The Visible Hand

The Economist: State Capitalism

Adrian Wooldridge is The Economist's management editor and writes the Schumpeter column. He was previously based in Washington, DC, as the Washington bureau chief where he also wrote the Lexington column. Previously he has been The Economist's West Coast correspondent, management correspondent and Britain correspondent. He is the co-author of The Company: A Short History of a Revolutionary Idea, A Future Perfect: The Challenge and Hidden Promise of Globalisation, Witch Doctors, a critical examination of management theory, and The Right Nation, a study of conservatism in America. His most recent book is Masters of Management: How the Business Gurus and their Ideas have Changed the World-for Better and for Worse.

The Penguin Economist Special reports delve into the most pressing economic issues of the day: from national and global economies, to the impact of trade, industry and jobs. Written to be read on a long commute or in your lunch hour - be better informed in under an hour. 
 
As Western liberalist capitalism flounders in the wake of global recession, state backed companies are slowly taking over. 
 
The melding of the power of the state and the power of capitalism is on the rise. Prevalent in the emerging economies of China, Russia and Brazil, some of the world's most powerful companies are state owned. 
 
The 13 biggest oil firms are government controlled. China Mobile has over 600million customers and the Emirates airlines is growing at 20% a year. 
 
However, despite the numerous successes, Adrian Wooldridge urges caution. He asks whether it could easily survive if confronted with difficulty, criticises the embedded corruption and cronyism and asks whether a fair trading system is possible to maintain with government favoured business. 
 
Slowly but surely, the invisible hand of the market is being usurped by the visible, often authoritarian, hand of state capitalism. 
 
Sections include: 
 
The visible hand 
 
Something old, something new - a brief history of state capitalism 
 
New masters of the universe - how state enterprise is spreading 
 
Theme and variations - state capitalism is not all the same 
 
Mixed bag - infrastructure and innovation 
 
The world in their hands - state capitalism looks outward and inward 
 
And the winner is - fatal flaws

Revolution in Retreat

The Economist: Cuba

Michael Reid joined The Economist in 1990 as Mexico and Central America Correspondent and in 1994 changed to cover consumer industries. In 1996 he moved to Sao Paulo to be the Bureau Chief and in 1999 returned to London as Americas Editor. Prior to this, he was based in Lima, Peru working for The Economist, the Guardian and the BBC. His book Forgotten Continent: The Battle for Latin America's Soul was published by Yale University Press in November 2007. Mr Reid has been interviewed on the BBC World Service and BBC Radio 4 PM, amongst others.

The Penguin Economist Special reports delve into the most pressing economic issues of the day: from national and global economies, to the impact of trade, industry and jobs. Written to be read on a long commute or in your lunch hour - be better informed in under an hour. 
 
Raúl Castro is changing Cuba. Recognising the limits that the Soviet style economy places upon the Cuban people, he is allowing the market greater freedoms. A new, private sector is emerging and is expected to employ around 25% of the labour force by 2015. 
 
What will these changes mean for foreign business and for Cuba's position on the global stage? 
 
As there doesn't seem to be a Castro successor and the party is pressured by the younger generation and the digital world, where will Cuba be in ten years time? 
 
This report will reflect on the likelihood and impact of political and economic change on the island - essential reading for anyone involved in the region. 
 
Sections include: 
 
Revolution in retreat 
 
The deal's off - growing inequalities 
 
Hasta la vista, baby - a disappearing population 
 
Edging towards capitalism - slow reform 
 
Grandmother's footsteps - political change 
 
The Miami mirror - Cuba and Miami 
 
The biological factor - what next for the Castro dynasty?

Playing with Fire

The Economist: Financial Innovation

Andrew Palmer joined The Economist as Management Correspondent in February 2007, became Banking Correspondent in September 2007 and Finance Editor in June 2009. Prior to this he was at the Economist Intelligence Unit, a sister company, where, among other roles, he led the editorial team conducting bespoke research programmes, surveys and reports. Mr Palmer is a frequent commentator on radio and television.

The Penguin Economist Special reports delve into the most pressing economic issues of the day: from national and global economies, to the impact of trade, industry and jobs. Written to be read on a long commute or in your lunch hour - be better informed in under an hour. 
 
Is financial innovation good or bad? 
Did it cause the financial crisis of 2007/2008? 
Are the current financial systems working for a stable global economy? 
 
Andrew Palmer answers these questions in his special report, but urges that it's more that just a debate on whether financial innovation does or doesn't work. In fact, he claims, it is almost impossible to draw these distinctions. 
 
Using a variety of examples - from social bonds to securitisations risks - he highlights the weaknesses in innovative strategies, revealing how some innovation is doomed to failure. 
 
The consequences of innovation are now so crucial and so scrutinised - it is essential reading for anyone in the business world. 
 
Sections include: 
Playing with fire 
The ferment of finance 
The little guy 
From vanilla to rocky road 
The fast and furious 
Of plumbing and promises 
On the side of the angels 
Safety first

Perilous Journey

The Economist: Pakistan

Simon Long, Asia columinst, took up this post, based in Singapore, in August 2010. Before that, he had worked in London for four years, as the magazine's Asia editor, and for four years prior to that as South Asia bureau chief based in Delhi. 
 
