Comment

With much of the monetary divergence now discounted, perhaps we should focus more attention on the other factors that could influence currency movements in the months ahead. A column by Anatole Kaletsky.

In an abrupt turnabout, the White House puts the issue of conflicts of interest in the financial sector on the table, notably the investment advice given to people saving for retirement. A column by Simon Johnson.

The perception that fundamental convictions guided leaders like Churchill, Adenauer or de Gaulle is what enabled them to engage in political trickery effectively. A column by Harold James.

Lower oil prices appear to make it more difficult for the ECB to achieve its target of an inflation rate of close to 2%, but they are a boon for Europe, especially for its most beleaguered nations. A column by Daniel Gros.

The idea that hyper-low interest rates are merely symptoms of deficient demand or financial repression is dangerously simplistic. A column by Kenneth Rogoff.

Central banks might be concerned about the loss of credibility implied by not reaching inflation targets. Or are they more concerned about growth, or about government budgets? A column by Martin Feldstein.

Unless Greece boosts exports, spending cuts will amplify the output loss in the same way that Keynesian multipliers amplified the output gain from borrowing. A column by Ricardo Hausmann.

Europe's challenge is stagnation and rising public-sector fiscal pressures in bloated welfare states. Restoring growth, opportunity, prosperity, and financial stability will require bold solutions. A column by Michael Boskin.

American policymakers should bear in mind that other countries are using carrots, not sticks, to compete for the activities and income of global companies. America should do likewise. A column by Laura Tyson.

An atmosphere in which unlawful deeds become heroic acts was a signature feature of Stalin’s rule. That stifling dynamic has returned under Putin. A column by Nina Khrushcheva.

China's exports are sagging, and the risk of deflation is growing. Many suggest that a policy to weaken the renminbi is the most logical course. That would be a serious mistake. A column by Stephen S. Roach.

Switzerland is not the first country to discover the problem of large central bank assets, but is likely to be the first country where the problem will be dealt with. A column by Charles Wyplosz.