The Economist Asks

A global contagion requires global solutions. The big technology platforms that have been targets of politicians and regulators are now at the centre of efforts to fight the coronavirus. Anne McElvoy asks Margrethe Vestager, EU competition commissioner, whether the pandemic has killed the techlash. The “giant-slayer” in charge of the EU’s digital strategy weighs trade-offs between personal privacy and public health. As parts of Europe contemplate reopening, can Brussels coordinate the exit strategy or is it every country for itself? And, Vestager reveals why we won't find her shopping at Amazon.

For more on the pandemic, see The Economist's coronavirus hub.

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As governments around the world see their finances savaged by the pandemic, emerging economies are crying out for cash. More countries are turning to the International Monetary Fund for support than at any point in its history. In an exclusive podcast interview ahead of its Spring Meetings, host Anne McElvoy and Zanny Minton Beddoes, The Economist’s editor-in-chief, ask IMF head Kristalina Georgieva how it intends to bail out the global economy. Could issuing “paper gold” provide the answer or does the IMF need new tools for the job? Plus, how jeans and pyjamas made it into the boardroom.

The Economist is making some of its most important coverage of the covid-19 pandemic freely available to readers of The Economist Today, our daily newsletter. To receive it, register here. For more coverage, see our coronavirus hub.

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The global total of confirmed coronavirus cases has exceeded one million; a quarter of them are in America. The new epicentre of this pandemic is the New York tri-state area. As politicians argue over how to save lives and the economy, Anne McElvoy asks Cory Booker, a senator from New Jersey, whether America can unite to fight the virus. They talk about tussles over vital equipment between states and the federal government. Also, does he agree with the mayor of LA on recommending masks to lessen the risk of contracting covid-19? Plus, the former Democratic presidential hopeful shares his “dad joke” for a moment of cheer.

The Economist is making some of its most important coverage of the covid-19 pandemic freely available to readers of The Economist Today, our daily newsletter. To receive it, register here. For more coverage, see our coronavirus hub.

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For decades Sir David Attenborough has brought the natural world into people’s homes. But his upcoming film, “A Life On Our Planet”, offers a stark message about human impact on the environment. Anne McElvoy asks the godfather of natural history television where he draws the line between wonder and warning. Does his work have the power to change hearts and minds or is he preaching to the choir? They talk about whether the climate could be the only winner from the global covid-19 pandemic and why he has stopped trying to get through to President Trump. Plus, a knock at the door and an unexpected question.

“David Attenborough: A Life on our Planet” will be released in cinemas and on Netflix later this year. Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions: economist.com/radiooffer

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Why is America divided? Anne McElvoy asks the editor-at-large of Vox Media and podcast host about whether the coronavirus pandemic will bring Americans together or further apart, if Donald Trump is a symptom or cause of polarization in America and why podcasts are the platform to find common ground. Also, when did Klein last change his mind?

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The covid-19 pandemic is spreading fast, bringing immense uncertainty to individuals, governments and the global economy. Lord Mervyn King, who led the Bank of England through the depths of the global financial crisis, faced turbulent times. Anne McElvoy asks the former governor whether forecasters can keep up in the era of coronavirus. Also, how panic-buying is like a run on a bank and the radical uncertainty of marriage. 

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The French designer’s red-soled shoes have won devotees from Aretha Franklin to Cardi B. But when what it means to be feminine, sexy and fashionable is being redefined, where does the stiletto stand? In Paris, Anne McElvoy asks Christian Louboutin where the line lies between fashion and fetishism. Is veganism a fad and how is he preparing the business for a coronavirus pandemic? And, which nationality can match the English for prudishness—and kink.

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America is enjoying its longest ever economic growth spurt. How much longer can it last? The spread of the new coronavirus is threatening global growth, the link between lower unemployment and higher inflation seems to have gone missing, and central banks are facing politically motivated attacks. Janet Yellen, the first woman to chair the Federal Reserve, talks to Anne McElvoy and Henry Curr, our economics editor, about what it’s like to manage the world’s biggest economy and whether central banks and governments still have the right tools for the job. Also, how to ace a job interview with President Trump. 

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Technology has transformed the way extremist groups recruit and mobilise their members. Julia Ebner, author of “Going Dark”, spent two years undercover inside radical organisations of all political hues. This week, in the wake of a far-right terrorist attack in the German town of Hanau, Anne McElvoy asks her what drives perpetrators to commit mass violence. They talk about how Julia won the trust of neo-Nazis and militant Islamists, how gamification is used to radicalise—and why she believes counter-terrorism experts need to understand their subjects better

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The idea that inequality is rising is being used to explain everything from tribalism to low voter turnout. But how much is known about the gap between the haves and the have-nots, is it growing and why does it matter? Economist Thomas Piketty, dubbed “the modern Marx” for his theories on how wealth concentrates, talks to Anne McElvoy and Henry Curr, The Economist’s economics editor, about his new book, “Capital and Ideology”. They debate how unfair societies can learn from their mistakes and whether inequality is ever in the public interest. Also, why Piketty would like to pay more tax on his bestsellers, and what life with three daughters has taught him about equality in the home

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