The Economist in edicola domani

I temi della settimana:
Nella sezione Europe, l’articolo sul vacillante governo italiano e l’ostinazione di Berlusconi Slipping into darkness.
Nella sezione Europe, la rubrica Charlemagne High noon over Palestine sulla posizione dell’Europa di fronte alla richiesta palestinese di riconoscimento dello stato palestinese, tema che viene ripreso anche nella sezione Leaders con l’articolo Yes to Palestine statehood.
Nella sezione Leaders, la copertina sulla tassazione alle persone più agiate Hunting the rich.
Nella sezione Leaders, l’articolo sulle economie emergenti e sulla difficoltà di replicare la straordinaria crescita dell’ultimo decennio Catching up is so very hard to do.
Across the rich world the horns have sounded and the hounds are baying – and the wealthy are the quarry. In our cover leader we argue that, even though deficit cutting governments should focus on public spending, the rich will have to pay more tax, but we make clear that there are good and bad ways to make them do so.
The Palestinians at the UN Efforts to stop them winning statehood at the UN are misguided and self-defeating
Silvio Berlusconi’s last stand How much longer can the old lothario go on?
China’s leaders v Happy Girl The Communist Party shuts down a television programme where viewers chose the winner
A special report on the World economy The consequences of the accelerating shift in economic power from West to East
Reading the runes of red gold What copper tells you about the future

The Economist in edicola oggi

I temi della settimana:
• Nella sezione Leaders, la copertina di questa settimana How to save the euro, un’analisi approfondita dello stato di crisi crescente della moneta unica, delle soluzioni disponibili e della disponiblità ad affrontarle.
• Nella sezione Europe, la rubrica Charlemagne In the Brussel bunker che analizza la situazione politica dell’UE e le difficoltà verso una maggiore integrazione.
• Nella sezione Leaders, l’articolo sulla riforma del sistema bancario nel Regno Unito Good fences.
• L’articolo sul terremoto de L’Aquila Scientists at the dock – Scienziati al banco degli imputati, nella sezioneSciences&Technology a disposizione su richiesta.
So grave, so menacing, so unstoppable has the euro crisis become that even rescue talk only fuels ever-rising panic. As credit lines gum up and outsiders plead for action, it is not just the euro that is at risk, but the future of the European Union and the health of the world economy. This week we devote our cover and a two-page leader to “how to save the euro”. In our view it requires urgent action on a huge scale – and a lot of painful choices. But unless Germany in particular rises to the challenge, disaster looms Also this week
• The global schools revolution Change is happening, thanks to technology and politicians embracing reform
• The Middle East and Barack Obama Israel and the American president look increasingly isolated
• Bank of America’s road to recovery A long journey for a battered bank
• Tinker, tailor, solider, actor A cold-war masterpiece comes to the screen (Cristina Canepone)

Anticipazioni “The Economist” di domani

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Nella sezione Europe:
• L’articolo sul caos e le proteste suscitate dalla manovra proposta dal governo Berlusconi; il dilemma è se l’Italia possa davvero affondare l’euro: Trashing the lifeboat.
• L’articolo sulla leadership politica traballante di Angela Merkel e la perdita di fiducia nei suoi confronti: Angst over the euro.
Mentre nella sezione Leaders:
• L’analisi della politica difensiva americana degli ultimi dieci anni alla vigilia dell’anniversario dell’attacco alle torri gemelle: Ten years on.
• L’articolo sulla Libia e la necessità che siano i libici a gestire tutto il processo di liberazione del Paese: Let them get on with it.
• L’articolo che invita a ripensare gli investimenti sull’alta velocità ferroviaria in Gran Bretagna ed Europa: The great train robbery.

