The power (and the limits) of the American dollar

The power (and the limits) of the American dollar
The dollar-doubters have become vocal once again. (Image: Getty)
The Economist
Every so often, an appetite surges for an alternative reserve currency to the dollar – and a market booms in predictions of the greenback’s imminent demise. For nearly three-quarters of a century the dollar has at a global scale dominated trade, finance and the rainy-day reserve portfolios of central banks. Yet high inflation, fractious geopolitics and the sanctions imposed by America and its allies on countries such as Russia have lately caused dollar-doubters to become vocal once again.Often these episodes are fuelled by...

More World

One US supreme court case could mess up chunks of the tax code
World

One US supreme court case could mess up chunks of the tax code

Justices will debate the meaning of ‘income’ under the 16th US Amendment.

Why is everyone so unhappy at work right now?
World

Why is everyone so unhappy at work right now?

US employees are more dissatisfied than they were in the thick of the pandemic.

Volunteers flock to Israel to fill jobs made vacant by conflict
World

Volunteers flock to Israel to fill jobs made vacant by conflict

Airline passengers speak of filling voids caused by the war with Hamas.

Cigna, Humana may merge
World

Cigna, Humana may merge

A cash-and-stock deal between health insurance giants could be struck by year-end.