10 must-read economics stories of the week

Here's a round-up of some of the most interesting stories of the last week of the year, on economic growth and social inclusion.

1. Facts and figures. Entrepreneurship drives employment and is a boon for economic growth and social inclusion. Is US entrepreneurship in decline? (NBER)

2. Will the concern about the unevenly spread benefits of globalization lead to higher inflation? (Knowledge@Wharton)

3. Can manufacturing jobs be protected? (The Hill)

4. The hidden, but powerful, drivers of inequality are narratives and culture. (The New Yorker)

5. On average, are mergers and acquisitions good or bad for consumers? (CBS News)

6. If you’re a China-watcher, consider these 5 issues for 2017. (BloombergView)

7. If you think 2016 was a particularly bad year, you may be biased. (The Washington Post)

8. These are the Economist’s 10 most read articles of the year. (The Economist)

9. Ditto from iMFdirect. (iMFdirect)

10. In case you missed it. Investments in children from birth to five years of age can yield a 13% per child, per year return. Among the drivers are lasting effects in cognition and increased social and emotional skills. (INET)