The Economist in edicola questo week-end

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Questa settimana nella sezione Leaders:
La copertina sulla settimana di crisi per l’Italia che mostra una moneta unica sul filo del rasoio: On the edge.
L’articolo sullo scandalo News of the World, in cui si auspica che la legge faccia il suo corso: An empire at bay.
L’articolo sul risveglio democratico nel mondo arabo: It can still come right.
Mentre nella sezione Europe:
La rubrica Charlemagne dedicata ai problemi dell’Euro, più politici che economici: The euro’s real trouble.
L’articolo sull’eccezione estone, Paese che in tempo di crisi per l’Eurozona ha registrato invece una sostanziosa crescita dell’economia: Estonian exceptionalism.
L’articolo sui successi degli Indignados spagnoli cui viene contestata l’assenza di obiettivi: Europe’s most earnest protesters.
L’articolo sul “nuovo” governo di Erdogan in Turchia: The lofty Mr Erdogan.
L’articolo sulla vendita di carri armati tedeschi all’Arabia Saudita: Tanks for sale.
Seguono in fondo alla mail gli highlights dell’editore.
The news is moving quickly this summer. In barely two weeks Rupert Murdoch’s empire has suffered a dramatic reversal in fortunes. In our British cover leader we argue that the humbling of News Corporation will have many welcome consequences – but it may also have some less wholesome ones. Elsewhere we analyse a development that could have ruinous effects on the world economy, not just one company: the fact that this week the euro crisis moved on to Italy. In our cover leader outside Britain, we argue that the single currency itself is now at risk.
The Arab spring, six months on The fall of the regions worst two dictators would give a terrific boost
Jamie Dimon’s worldThe challenges for the boss of Americas least tainted large bank
The last manned fighter planeAmerica should cut back orders for the F-35
Remembering the Orgasmatron A book on the era when the United States thought sex was as dangerous as communism
Farewell to a good Habsburg Our obituary of Otto, the son of the last Austro-Hungarian emperor.

Le anticipazioni di The Economist in edicola domani

Questa settimana nella sezione Europe:
• L’articolo sulla manovra finanziaria di Berlusconi definita “senza vergogna”: Berlusconi’s bung.
• L’articolo sull’eventuale ritorno di Dominique Strauss-Kahn alla vita politica: He can’t hide, but can he run?
• L’articolo sul tracollo economico della Bielorussia guidata da Lukashenko: No applause, please.
Mentre nella sezione Leaders:
La copertina dello Special Report sul futuro del mondo dell’informazione che nell’era di internet e dei social network è tornata al vivo fermento dei caffè dell’Ottocento: Back to the coffee house.
La copertina sullo scandalo di News of the World che invoca la necessità di un’inchiesta giudiziaria che rimetta a posto il giornalismo britannico: Street of Shame.
L’articolo sulla riduzione del debito come principale preoccupazione di tutti i governi occidentali nei prossimi anni: Handle with care.
L’articolo sul gioco all’ostruzionismo dei Repubblicani che mettono troppi paletti all’accordo con i Democratici sullo sfondo di un allarmante debito USA: Shame on them.
Seguono in fondo alla mail gli highlights dell’editore.
This week we have two covers on the media but of a very different nature. Outside Britain we highlight our special report on the future of the news industry. We explain how the internet is taking our business “back to the coffee shop”, to the vibrant, conversational culture of the era before mass media began with the New York Sun in 1833 – and in general we argue this is a good thing. In Britain, however, we look at a deplorable old-media scandal centred on phone hacking at Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World: a full judicial inqury is needed immediately to clean up British journalism.
Also this week
• What next for Dominique Strauss-Kahn?
• More extraordinary twists grip France – and torture its Socialist Party
• Thailand’s new princess The consequences of Yingluck Shinawatra’s stunning victory
• Understanding Chinese consumers What makes the Middle Kingdoms shoppers tick?
• Minnesota shuts down Will the Federal government be next?
• How robots are turning into animals A new generation is about to emerge from the laboratory
(Cristina Canepone)

