Economy & Markets
Macroeconomics, capital expenditure and market conditions.
What We Trade When We Let Machines Decide What's Right
The danger of AI isn't the answer it gives — it's what we quietly hand over to get it. From apologies we outsource to moral judgments we abdicate, research shows that delegating ethical reasoning erodes our own judgment, amplifies dishonesty, and flatters us into complacency.
The Impending Era of AI Token Accountability
Instagram head Adam Mosseri proposes strict AI token limits per engineer, drawing parallels to traditional payroll and operational expenses as enterprises scramble to control exploding AI compute costs.
Socioeconomic Status Leaves Deep Imprints on Developing Brains: A New Study Transforms Our Understanding of Neurodevelopment
A landmark study analyzing nearly 12,000 children reveals that socioeconomic factors account for 16% of brain development variability—dwarfing IQ, parenting style, and health history. The research demonstrates that a child's brain from a lower socioeconomic background appears "tired and stressed" rather than less intelligent, with effects mediated through sleep disruption and chronic stress.
The $1 Trillion Risk: How AI Investment Could Trigger a Global Recession
An analysis of the Bank for International Settlements' (BIS) 2026 warning that the current surge in AI-related infrastructure capital expenditure bears the hallmarks of historical investment bubbles and could lead to severe economic consequences.
Oracle's 40% Slide, BIS AI Bubble Warnings, and The Kettle on the Risk of a Tech Meltdown
Oracle shares drop over 40% in July 2026 as the Bank for International Settlements warns that an AI bubble could take down the broader economy; The Register’s Kettle podcast examines whether hyperscalers and banks are finally sounding the alarm on overinvestment.
Redefining Connectivity: Economic and Cultural Currents in a Fragmenting World
An analysis of how geopolitical, corporate, and environmental forces are recalibrating the global landscape.
U.S. Stocks Settle Lower as Tech Selloff Continues on AI Spending Anxieties
U.S. stocks settled lower as the tech selloff continued, prompted by anxieties about AI companies' heavy spending and looming macro uncertainties.
Oil Glut Lets Nations Stockpile Cheaply as Iran’s Leverage Fades
Cheaper, more plentiful crude gives nations a chance to refill strategic stockpiles faster and blunt Tehran's ability to weaponize the Strait of Hormuz — even as OPEC+ keeps raising output and U.S.-Iran talks remain fragile.
Why Obama’s Approval Held While the Economy Sank
A deep dive into the 2009–2010 disconnect between presidential popularity and public economic despair, grounded in Gallup and UCSB data.
James Freeman's Double Life: Editor, Columnist, Economic Historian
James Freeman serves as assistant editor of The Wall Street Journal's editorial page, writes the weekday Best of the Web column, and co-authored a book tracing two centuries of financial booms, busts, and bailouts at Citibank.
Uncompromising Shock Therapy: Javier Milei's High-Stakes Plan to Dismantle Argentina's State Economy
An analytical breakdown of Argentine President Javier Milei's shock economic reforms, exploring the aggressive devaluations, subsidy slashes, labor strikes, and the legislative compromises that forced state oil giant YPF off the privatization block.
When Conspiracies Serve the State: Lessons from the 2023 Türkiye Earthquakes
A study highlights how conspiracy theories—specifically those blaming foreign technologies for the 2023 Türkiye earthquakes—were used by supporters of the incumbent government to deflect criticism and consolidate political support, overturning the conventional wisdom that conspiracy theories are only for the politically powerless.