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Obituary

John le Carré died on December 12th

The master of the spy novel and creator of George Smiley was 89

The Economist explains

What would a no-deal Brexit mean?

Leaving the EU is costly anyway—but without a trade deal, costlier still


Graphic detail

Blasphemy laws are still common around the world

A handful of countries, led by Pakistan, Iran and Russia, stand out as the most zealous enforcers


Business

Schumpeter: Unshackling France SA

The best French firms have shaken off the attention of politicians—and thrived


Leaders

A song for Dylan’s deal with Universal

Selling your catalogue makes sound commercial sense. But it may not always fit the brand

More on the US presidential transition

Readers’ favourites

Leaders

A thin, last-minute Brexit trade deal is better than no deal at all

It would at least provide a base on which later agreements could be built

Graphic detail

Almost one in five Americans may have been infected with covid-19

Our analysis shows that the outbreak is much worse than official numbers suggest

Graphic detail

Economists look at more than GDP when choosing countries to study

Speaking English and sending students to study abroad draw researchers’ interest


Podcasts

Sound reasoning on current affairs, business and finance, science and technology, and global issues.

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In context: Analysis and predictions for 2021

Special report: Asset Management

The money doctors

The asset-management industry is at last sorting the quacks from the true specialists, argues John O’Sullivan

Passive attack

How index investing is reshaping the asset-management industry

Double trouble

The trouble with delegating choices about what to invest in

Stewards’ inquiry

If investors buy stocks in an index, who watches managers?

Taking back control

Privates are what listed assets are not—niche, illiquid and fee-rich

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