The Economist in edicola

Questa settimana segnalo nella sezione Leaders: La copertina si dedica all’ultimo volo della navetta spaziale, previsto per l’8 luglio, che segna la fine del programma spaziale americano. Questo non significa che l’uomo smetterà di avventurarsi nello spazio, ma sarà sempre più utilizzato lo spazio “interno”, grazie all’utilizzo di satelliti, rispetto a quello esterno. La corsa allo spazio è sempre stato simbolo distintivo della guerra fredda tra America e Russia, putroppo gli alti costi hanno portato questo sogno a sbiadirsi sempre più. Oggi c’è chi sostiene che la Cina o l’India possano prendere il testimone: The end of the Space Age – Inner space is useful. Outer space is history
L ‘articolo sulla necessità di intensificare, in Libia, la pressione nei confronti di Muammar Queddafi: Keep calm, keep going -The world must intensify the pressure against Muammar Qaddafi and help plan for the future
In questa sezione e nella sezione Europe ad essere analizzato è il tema della Grecia. Nei Leaders il nuovo piano per tagliare il debito della Grecia sembra destinata a fallire: The abuses of austerity – A new plan to cut Greece’s debt looks doomed to fail, mentre la sezione Europe titola: What have we become? – Some Greeks are angry about their paralysed, corrupt country. Others just want the good times to come back
L’articolo sulla Cina e sul suo interesse per gli investimenti in Europa, le conseguenze sono sia un cambiamento enorme nella bilancia del potere, e con esso come sempre, un rischio. Le opportunità però sembrano maggiori rispetto ai pericoli, e così l’Europa sta dando il benvenuto alla Cina, mentre l’America vi lotta contro: Welcome, bienvenue, willkommen -America needs to worry about the contrast between its attitude to China and Europe’s Mentre nella sezione Europe:
• L’articolo sull’entrata in politica di Mikhail Prokhorov, oligarca miliardario: A rich man’s game – Why is Russia’s third – wealthiest man entering politics?
• L’articolo sulla politica francese: Down, but far from out – The French president may be unpopular, but don’t write him off
• L’articolo sulla situazione turca dopo le elezioni, nulla è cambiato: Business as usual – It has not taken long for rancour to return to Turkish politics
• La rubrica Charlemagne: The sevenyearly war – There will be much blood and tears over the EU budget, but little will change. What a waste
Editor’s highlights
This week we look ahead to the last flight of the space shuttle, which is due on July 8th. It marks, we reckon, the end of the Space Age. Not that humanity is going to stop using space: inner space will increasingly be packed with satellites. But the dream of venturing ever further into outer space has faded. The space race between America and Russia was the product of the cold war, and the high costs and limited benefits have discouraged those countries from crossing the final frontier. It is possible that China and India may take up the baton; but we suspect that humanity will never recover its enthusiasm for space exploration Also in this week’s issue : China abroad: Red carpet in Europe, red mist in America Greece: Why the austerity plan is doomed Syria: Assad’s regime totters Who’s overheating: Our analysis of emerging markets Business books: Our new quarterly review appears (Beatrice Mozzi)

