THE DIGITAL FUTURE

Let’s Build a Better Data Economy

Yan Carrière-Swallow and Vikram Haksar

Our digital footprint generates enormous value, but too much of it ends up in Big Tech silos

From Financial Innovation to Inclusion

Jon Frost, Leonardo Gambacorta, and Hyun Song Shin

For technology to benefit everyone, private sector innovation needs to be supported by public goods

Africa Goes Digital

Cristina Duarte

In rebuilding after COVID-19, policymakers must invest in innovative technology to leapfrog obstacles to inclusive development

Decoupling in the Digital Era

Daniel Garcia-Macia and Rishi Goyal

Absent multilateral cooperation, the global digital economy could splinter, and everyone would pay

The Global Cyber Threat

Tim Maurer and Arthur Nelson

Cyber threats to the financial system are growing, and the global community must cooperate to protect it

The New Morality of Debt

Nikita Aggarwal

Increased datafication of debt raises ethical questions and calls for a new approach to regulating lending

Digital Dollars for Online Tea

Steven Dorst

The Bahamas, Sri Lanka, and Uganda
fight the pandemic’s disruption with innovation

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

Dear Mom, Forget the Cash

Tommaso Mancini-Griffoli

An IMF economist explains central bank digital currency to his mother

Rethinking Economics

Samuel Bowles and Wendy Carlin

The pandemic tests a new policymaking benchmark that includes civil society and social norms

Embracing the Gift of Global Talent

Ruchir Agarwal, Ina Ganguli, and Patrick Gaule

More equal opportunities can make us all better off

Taxing Tech

Rebecca Christie

Digital services taxes take shape in the shadow of the pandemic

Transformative Technology

Herve Tourpe

The shift to a hyperconnected world presents a formidable opportunity— but also risks and challenges

Editor's Letter

The Haves and Have-nots

Gita Bhatt

The digital future is coming at us faster than ever before. In this issue of F&D, we explore the possible consequences—the good, the bad, and the gray.

In the Trenches

Radical Inclusion

Adam Behsudi

Sierra Leone’s David Sengeh is taking an inclusive approach to digitalizing the country’s education system and economy

Book Reviews

The Power of Creative Destruction: Economic Upheaval and the Wealth of Nations , Philippe Aghion, Céline Antonin, and Simon Bunel

The Data Detective: Ten Easy Rules to Make Sense of Statistics , Tim Harford

The Great Demographic Reversal: Ageing Societies, Waning Inequality, and an Inflation Revival , Charles Goodhart and Manoj Pradhan

Currency Notes

New Old Idea

Andreas Adriano

Technological innovation is fueling the resurgence of community currencies