The Economist (february 2nd 2019)

How to handle Huawei Talking to the Taliban Better ways to tax the rich The future of fertility FEBRUARY 2ND–8TH 2019 The battle for Venezuela Contents The Economist February 2nd 2019 The world this week 10 A round-up of political and business news 13 14 14 15 On the cover The world’s democracies are right to seek change in Latin America’s worst-governed country. But their responsibilities go further: leader, page 13. A failed revolution may itself be overthrown, page 20. How Venezuela’s economy can recover from the Maduro regime, page 22. Hyperinflations can end quickly: Free exchange, page 72 16 Leaders The battle for Venezuela How to intervene The war in Afghanistan Talking to the Taliban Chinese technology Handling Huawei The Brexit negotiations Over to EU Taxing the rich A way through the warren Letters 18 On childhood, science, Wetherspoons, Disney, Chicago Briefing 20 Venezuela A chance, at last, for liberation 22 The economy The day after • How to handle Huawei Banning one of China’s leading firms from operating in the West should be a last resort: leader, page 14.The tech giant is accused of rewarding tradesecret pilferers on staff, page 60 31 32 33 33 34 34 35 37 38 39 39 40 42 Europe Regional defence How the Baltic states resist Russia Catalonia’s trials The marten menace The gilets jaunes organise A Turkish ghost town Charlemagne Yanis Varoufakis abroad United States Facebook and America The government is open Lasers in space Picking a mayor Roger Stone Lexington Democratic populists The Americas 43 El Salvador’s election 44 Brazil’s fatal dam disaster 44 El Chapo on trial • Talking to the Taliban A deal to end the Afghan insurgency would be wonderful—as long as it is not a figleaf to cover an American retreat: leader, page 14. Edging towards a peace deal, page 49 • Better ways to tax the rich How to raise money, reduce inequality—and limit the economic damage: leader, page 16. The Democratic presidential primary contest is already the most left-wing in decades: Lexington, page 42 23 24 25 25 28 29 29 30 Britain May’s temporary triumph Labour’s Latin love Firms plan for no deal Manchester’s buses Rent controls in London A doctor in your pocket Alex Salmond accused Bagehot Jeremy Corbyn’s bad Brexit Bagehot Jeremy Corbyn is having a bad Brexit, page 30 45 46 47 47 48 Middle East & Africa Africa’s smack track Pain relief in Africa Nigeria’s elections Lebanon’s debt crisis The pope in Arabia • The future of fertility Thanks to education, global fertility could fall faster than the UN expects, page 56 1 Contents continues overleaf 7 8 Contents 49 50 50 51 51 52 The Economist February 2nd 2019 Asia The war in Afghanistan Japan and Naomi Osaka Jihad in the Philippines Religion in Pakistan Sexism in Australia Banyan In China’s debt 67 68 69 69 70 71 71 72 China 53 Baijiu’s global quest 55 Chaguan The politics of pigs 73 74 76 76 77 International 56 When will humanity shrink? 78 59 60 61 62 63 63 64 65 79 80 81 Business The meteoric rise of a Chinese grain trader America v Huawei Bartleby The joy of missing out Comcast’s Sky deal Oleg Deripaska Harley-Davidson’s woes Netflix for video games Schumpeter A Brazilian mining disaster Finance & economics Governing e-commerce Italy’s struggling economy Counting dirty money Credit-default swaps Buttonwood Heaven can wait Bank mergers in the Gulf Banking in Puerto Rico Free exchange Ending hyperinflation Science & technology Stopping ethics dumping An Earth rock on the Moon SETI with X-rays A new typhoid vaccine Did people create pandas? Books & arts Football and politics in Turkey Wild Bill Hicko