The economist this week

The Economist di questa settimana nella sezione Leaders:
• La copertina che riprende l’argomento principale trattato in questa edizione: la restrutturazione del debito Greco, l’analisi sottolinea la necessità che i leader europei strigano i tempi per evitare il disastro e ironizza sul comportamento dell’unione europea: “Sembra che l’unione europea abbia adottato una nuova norma: se un piano non funziona, attenersi a quello”(“The European Union seems to have adopted a new rule: if a plan is not working, stick to it”). L’editoriale titola: If Greece goes…. – The opportunity for Europe’s leaders to avoid disaster is shrinking fast
• Lo special report sul futuro Cina, quest’ultima viene considerata un paese difficile da governare nel prossimo decennio a causa delle continue tensioni tra la prospera classe media cinese ed i suoi poveri: Rising power, anxious state – Tensions between China’s prosperous middle classes and its poor will make it a harder country to govern
• L’articolo sugli EFT strumenti semplici, fondi comuni di investimento negoziabili, che permettono di diversificare a basso costo. L’espansione sconsiderata di questi fondi necessità l’introduzione di nuove regole, l’articolo prende in esame i rischi ad essi legati e le possibili azioni da intraprendere: A good idea in danger of going bad – The reckless expansion of “synthetic” funds requires a few new rules
• L’articolo sulle riforme economiche del Medio Oriente: Open for business? – Economic reform in the Middle East could prove harder than in eastern Europe. The West needs to help it along
Mentre nella sezione Europe:
• Anche questa settimana un articolo sulla politica italiana, Lega Nord e Berlusconi: Still in league – The Northern League is growing restive inside Italy’s government. This poses a new problem for Silvio Berlusconi
• L’editoriale sulla Polonia, al primo turno della presidenza dell’unione europea, e sui loro obbiettivi nei prossimi sei mesi:Presidential ambitions – What the Poles have in mind for the EU
• L’articolo sul governo francese: Les quangos – The French have an unusually large number of pointless committees
• La rubrica Charlemagne: Default options – The euro zone’s leaders are seeing their political choices narrow.

The Economist: speciale dedicato all’Italia

The Economist pubblica uno speciale dedicato all’Italia, il quale analizza le ragioni della mancata crescita del Paese negli ultimi 20 anni e si chiede se questa situazione possa cambiare a breve, in modo particolare con la prossima uscita di scena di Silvio Berlusconi dal ruolo di primo ministro. Quest’anno ricorre il 150esimo anniversario dell’unità d’Italia, un evento a cui molti fanno risalire gli attuali problemi del Paese. Secondo l’analisi di The Economist, invece, questi problemi non sarebbero tanto da imputare a fattori storici quanto all’attuale situazione. In particolare, l’Italia ha difficoltà nell’affrontare grandi questioni tra cui l’impatto della globalizzazione e dell’immigrazione in un Paese caratterizzato da un severo protezionismo, gli effetti della gerontocrazia istituzionalizzata che rende difficile per i giovani costruirsi una carriera e il mancato rinnovamento delle istituzioni che risentono dei conflitti di interesse che coinvolgono magistratura, politica, media e imprese. Il risultato è che l’Italia ha avuto il più basso tasso di crescita di tutti gli altri Paesi del mondo occidentale. Tra il 2000 e il 2010, il PIL italiano è cresciuto in media dello 0,25% all’anno – un dato allarmante, migliore solo rispetto a quello di Haiti e dello Zimbawe. Nonostante l’Italia abbia saputo evitare il peggio durante la recente crisi finanziaria globale, non ci sono segnali di una possibile inversione di tendenza rispetto alla crescita zero. Scritto da John Prideaux di The Economist, il report sottolinea che, nonostante i problemi, l’Italia non è affatto un Paese in crisi. E’ ancora un Paese civilizzato, ricco, senza conflitti, con molti elementi apprezzabili, e non solo per la bellezza dei suoi paesaggi e delle sue città. Tuttavia, con Berlusconi che ipotizza di dimettersi nel 2013 dopo circa due decenni al potere, è ragionevole chiedersi se le cose possano cambiare per il meglio. Il report analizza anche le numerose mancanze dell’attuale primo ministro nel suo lungo periodo al potere, in modo particolare l’ulteriore indebolimento delle istituzioni italiane e l’eccessiva tolleranza nei confronti dei conflitti di interesse. Sicuramente il successore di Berlusconi potrebbe introdurre alcuni semplici e immediati miglioramenti con poco sforzo. Il report sottolinea la necessità di cambiare la legislazione del lavoro che favorisce gli anziani e l’urgenza di richiamare migliaia di giovani di talento che sono emigrati e che potrebbero avere un impatto positivo per il Paese. Tuttavia, The Economist trae la conclusione che, nonostante questi cambiamenti siano possibili, è poco probabile che l’Italia cambi. Nonostante la bassa crescita, tale è la sua forza economica che l’attuale situazione potrebbe protrarsi quasi per sempre, il Paese diventerebbe poco a poco più povero e più vecchio, riuscendo però comunque a mantenere uno standard confortevole. (www.economist.com)
With a growing global circulation (worldwide: 1,473,939*) and a reputation for insightful analysis and opinion on every aspect of world events,The Economist is one of the most widely recognised and well-read current affairs publications. The paper has sections about each region of the world, plus science and technology, books and arts, and the weekly obituary. The website (www.economist.com), with its 5.9m unique readers, is also accessible through devices including the iPhone and iPad.

