econ

You Won't Believe The Economist's Country of the Year!

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The Economist’s choice criteria make sense. They are not looking for stable comfort but for meaningful change. That difference matters because it shifts focus from the easy winners toward those who actually claw their way out of decline. The fact that Argentina and Syria are the finalists tells you a lot about the state of the world right now. Argentina’s story is an economic gamble with high stakes. Milei’s willingness to push through painful reforms is rare but economic pain can quickly turn into political backlash and history shows that in Argentina such reversals are common.  


Syria’s case is harder to judge partly because after so many years of war and authoritarianism almost any reduction in violence or oppression feels dramatic. If Assad is gone and political prisoners are being freed this represents a different kind of improvement one grounded in the basic ability to live without constant fear. That is not the same as genuine democracy but peace and security form the base for any potential rebuilding.  