Leaders

Admiration nation
Which is The Economist’s country of the year?

The most-improved country is one where people stood up for democracy

Getting girlhood right
Covid-19 threatens girls’ gigantic global gains

Countries must work harder to safeguard progress

Covid-19 in 2020
The year when everything changed

Why the pandemic will be remembered as a turning-point

Taming big tech
America and Europe clamp down on big tech

Trustbusters say they are going after the tech giants. Markets don’t take them seriously

Knock-knock-knockin’ on Jody’s door
A song for Dylan’s deal with Universal

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

Last tango in Brussels
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

The world economy
After the pandemic, will inflation return?

Low inflation underpins today’s economic policy. It is not guaranteed to last

Public markets
Will the IPO bonanza last?

From Airbnb to Tesla, 2020 will be a bumper year for capital-raising

First, do no harm
Other countries should learn from a transgender verdict in England

The high court ruled that children cannot give informed consent to treatment that may render them sterile