The Economist: Silvio snubbed

From the Economist this week. What could be worse for the euro than political instability in Italy? How about a government trying to buy popularity with higher public spending and/or tax cuts? That was the spectre conjured by Silvio Berlusconi after the local election run­ on this week, when his conservative government lost control of Milan, his home city and an unassailable fortress of the Italian right for two decades. The main reason Italy has escaped the euro­zone crisis is that Mr Berlusconi’s finance minister, Giulio Tremonti, has curbed his boss’s easy­spending, populist instincts and imposed strict fiscal discipline. He has done little to get the economy growing (Standard & Poor’s, a rating agency, has cut its outlook on Italy from stable to negative). But Mr Tremonti has reassured investors that Italy can finance its huge public debt (almost 120% of GDP). Yet soon after the elections it became clear that Mr Berlusconi wanted to change fiscal policy. Asked what he would do if his finance minister refused to loosen the purse strings, he replied: We’ll make them open. Tremonti doesn’t decide. Later he made a statement rearming his confidence in Mr Tremonti. But this is his third such disclaimer in a month. The pressure on him to splash out is severe. Milan was among 90 Italian towns and cities with run­on votes. Mr Berlusconi’s candidates took a beating. In Naples the opposition candidate won over 65% of the vote. The centre­right lost Arcore, the town near Milan where Mr Berlusconi has his main private residence and, it is alleged, held his Bunga Bunga parties. A trial in which he denies paying an underage prostitute to attend such a party resumed the day after the vote. The loss of Arcore was one of several that made these elections a personal calamity for Mr Berlusconi. Milan is his home city, from which he launched him­ self into politics 17 years ago, and the place he could rely on to back him in the darkest moments of his career. By putting himself on the slate of the outgoing mayor and declaring the election a national one, he turned it into a vote of confidence in his management of Italy. Two other things must worry Mr Berlusconi. One is that Milan is Italy’s bellwether: conventional wisdom has it that what the Milanese do today the rest of the country does tomorrow. Second, his Northern League coalition partners also took a thrashing. The loyalty of Umberto Bossi’s movement, which combines regionalism with populism and Islam homophobia, is vital to the government’s survival. Its poor showing in the frst round had persuaded many in the League that the time had come to sever links with Mr Berlusconi’s People of Freedom movement. The second round, in which the League lost control of the north­eastern city of Novara, will make that view more widely shared. Some of Mr Berlusconi’s opponents hailed the results as a sign that his long ascendancy in Italian politics was drawing to a close. But that is to jump to conclusions. As the prime minister quipped, even his successful AC Milan football team loses sometimes. These were mid­term elections that produced typical mid­term vic­ tors. The new mayor of Milan, Giuliano Pisapia , was not the choice of Italy’s biggest opposition group, the centre­left Democratic Party, but of the smaller and more radical Left, Ecology and Freedom movement, led by the governor of Puglia, Nichi Vendola. The winner in Naples was a maverick former prosecutor, Luigi de Magistris, who ran for the anti­corruption Italy of Principles party, founded by another former prosecutor, Antonio Di Pietro. Not the least of the questions posed by these elections was whether they presage a shift not just on the right, but also on the left. 7 Italy’s beleaguered prime minister.

What’s next for Italy?

