Development

The Kenya Puzzle

In Kenya, progress and dysfunction go hand in hand.

BY DANIEL BRANCH | FEBRUARY 28, 2013

There is no Indonesia Model for the Arab Spring

Yes, Muslim-majority Indonesia has made a successful transition to democracy. But no, that doesn’t make it an example for the Arab Spring.

BY TOM PEPINSKY | FEBRUARY 27, 2013

Morales Walks the Populist High Wire

Morales talks big populist talk. Here's how it's actually working out. 

BY ROBERT LOONEY | FEBRUARY 26, 2013

A Place of One's Own

Land is more than real estate. In many parts of the world, it’s the key to survival, belonging, and identity.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | FEBRUARY 26, 2013

Sneaking in the Back Door

Did Hugo Chávez quietly slip back into Venezuela to die?

BY PETER WILSON | FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Putin Declares War on Sleaze

Vladimir Putin is vowing to make a dent in the eternal Russian problem of corruption. Skepticism is warranted.

BY ANNA NEMTSOVA | FEBRUARY 20, 2013

Venezuela's New Era

Venezuelans are contemplating the possibility of a new life without Hugo Chávez. But can the existing system continue in the absence of its creator?

BY PHIL GUNSON | FEBRUARY 19, 2013

What George W. Bush Did Right

The 43rd president of the United States did a great thing for humankind -- but most Americans have no idea.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | FEBRUARY 14, 2013

Free Trade or Penalty-Free Crime?

Free Trade Zones are meant to promote trade and improve economies. But they often end up being a cover for crime.

BY ROGER BATE | FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Georgia's Political Standoff Deepens

A letter from Tbilisi

BY ANNA NEMTSOVA | FEBRUARY 11, 2013

Startup Sovereigns

Statehood ain't what it used to be.

BY PARAG KHANNA, SAWSAN GAD | FEBRUARY 8, 2013

Love Is a Battlefield

Are the Taliban using sex to fight America?

BY MUJIB MASHAL | FEBRUARY 5, 2013

Death Comes Quietly in Mali

It’s not Islamic radicals or war that’s killing the poor people of the Sahel. It’s something far simpler.

BY ANNA BADKHEN | FEBRUARY 5, 2013

The First Lab Results Are In

Democracy Lab is celebrating its first anniversary. Here are some of the things we've learned over the past year -- and where we're headed in year two.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | JANUARY 31, 2013

Measure for Measure

We can make dramatic progress in lowering maternal mortality -- but we need better data, and more of it.

BY MELINDA GATES | JANUARY 31, 2013

We Have No Idea if Africa Is Rising

Recent FP contributors have said that Africa is and is not rising. They're both wrong because they don't have the numbers to back it up.

BY MORTEN JERVEN | JANUARY 28, 2013

Broken Tooth and New Macau

How China crushed the triad gangs and created the world's new gambling Mecca.

BY BENJAMIN CARLSON | JANUARY 28, 2013

Continental Shift

Why the Pentagon should pay less attention to Africa.

BY GORDON ADAMS | JANUARY 25, 2013

Our Man in Havana

Was USAID planning to overthrow Castro?

BY PETER KORNBLUH | JANUARY 25, 2013

India's Missing Ingredients

Indian growth is slowing. But there are two key reforms that will help.

BY HEMAL SHAH | JANUARY 24, 2013

Crying for Argentina

From populism to liberalism and back again: Argentina's economic policy makers are still looking for a formula that works.

BY ALBERT FISHLOW | JANUARY 17, 2013

Mexico's False Dawn

Don't believe all the rosy news about Mexico's rise -- this emerging economy is still stuck emerging.

BY LARRY KAPLOW | JANUARY 16, 2013

Sorry, but Africa's Rise Is Real

Africa growth skeptics have got it wrong. The continent's rise is very real.

BY CHARLES ROBERTSON, MICHAEL MORAN | JANUARY 11, 2013

Daniel Ortega's Reality Check

Nicaragua’s president is the latest Latin American populist to flirt with the market. But his political risks are high.

BY ROBERT LOONEY | JANUARY 10, 2013

Indonesia: Stop Chopping, Start Learning

Indonesia has been coasting on its natural wealth for too long. Now it's time to start investing in the country's people.

BY JONATHAN PINCUS | JANUARY 9, 2013

Can India Defeat Poverty?

A bold new program may show the world the way.

BY AMANDA GLASSMAN, NANCY BIRDSALL | JANUARY 8, 2013

Reinventing China, Again

China made it big by saving money. Now it needs to spend it.

BY ROBYN MEREDITH | JANUARY 7, 2013

Poor Choice

The International Finance Corporation responds to Cheryl Strauss Einhorn's investigation into the World Bank's investment arm.

BY BRUCE MOATS | JANUARY 4, 2013

The Myth of Africa's Rise

Why the rumors of Africa's explosive growth have been greatly exaggerated. 

BY RICK ROWDEN | JANUARY 4, 2013

Gorging on Investment, Choking on Red Tape

Academic economists usually air their new ideas first in working papers. Here, before the work gets dusty, a quick look at transition policy research in progress.

BY PETER PASSELL | JANUARY 4, 2013