report July 23, 2021 Cash will soon be obsolete. Will America be ready? By Erik CarterWhen was the last time you made a payment with dollar bills?Some people still prefer to use cash, perhaps because they like the tactile nature of physical currency or because it provides confidentiality in transactions. But digital payments, made with the swipe of a card or a few taps on a cellphone, are fast becoming the norm.To... By Brookings Institute, Op-Ed Brookings Institute
report July 20, 2021 The brutal truth about Bitcoin Bitcoin, the original cryptocurrency, has been on a wild ride since its creation in 2009. Earlier this year, the price of one Bitcoin surged to over $60,000, an eightfold increase in 12 months. Then it fell to half that value in just a few weeks. Values of other cryptocurrencies such as Dogecoin have risen and fallen even more sharply, often based just on Elon Musk’s... By Brookings Institute, Op-Ed Brookings Institute
report July 19, 2021 The key to global climate success Recent advances in green technologies have made reaching net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050 not only technically feasible but also economically worthwhile. Meeting this goal—which has started to anchor expectations now that an increasing number of countries have adopted it—is necessary to keep global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius relative to pre-industrial levels. But countries must start rapidly reducing... By Brookings Institute, Op-Ed Brookings Institute
report July 15, 2021 Will another taper tantrum hit emerging markets? In early July, the yield on U.S. 10-year Treasury bonds fell to its lowest level in four months, and stock markets dipped on fears that this year’s rosy projections for economic growth will not be borne out. Still, the prevailing view is that the recent spike in inflation will be transitory, allowing the U.S. Federal Reserve to pursue a... By Brookings Institute, Op-Ed Brookings Institute
report July 15, 2021 A golden opportunity to end destructive fishing subsidies It is not often that trade negotiators get a chance simultaneously to protect vulnerable people and their livelihoods, promote healthier oceans, and fulfill one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. But that is exactly the opportunity awaiting trade ministers as they gather at the World Trade Organization this week to discuss new global rules limiting government support for... By Brookings Institute, Op-Ed Brookings Institute
report July 6, 2021 How to balance debt and development The COVID-19 pandemic is, we hope, only a temporary shock to economies everywhere. The appropriate policy response to such a disruption is to borrow to cushion the impact on consumption and investment. But for many emerging markets and developing countries, borrowing could result in debt-servicing difficulties that require years of austerity to overcome. Yet, if they do not borrow,... By Brookings Institute, Op-Ed Brookings Institute