Milano 9 giugno 2011, ore 11.30 Piazza Mercanti 2 Palazzo Giureconsulti Sala Parlamentino Dibattito sulle prospettive dell’Italia in occasione dei 150 di Unità nazionale L’Italia ha molto di cui essere orgogliosi, tuttavia in occasione delle celebrazioni per l’Unità nazionale molti italiani si sono domandati se l’unificazione non sia stata un errore. L’economia italiana è rimasta stagnante mentre altre sono cresciute. Come può l’Italia oggi, in tempi più difficili, recuperare il terreno perduto? Quando Berlusconi lascerà la sua carica, l’Italia avrà un’altra possibilità per rinnovarsi?

The Economist this week

Questa settimana segnalo nella sezione Leaders:
- L’analisi che prende in esame l’impatto dell’uomo sul nostro pianeta. Nel tempo la razza umana si è trasformata in una forza della natura che rimodella la conformazione del pianeta, ma ad una velocità più rapida rispetto a quella geologica: Welcome to the Anthropocen – Humans have changed the way the world works. Now they have to change the way they think about it, too
- Lo special report, disponibile su richiesta, sull’Australia, democratica, tollerante ed ospitale con gli immigrati, politicamente stabile ed economicamente florida, una sorta di California di 30 anni fà, una nuova versione di “Golden State”: The next Golden State – With a bit of self-belief, Australia could become a model nation
- L’articolo sulle proteste in Spagna: Spain’s cry of pain – How to get the protesters out of the plazas and into jobs. Argomento approfondito nella sezione Europe: The unhappy campers – Spain’s young want jobs, the markets want reform and voters want a new government
- L’articolo che si occupa della ricerca del nuovo candidato per il FMI, mentre Dominique Strauss-Kahn attende il processo per l’accusa dio violenza sessuale: Time for a change – Why a euro zone finance minister, even a talented one, should not lead the IMF
Mentre nella sezione Europe:
- L’editoriale sulle reazioni dell’elite francese dopo l’arresto di Dominique Strauss-Kahn: What did they know? -
Some hard questions for France’s elite after Dominique Strauss Kahn’s arrest
- L’artcolo sulla Turchia, nella top league per gli scandali sessuali, che ha visto nelle scorse settimane, le dimissioni di non meno di dieci componenti del MHP: Feeling blue – Another opposition party is laid low by clandestine videos
- L’articolo sulla politica olandese: Neither in nor out – And that’s exactly how Geert Wilders likes it
- La rubrica Charlemagne: The Obama tonic – The American president’s message of hope could be useful in Europe (Beatrice Mozzi)
E gli highlights dell’editore:
After several covers connected to the news, we step back this week. In Asia we look at Australia: we argue that with a little more self confidence it should become the next Golden State, Asia’s California. In the rest of the world we step back even farther and welcome the Anthropocene. This is the scientific idea that man has so changed the earth that he has created a new geological age. Humans we argue have changed the way that the planet works: now they have to change the way they think about it too.
Obama, Bibi and peace The president annoys a lot of Israelis, but does not please that many Arabs. A soft landing for China. A slower world economy could help the Chinese Why the brain drain helps fight poverty. A closer look at migration Huntsman blows his horn. A look at a credible Republican. The cost of cancer drugs New medicines are technically impressive, but not cheap.

