Of course, presidents are always blamed or rewarded for the state of the economy. James Surowiecki blameeconomypresident Change image and share on social
It may be that the very qualities that help people get ahead are the ones that make them ill-suited for managing crises. It's hard to prepare for the worst when you think you're the best. James Surowiecki aheadbadcrisis Change image and share on social
As technology improves, on-screen avatars look more and more like real people. When they start looking too real, though, we pull away. These almost-humans aren't quite right; they look creepy, like zombies. James Surowiecki avatarcreepyhuman share on social
Workers who come to the U.S. see their wages and their standard of living boosted sharply simply by crossing the border. That's a good thing, and one of the best arguments for immigration reform, even if you'll rarely hear a politician make it. James Surowiecki argumentboostborder share on social
By the time of the '90s boom, CEOs had become superheroes, accorded celebrity treatment and followed with a kind of slavish scrutiny that Alfred P. Sloan could never have imagined. James Surowiecki 90saccordalfred Change image and share on social
If private-equity firms are as good at remaking companies as they claim, they don't need tax loopholes to make money. James Surowiecki claimcompanyequity Change image and share on social
The world's central banks and the International Monetary Fund still have vaults full of bullion, even though currencies are no longer backed by gold. Governments hold on to it as a kind of magic symbol, a way of reassuring people that their money is real. James Surowiecki backbankbullion share on social
There's no debt limit in the Constitution. James Surowiecki constitutiondebtlimit Change image and share on social
Of course, politicians always say they're just describing their opponents' positions, even if they are in fact offering absurd caricatures, if not outright lies. James Surowiecki absurdcaricaturedescribe Change image and share on social
You can't be rich unless everyone else agrees that you're rich. James Surowiecki agreerich Change image and share on social
