The Debt Reckoning: Rodrigo Valdés and Era Dabla-NorrisUnprecedented debt levels are pressing governments to make tough choices. While aging populations demand more public spending, resources are stretched thin, and the days of cheap borrowing are behind us. In this podcast, the IMF's Rodrigo Valdés and Era Dabla-Norris say the erosion of public trust is a factor in reconciling competing fiscal priorities.RODRIGO VALDESERA DABLA-NORRISJohan Norberg on What Makes and Breaks Golden ErasThe most prosperous of civilizations were the most open. The Romans, for example, expanded their empire by integrating the populations they conquered, creating a melting pot of new ideas. Johan Norberg’s latest book, <em>Peak Human</em>, examines the rise and fall of seven golden age civilizations. In this podcast, he says that if openness to learning and trade are what great societies make, building walls to protect their dominance often sparks their demise.JOHAN NORBERGHarnessing Europe's Single MarketThe idea of European integration through a single market was to capitalize on the EU as a whole. However, EU member states now appear reticent to pool sovereignty to the degree required to counter the geopolitical challenges of today’s world. Enrico Letta is President of the Jacques Delors Institute and a champion of Delors’ vision of creating a fully integrated European economic space. Letta says the adaptation of the single market should include all sectors rather than a select few and that fragmentation is holding Europe back.ENRICO LETTALoad MoreRelated LinksF&D HomepageF&D TopicsF&D AuthorsCountry Focus
