In addition to feeble productivity growth, Italy has a large competitiveness handicap

Britain and the EU may swerve towards a mutually beneficial, but politically hard, deal

Improvement in living standards depends almost entirely on rising output per worker

A radical rethink of the financial system was essential after a devastating crisis

Political cowardice obstructs solution as the population ages and costs increase

Catching up with US will depend on continued ‘opening up’ and avoiding big upheavals

Preserving peaceful relations in an era of rapid shifts in relative power is tough  

Chief economics commentator says president has to do much more to win investors' confidence

If it were to crash out of the single currency and default, the damage would be huge

Chief economics commentator on possible upheaval under government of Five Star and the League

Pitting young against old conceals the policy areas where the UK has messed up

Advanced countries are hobbled by their inability to manage their own affairs

No sovereign power could accept the humiliating demands being made by the US

The former prime minister persuaded his party to abandon imperialism and embrace Europe

The charms of democracy and free markets have withered for China’s leaders

It is not in the west’s interests to stop developing countries from innovating

The UK electorate is split down the middle, but another vote would make things worse

The IMF is optimistic in the short term, but long-term structural risks remain

Beijing’s rising economic and political power poses great challenges to the west