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Democracy: a drag on economic development?

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We take it as a given that democracy and wealth go hand in hand. However, is this really as much of a truism as we think? Does democracy result in inefficiency and an unwillingness on the part of elected officials to make tough decisions? Quoc Anh Nguyen examines this difficult questions.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership: where economics and power politics collide

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The Trans-Pacific Partnership has been praised as a breakthrough in international free trade efforts. It has also been heavily criticised, seen as merely a smokescreen for increasing American influence in the Asia-Pacific region and the reach of its corporations. However, it is also a fascinating example of how political and economic rivalries can overlap.