The Economist explains

The Economist explains

Why have so few bankers gone to jail?

Because it's hard to prove wrongdoing, and it's not illegal to run a bank into the ground

The Economist explains

Who were the Beguines?

The Economist explains

Why is Saudi Arabia thinking of moving its weekend?

Because it is the last Middle Eastern country to have a Thursday-Friday weekend

The Economist explains

Why is youth unemployment so high?

The Economist explains

Brazil isn’t growing—so why are Brazilians so happy?

Because the poor are benefitting from what growth there is, which increases their spending power

The Economist explains

How can bumblebees commit crime?

By stealing nectar, in violating of an implicit deal with flowers

The Economist explains

Who really runs Wikipedia?

The egalitarian organisation has a hierarchy, but no one is precisely is charge of any article

The Economist explains

How does antimatter differ from matter?

Disparities between particles and their anti-versions may hold the key to life, universe and everything

The Economist explains

What is Boko Haram?

A shadowy group justifies its attacks against the Nigerian state using the language of religious struggle

The Economist explains

How do you invent a language?

Making up a language is both a science and an art

The Economist explains

How do two-factor logins improve security?

A short run of digits can prevent most common login exploits by supplementing a password