Explaining the world, daily

The Economist explains

Subjects topical and timeless, profound and peculiar, explained with The Economist's trademark clarity and brevity

The Economist explains
Are labour markets becoming less competitive?

The demise of collective bargaining has allowed firms to flex their “monopsony power” and squeeze wages

The Economist explains
Why NASA’s women astronauts cannot fly as much as men

Cancer-causing space radiation is to blame, but the agency wants to change its rules

The Economist explains
How do horses travel to international competitions?

It is an expensive and paper-laden process, with first-class tickets for the most valuable mounts

The Economist explains
How are wildfires fought?

And why, and when, they shouldn’t be

The Economist explains
Where will you need a covid passport?

Proof of vaccination or recovery from infection is increasingly being demanded, not just for international travel but also within countries

The Economist explains
Why are private-equity firms buying listed firms at a record rate?

Blame tax breaks, cheap money and investors lusting for better returns

The Economist explains
How has the meaning of the word “woke” evolved?

Originally a black slang term, the word is now pilloried on both the right and the left

The Economist Explains
Why don’t rising house prices count towards inflation?

Property values have increased much faster than other costs of living

The Economist Explains
Why are Russian athletes competing at the Tokyo Olympics despite the country’s ban?

Sporting authorities do not want to punish clean athletes, or cut off the money

The Economist Explains
Who counts as a refugee?

The definition agreed on by governments 70 years ago is hard to apply to many of today's forcibly displaced people