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A new world is possible. Let's not go back to what wasn't working anyway.

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Martin Sandbu

European Economics Commentator

Martin Sandbu is the Financial Times's European Economics Commentator. He also writes Free Lunch, the FT's weekly newsletter on the global economic policy debate. He has been writing for the FT since 2009, when he joined the paper as Economics Leader Writer.

Before joining the FT, he worked in academia and policy consulting. He has taught and carried out research at Harvard, Columbia and the Wharton School, and has advised governments and NGOs on natural resources and economic development. He is the author of three books, on business ethics, the euro, and on "the economics of belonging". He was educated at the universities of Oxford and Harvard.

Email Martin Sandbu @MESandbu  on Twitter (link opens in a new browser window)
Email Martin Sandbu @MESandbu  on Twitter (link opens in a new browser window)

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  • Thursday, 14 October, 2021
    Free LunchClimate change
    The work that remains to reach net zero

    IEA report shows current pledges fall short — and points to free lunches

  • Sunday, 10 October, 2021
    UK politics & policy
    UK needs more than lip service to raise wages and productivity

    Boris Johnson says worker shortages will end when low-pay immigration does, but commitment is not a strategy

  • Thursday, 7 October, 2021
    Free LunchGlobal Economy
    Keeping up with the new economic orthodoxy Premium content

    Important points from the IMF on where global policymaking is headed

  • Tuesday, 5 October, 2021
    Global InsightGerman politics
    Europe’s social democrats are back —but for how long?

    Centre-left is in coalition talks in Germany and Nordics but fails to attract young voters

  • Thursday, 30 September, 2021
    Free LunchChinese economy
    The real meaning of China’s Evergrande problem Premium content

    The financial repercussions can be contained; the broad economy is more vulnerable

  • Sunday, 26 September, 2021
    EU energy
    Energy crisis is moment of truth for Europe’s green ambition

    Today’s soaring bills reflect unfinished work and the need to galvanise climate politics

  • Thursday, 23 September, 2021
    Free LunchBank of Japan
    Japan is still a monetary policy pioneer Premium content

    The country’s central bank has a few more innovations for others to consider

  • Thursday, 16 September, 2021
    Free LunchEuropean Union
    The EU could have a momentous year in store Premium content

    The bloc’s recovery fund presents risks and opportunities

  • Sunday, 12 September, 2021
    EU economy
    The ECB has secured a taper without a tantrum

    Careful manoeuvring should allow the bank to calibrate its next move while keeping both sides happy

  • Promoted Content
  • Thursday, 9 September, 2021
    Free LunchItalian economy
    Bidenomics in Italy Premium content

    The country faces its best — and maybe last — chance to shake off secular decline

  • Tuesday, 7 September, 2021
    Climate change
    How to save climate policy from the culture wars

    Other countries can learn from Canada’s carbon-tax-and-dividend initiative

  • Thursday, 2 September, 2021
    Free LunchGlobal inflation
    Inflation may be falling, not accelerating Premium content

    Year-on-year metrics are a poor guide to fast-shifting trends

  • Sunday, 29 August, 2021
    Coronavirus economic impact
    Long live the labour shortages

    The pandemic disruption may be igniting a productivity boom

  • Thursday, 26 August, 2021
    Free LunchFederal Reserve
    Jay Powell must explain what patience means Premium content

    Fed chair’s Jackson Hole speech is an opportunity to give direction amid mounting uncertainty

  • Sunday, 22 August, 2021
    Afghanistan
    The west has paid the price for neglecting the Afghan economy

    Per capita incomes flatlined over the past decade and corruption is endemic

  • Thursday, 19 August, 2021
    Free LunchMacroeconomics
    On wages and productivity Premium content

    FT readers share their examples of cross-country differences

  • Tuesday, 17 August, 2021
    Capitalism
    Class conflict is back at the core of economics

    Workers’ unexpected bargaining power could also help boost the profits of business

  • Thursday, 22 July, 2021
    Free LunchCapitalism
    A tale of two Covid tests Premium content

    How holiday hassles can offer lessons about different forms of capitalism

  • Sunday, 18 July, 2021
    Global Economy
    The EU’s green gamble could make it a low-carbon leader

    Europe’s decarbonisation programme is an instrument to boost the bloc’s industrial and technological development

  • Thursday, 15 July, 2021
    Free LunchCarbon trading
    It’s been a good week for carbon pricing Premium content

    Support is growing for using the power of the market to decarbonise the economy

  • Thursday, 15 July, 2021
    Special ReportDelivering for the World’s Children
    Helping children out of Covid is a moral and economic imperative

    Covid-19 may have pushed as many as 142m children worldwide below monetary poverty lines

  • Tuesday, 13 July, 2021
    Global InsightCentral banks
    The European school of central banking is no more

    ECB strategy review aligns it with Fed on inflation and unconventional monetary tools

  • Thursday, 8 July, 2021
    Free LunchGlobal trade
    What is industrial policy for? Premium content

    Some questions for advocates to ponder to avoid counterproductive results

  • Sunday, 4 July, 2021
    International tax
    The good, the bad and the ugly of the global tax reform deal

    The agreement reached by 130 countries has left fertile ground for new and clever techniques to circumvent the rules

  • Thursday, 1 July, 2021
    Free LunchGlobalisation
    Globalisation’s coming renaissance Premium content

    If it does return, it will be more attractive than ever

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