How to get a date
The year when the Chinese economy will truly eclipse America’s is in sight(171)
Thursday January 5th 2012
Global finance
Recess appointments
Daily chart
China as number one
Religion
In the beginning were the words
Muslims revere the Koran. But its study is not taboo—and is in some quarters increasingly daring(260)
The downside of social media
Too much buzz
Facebook, Twitter and other social media provide huge opportunities, but will bring huge problems(58)
Syria
Mission failure
The Arab League has failed to stop the bloodshed in Syria, and the opposition is growing ever restless(19)
America's economy
A message with a shelf life
A jobs-themed campaign may prove tricky for a Republican presidential nominee(12)
Democracy in Hungary
Hungary steps out
Tens of thousands take to the streets to demonstrate against the government's power grabs(171)
Solar power
Building a better suntrap
A novel approach to solar power may help to improve its efficiency(48)
Algeria and France
War by any other name
A conflict that still reverberates today(39)
Iraq
Make it federal
If their country is to function, Iraqis need to share power(82)
Cancer research
Take five
An ambitious plan for curing cancer in a businesslike way is in the works(29)
Leonardo da Vinci in London
The crowds are remarkable, but so is the reason to brave them
Blog highlights
Buttonwood injects a little nuance into the debate about fiscal stimulus
Prospero explains how to be a dictator
Gulliver takes an iPad across Africa
Americas view notes Cristina Kirchner's illness
Johnson on words of the year
Audio
Masters of management
Slideshow
Jurgen Scdhdeberg arrived in South Africa as a teenager in 1950. Here are a selection of the photographs he took
Aesthetics and money
Old, expensive violins are not always better than new, cheap ones
In memoriam
Václav Havel remembered by a correspondent who knew him
Christopher Hitchens assessed
George Whitman, proprietor of a bookshop-cum-socialist utopia in Paris
Infrastructure in India
One of India’s most important industries has a knackered balance-sheet
Video
The year ahead
Editor's note
The Economist Asks
The Economist quiz
Click each square to reveal a question; answer it to see part of a hidden image
Advertisement
Most commented
- Chinese: What is the Chinese language?
- Will the euro survive 2012 intact?
- Lexington: Ron Paul’s big moment
- Infrastructure in India: Infrastruggles
- Muslims and the Koran: In the beginning were the words
- Protest in Hungary: Hungary steps out
- Argentina and the Falklands: Rocking the boat
- The Iowa caucuses: Who is Rick Santorum?
- Economics focus: How to get a date
- Daily chart: Growth in 2012
Over the past five days
Most recommended
- Chinese: What is the Chinese language?
- Quick study: Alastair Smith on political tyranny: How to be a dictator
- American politics: The right Republican
- Digital photography: Difference Engine: Point, shoot, discard
- Green regulations: Angry light-bulb salesmen
- Subsidies' end: A new year in ethanol
- Daily chart: The dating game
- Hungary's supine MPs: The Fidesz flock
- Slideshow: Newt Hampshire
- Heterodox economics: Marginal revolutionaries
Over the past seven days
Advertisement
Latest blog posts - All times are GMT
Products & events
The Economist on social networks
Keep up-to-date and interact with fellow readers via your preferred social network:
Twitter
Follow us @theeconomist for article updates, events and offers. For more detailed subject channels search for "The Economist"
Facebook
Join fellow readers discussing and sharing comments
Google+
Follow us for article updates, discussions and events
Tumblr
Visit for popular charts, cartoons and videos as well as some of the best quotes from the newspaper and blogs
Linkedin
Become a member to connect with fellow Economist readers, view job postings and receive article updates
iPhone, iPad and Android apps
You can read and listen to The Economist on your iPhone, iPad and Android. The apps are free to download and subscribers receive full access
Which MBA? Online Fair. February 6th-7th 2012
Register to join our free virtual fair connecting MBA candidates with business schools around the world. You can also chat with admissions officers and join informative webinars.
Classified ads