Anticipazioni The Economist in edicola domani

L’analisi che si occupa della situazione esistente tra Pakistan e India, due paesi che hanno una politica distorta e si alimentano sul terrorismo.
Editor’s highlights: Sometimes a debate starts where everybody ignores the elephant in the room. So it has been with Pakistan since the death of Osama bin Laden, with the West examining everything to do with the country except the greatest issue of all, its relationship with India. This week our cover leader looks at “the world’s most dangerous border”, which has cost thousands of lives, distorted the politics of two countries and stoked up terrorism. We argue that the West’s refusal to help defuse tension here is a terrible mistake, especially because a settlement is not beyond reach. Also this week The damnation of Dominique Strauss-Kahn Whatever the man did, do not forsake his ideas Business lessons from Barcelona FC The management style of the world’s classiest football team Huckabee hides, the Donald ducks On the American right, social conservatives and the tea party are both in a funk In praise of placebos Virtually all alternative medicine is bunk, but the placebo effect is rather interesting Walmart Wumart The battle for China’s shoppers
L’Economist sostiene che il rifiuto dell’Occidente nel contribuire a disinnescare la tensione tra questi due paesi sia un terribile errore, soprattutto perché una soluzione non è irraggiungibile:
• The world’s most dangerous border – To reduce the risk of terror, the West must help defuse tension between India and Pakistan L’articolo su Dominique Strauss-Kahn: Damned – Whatever the man did, do not forsake his ideas: they are more important
• Una panoramica sulla capacità di recupero e sull’economia giapponese dopo la potenza di un terremoto combinata a un incidente nucleare full-scale: On a mission -A rare reformist zeal is emerging in post quake Japan. The government ignores it at the country’s peril
• L’articolo sul più grande esportatore americano: Don’t bully Boeing, Barack Want to prove you are “pro business”? Condemn a loony left complaint against America’s biggest exporter
• Per ultimo un articolo che tratta della medicina alternativa: There is no alternative – Virtually all alternative medicine is bunk; but the placebo effect is rather interesting
Mentre larga parte della sezione Europe:
• L’editoriale su Berlusconi dopo le elezioni comunali in Italia: A blow to Berlusconi – The prime minister’s party struggles inlocal elections.
• Una panoramica sulla divisione economica nell’euro zona, che vede diventare realtà lo spettro, storicamente sempre esistito, di un Europa a due velocità: Northern lights, southern cross – The economic split within the euro area could damage its political cohesion
• L’altro editoriale sull’euro: Tomorrow and tomorrow – The euro zone’s finance ministers continue to act as if time is on their side
• La rubrica Charlemagne: Decoding DSK – What his fall says about transatlantic differences in attitudes to sex, power and the law
Seguono in fondo alla mia email gli highlights dell’editore.(Beatrice Mozzi)

The Economist this week

Questa settimana nella sezione Europe l’aricolo sull’Italia e sulle nuove tensioni politiche sorte: Coalition troubles – Tensions rise both inside the ruling party and with its coalition partner Seguono gli highlights dell’editore. Osama bin Laden dominates the paper this week. Our cover leader [LINK TO COVER LEADER] looks at his legacy, and argues that his brand of brutal jihad is losing its appeal in the Arab world. Thanks to the Arab spring, Islam stands its best chance in generations of re-engaging with politics to found institutions in which religious and civilian life can coexist. That would be a devastating refutation of bin Ladens ideology of universal Muslim struggle. Also this week Too few people in China? (ASIA LEAD NOTE) The most surprising demographic crisis Stephen Harpers big win in Canada [THIRD LEADER] How the Conservative prime minister should use his new mandate The ambitions of Frances far right [EUROPE LEAD NOTE] Le Pen, mightier than the sword? Putting the squeeze on lawyers [BACK BRIEFING] Law firms adjust to structural change as well as recession. (Beatrice Mozzi)

