The Economist explains

The Economist explains

Why is it so hard to form a government in Italy?

They designed it that way

The Economist explains

Why does liberal Iceland want to ban online pornography?

The planned ban is a continuation of previous laws to regulate the sex industry

The Economist explains

Why are your friends more popular than you?

Don't worry. It's just basic arithmetic

The Economist explains

How does China censor the internet?

With both the Great Firewall and the Golden Shield

The Economist explains

Why are gene patents controversial?

Not everyone thinks researchers should be able to patent DNA sequences

The Economist explains

How scary are North Korea's nukes?

Quite scary, but not for the reasons you might expect

The Economist explains

Why are so many adults adopted in Japan?

The reason is more mercantile than magnanimous

The Economist explains

What is the Streisand effect?

When trying to hide something makes it more visible

The Economist explains

Why does America regulate the trade in raisins?

An anomaly in a country that celebrates red-blooded capitalism

The Economist explains

How does Bitcoin work?

The virtual currency is decentralised, which is part of its appeal

The Economist explains

How might your choice of browser affect your job prospects?

Users of Firefox and Chrome may stay in their jobs for longer

The Economist explains

What is a state funeral?

How does a state funeral differ from a ceremonial funeral?