10 must read economics stories of the week

A list of some of the week’s most interesting stories on economic growth and social inclusion.

1. Facts and figures. A new report by the Boston Consulting Group measures the wellbeing of citizens across 160 countries. How does your country rank? (BCP Perspectives)

2. How can globalization and openness continue to be harnessed for the global good? Try economic common sense. (World Economic Forum)

3. The recent financial crisis has caused poverty in Southern Europe to increase to striking levels. (The Conversation)

4. Data from insider trading in the financial crisis shows that the deterioration of the crisis was anticipated. (Institute for New Economic Thinking)

5. Are advanced economies in a phase of secular stagnation and if so, what does that mean and how can it be addressed? (Vox EU)

6. The economics of crime is evolving with the ascent of the dark web, with implications for prices and behaviours. (The Economist)

7. Are social trends such as growing nationalism initiating a period of economic uncertainty and prolonged sluggish economic activity? Here is an interesting contribution to the link of social developments, expectations, psychology and economic growth. (Project Syndicate)

8. Consider this link between climate change and economic growth: heat has a bearing on productivity. The optimal temperature for human productivity appears to be an annual average of around 13 degrees Celsius. (The Washington Post)

9. This weekend the Finance ministers of the G20 economies will meet in China to discuss the global economy, currently under strain from a backlash against globalization, protectionism, Brexit, among other things. (Reuters)

10. A recent paper in the National Bureau of Economic Research estimates the causal effect of aid on GDP growth in developing countries. A positive effect on growth is found. Does this speak in favour of aid? (An earlier version of this paper can be accessed for free here: The World Bank)