The Economist: special report on pensions

The developed world is heading for a retirement age of 70. That is the message of this week’s issue of The Economist, which features a special report on pensions. Written by The Economist’s capital markets editor and Buttonwood columnist, Philip Coggan, the report examines what has gone wrong in the pension provision systems of wealthy countries and how it can be put right. People are living longer but the retirement age has fallen since 1970. As the baby boomers retire, there are not enough younger people around to support them. Back in 1950 there were 7.2 people aged 20-64 for every person aged 65 or more in the OECD, but by 2050 the ratio will have dropped to 2.1 with much of western Europe having a ratio of well under 2. Shrinking workforces are likely to lead to reduced growth. That means the retirement age need to be raised at a faster place than has been planned – scheduled changes barely keep pace with expected improvement in longevity. Many countries will need to aim for 70 but that will require a shift in employers’ attitudes and recruitment practices to keep more older people in the workplace.  In the public sector, governments have wooed unions and employees with promises of generous final-salary pensions, but have failed to inject sufficient funding into the schemes. The resulting pensions hole creates dissatisfaction among public-sector workers, anger among taxpayers expected to foot the bill, and, in some cases, a real possibility that workers will not receive the pensions they expect. Reform of public-sector pensions is difficult, says The Economist, but local governments need to take action now by changing the system for new employees and increasing workers’ contributions. In the private sector, employers mainly offer defined-contribution pension plans which, unlike traditional final-salary schemes, put the onus on employees to accumulate pension pots. But poor investment returns can make the difference between a comfortable pension and a meagre one. The report highlights the need, not just for employers to offer diversified plans to avoid this risk, but for employees to invest more in their pension portfolios. Besides increasing the retirement age, the report concludes, governments need to encourage saving by “nudge”-style reforms which require workers to opt out of pension schemes, rather than requiring them to opt in. The shortfalls in pension planning in the developed world need to be tackled quickly if its less well-off elderly are to avoid hardship in future decades.

The Economist di oggi

Questa settimana segnalo nella sezione Leaders: L’ editoriale sul problema delle pensioni. Viene analizzato come demografia e rendimenti degli investimenti in calo hanno assicurato che i pensionati ricchi del mondo dovranno lavorare più a lungo di quanto originariamente previsto: 70 or bust! – Current plans to raise the retirement age are not bold enough   L’ articolo su i problemi fiscali dell’America: Praising Congressman Ryan – At long last somebody is trying to grapple with America’s  fiscal troubles  L’analisi sul Portogallo: The third bailout  -  How to make sure the latest bailout marks the beginning of the end of the euro zone’s debt crisis    L’ articolo sulla diffusione del fontamentalismo islamico nella Ciscaucasia:Islam inflamed –  Muslim fundamentalism is on the rise in the north Caucasus. To stop it, Russian policy must change Mentre nella sezione Europe:
• L’articolo che si occcupa della crescente tensione per le elezioni russe del 2012: The Putin v Medvedev tandem  -  New signs of tension at the top as Russia’s 2012 presidential election looms
• Gli articoli sull’Italia, il primo che analizza la situazione economica del nostro paese: The euro’s Achilles heel – Sounder public finances, but a weaker economy: that is Italy today, mentre l’altro che si occupa di Berlusconi e del caso Ruby: Opening the rubygates – The prime minister’s latest trial may not be the most dangerous for him
• L’editoriale che si occupa del dibattito sull’Islam in Francia: On a mat and a prayer  -  A new debate reflects strains over the place of Islam in France
• L’analisi sulla politica estera turca, ambivalente circa le operazioni NATO in Libia: Erdogan’s lament – What lies behind Turkey’s ambivalence over NATO’s operation in Libya
• L’ articolo sulla Spagna:  Exit plan – The Socialist  contemplate who would be their best new leader
• La rubrica Charlemagne:Choosing new friends – The European Union is struggling to help Arab revolutionaries Editor’s highlights
• With a hiatus in the flow of big news events, we take the opportunity to look at a long-running problem that doesn’t often produce headlines, but is gradually getting worse. Demography and declining investment returns have ensured that rich-world retirees will have to work longer than they originally expected. Governments have started to grapple with the problem, but because life expectancy is continuing to rise–we are gaining about a month a year–planned reforms are not bold enough. Also in this week’s issue
• Portugal capitulates: Europe’s third bail-out
• Russia and Islam: The empire frays in the north Caucasus
• Gendercide in India: The sex ratio worsens
• Praising Congressman Ryan: An attempt to get to grips with America’s fiscal troubles
• An interstellar internet: A modest proposal (from Beatrice Mozzi) (the economist)