Comment & Opinion - Columnists Archives

By now barrels of ink have spilled over the Trump Administration’s decision to violate the Iran Nuclear Deal. The announcement itself, full of colorful language and blunt…

The Balkans are an odd man in Europe. Its income level is much lower than the average income level of Western and Central Europe. This is a well-known fact but is worth of another…

Whatever the issue, the US president’s response is: me. Whether it is about Iran or North Korea, trade with China or Mexico – policy watchers have to understand that their…

Around the world, cities endeavour to cut greenhouse gas emissions, while adapting to the threats – and opportunities – presented by climate change. It’s no easy task, but the…

Why we can't explore global health without accounting for everyday energy needs. Any concern about global health today is a concern about energy. These two domains belong…

Capital: The explosion of Delhi by Rana Dasgupta. Penguin Books. It is the story of Delhi, the city of imperial courts, colonialist city-planners and above all of administrators…

Scott L. Montgomery helps outsiders to understand America’s gun debate. I have been asked by colleagues in Europe, once again but more insistently, about guns in America. After…

(I am publishing early and somewhat modified versions of self-contained sections  from my forthcoming book “Capitalism, alone”, Harvard UP, hopefully 2019. They may be a bit…

Branko Milanovic poses an age of old question.  It is Saturday evening and snowing in New York. I have nowhere to go, I do have things to do (my book!) but my memories take…

Branko Milanovic revisits his earlier readings of Adam Smith. Under the influence of Amartya Sen, we have been “nudged” towards a reassessment of the relative merits of “The…