He joined The Economist in 1995, as South-East Asia correspondent, based in Bangkok. In 1998 he returned to London as finance and economics editor. In 2000 he became the deputy head of Global Agenda, The Economist's updated internet service, before moving to Delhi. He had previously spent nine years with the BBC, as an analyst on East Asian affairs based in London, as Beijing correspondent from 1989-1991, and Hong Kong correspondent from 1993. He wrote extensively for the Guardian newspaper, and many other outlets. He was for a number of years the author of Economist Intelligence Unit country reports on China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. 
In an earlier career as an investment banker, with Morgan Grenfell, he worked in London and Singapore, rising to the position of senior assistant director, responsible for the banking division's Asian business.

The Penguin Economist Special reports delve into the most pressing economic issues of the day: from national and global economies, to the impact of trade, industry and jobs. Written to be read on a long commute or in your lunch hour - be better informed in under an hour. 
 
Pakistan is in a tricky situation. It is under constant scrutiny by the world media but is more often than not described in terms of its problems. 
 
There are indeed difficulties - bordering the unsettled nations of Afghanistan and Iran puts it in a precarious position. A poor and badly educated population for the most part is not helping the country's growth. 
 
There is hope. 
 
The wealth of natural resources, a growing, urban population and a more democratic government all point to a positive future. 
 
But with the NATO withdrawal from its troubled neighbours nearing, Pakistan's survival hangs in the balance. 
 
Simon Long's special report includes the following sections: 
 
Perilous Journey 
Too close for comfort 
State of vulnerability 
Captain's innings 
In the shadow of the mosque 
Lights off 
A taste of Hunny 
Always with us 
Dripping with blood 
Going with the flow

Closing the Gap

The Economist: Women and Work

Barbara Beck joined The Economist in 1965 and held various editorial posts, mainly on the business side. In 1974 she became European editor, a position she held until 1980. From 1981 to 1991, she was Secretary General of the Anglo-German Foundation for the Study of Industrial Society, a bilateral, government-funded think-tank. For the next three years she was editor of International Management magazine. In 1993 she became Head of Communications, Europe, for Andersen Consulting. She then returned to The Economist in 1995 as Special Reports editor.

The Penguin Economist Special reports delve into the most pressing economic issues of the day: from national and global economies, to the impact of trade, industry and jobs. Written to be read on a long commute or in your lunch hour - be better informed in under an hour. 
 
When students graduate from university they are employed in equal numbers. Move up the ladder a few rungs and the number of women in high powered positions has fallen dramatically. 
 
Women make up just 3% of Fortune 500 CEOs and still generally get paid less than their male counterparts. 
 
Barbara Becks ask why this is and what can be done about it. She covers: 
 
Closing the gap 
 
Female labour markets: The cashier and the carpenter 
 
A world of bluestockings 
 
Work and family: Baby blues 
 
Top jobs: Too many suits 
 
Women in China: The sky's the limit 
 
Looking ahead: Here's to the next half-century

All the World's a Game

The Economist: Video Games

Tim Cross joined The Economist as an intern in June 2004. He covered business, and then transport, energy and the environment for the Britain section, where he won the Wincott Award for Young Financial Journalist of the Year in 2005. Mr Cross now works on the Science section, covering, among other things, astronomy, the space business, medicine and technology stories of all kinds. He is a regular contributor to the website's Babbage blog.

The Penguin Economist Special reports delve into the most pressing economic issues of the day: from national and global economies, to the impact of trade, industry and jobs. Written to be read on a long commute or in your lunch hour - be better informed in under an hour. 
 
In the US, the average age of a gamer is 37 and 42% are female. Last year the industry earned $56billion worldwide. 
 
Tim Cross analyses the proliferation of the video games in this Economist special report, and how its successes are set to grow. 
Sections in the report include: 
 
All the world's a game 
 
As you like it 
 
The business of gaming: Thinking out of the box 
 
Paying for pixels 
 
E-sports: Gentlemen, start your computers 
 
Violence and addiction: No killer app 
 
Alternative uses: The play's the thing 
 
The importance of fun: Homo ludens

The Economist Publications (PUK Rights)

Retail Renaissance

The Penguin Economist Special reports delve into the most pressing economic issues of the day: from national and global economies, to the impact of trade, industry and jobs. Written to be read on a long commute or in your lunch hour - be better informed in under an hour. 
 
Retail banking is heading for a revival. With the financial crisis still hanging over Western economies, banks have rejuvenated the retail arm of the business. They are now seen as more stable sources of profit than the risky traders. 
 
Technology is both a help and a hindrance. On one hand, online banking is revolutionizing money management. But will this lead to the close of the high street bank? How can banks outstrip the developing tech companies who are offering rival services? 
 
This report will assess the challenges and opportunities that banks face in the rich world and the emerging markets. Sections include: 
 
Retail renaissance 
 
Withering away 
 
Dispatches from the hothouse 
 
Crunching the numbers 
 
A wealth of wallets 
 
Over the sea and far away 
 
Private pursuits 
 
World, here we come

The Economist Publications (PUK Rights)

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