

3. The BRICS are losing growth momentum. What are the next emerging markets? (Knowledge@Wharton)

4. Overall well-being drops as national income inequality rises, according to a recent HBR chart. (Harvard Business Review)

5. Anton Muscatelli suggests two views on why the global economy is still in bad shape eight years after the Financial Crisis. (Quartz)

6. Lawrence Summers advises to pay close attention to financial markets as harbingers of real economy turmoil.(Financial Times)

7. China’s domestic and international economic responsibilities are currently not well aligned, writes Mohamed El-Erian. (World Economic Forum)

8. According to a World Bank report released this week, the internet threatens to widen inequalities and to further hollow out the middle class.What’s needed to harness the potential of technology for inclusive growth? The New York Times / The World Bank

9. China’s rapid economic growth has come at the price of high and rising inequality. (Financial Times)

10. The oil price decline is hitting some developing countries hard, adding to their existing worries. Take the example of war-torn South Sudan, which faces a crisis of hyperinflation and food shortages. (Bloomberg)

Author: Jennifer Blanke is Chief Economist at the World Economic Forum