Currency Unions and Internal Devaluations

West Africa Needs Its Own Draghi Moment
https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/west-african-monetary-union-faces-its-biggest-test-by-fernando-morra-1-and-anahi-wiedenbrug-2026-07
Senegal’s debt crisis has exposed a deeper vulnerability within West Africa’s monetary union. Unable to devalue the shared currency, member countries must either endure painful internal adjustment or boost exports to earn the foreign currency they need to repay external creditors. 

Profile of María Corina Machado

María Corina Machado’s Opposition in Exile
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/07/27/maria-corina-machados-opposition-in-exile
The Venezuelan politician hoped to become her country’s leader with help from the U.S. The Trump Administration had other priorities. 

Related:
https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/marco-rubio-is-failing-venezuelan-democracy-by-ricardo-hausmann-2026-07

Cost of Eldercare in the Developing World

Poor Countries are Aging Fast but Can’t Keep Up with the Cost
https://www.wsj.com/world/poor-countries-are-aging-fast-but-cant-keep-up-with-the-cost-fd83b1cd
The elderly population is exploding in developing nations like Thailand, where savings and government resources are scant. 

Startup Boom in America

America Has Become an Entrepreneur’s Paradise
https://www.economist.com/business/2026/07/27/america-has-become-an-entrepreneurs-paradise

America’s Enterprising Spirit Is Booming After Decades-Long Slump
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/17/business/economy/american-small-business-boom.html 

Fed Policy Approach Debate

Fed patience risks shredding credibility
https://www.reuters.com/commentary/reuters-open-interest/fed-patience-risks-shredding-credibility-2026-07-27/

The Federal Reserve Ain’t Broke, So Don’t Fix It by Alan Blinder
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-federal-reserve-aint-broke-so-dont-fix-it-c22a2de0
We need forward guidance to avoid the guessing game that follows when central bankers say nothing. 

Structural shifts demand a new central banking mindset by Vivekanand Jayakumar, The Hill, July 21, 2026
https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/5979598-monetary-policy-paradigm-shifts/
While the primary objective of most central banks — maintaining price stability — remains unchanged, the post-pandemic economic landscape has evolved in ways that require policymakers to rethink how monetary policy is designed and implemented. 

Corporate America Rethinks AI Spend

Corporate America Has Suddenly Decided to Stop Blowing Money on AI
https://www.wsj.com/business/china-us-ai-model-costs-53a12e96  
Companies big and small are mixing models, and it’s changing the economics and power players of the industry. 

US Homeownership Rate

New Fed research suggests far fewer Americans own homes than widely believed
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-homeownership-rate-minneapolis-fed-study/
 
New homeownership measure puts people first
https://www.minneapolisfed.org/article/2026/new-homeownership-measure-puts-people-first