Ongoing investigations into Barclays' fraudulent Libor submissions highlights critical lessons about conflicts of interest, pressures on regulators, and banks that are too big to fail, says CFR's Sebastian Mallaby.

Sebastian Mallaby argues that the only way to end the era of "too-big-to-fail" is to break up the banking behemoths.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership, a massive multilateral trade agreement now in the works that focuses on the Asia-Pacific region, could add billions of dollars to the U.S. economy and solidify Washington's commitment to the Pacific. But if the Obama administration fails to calm critics of the deal, there is a growing possibility that it could collapse.

Sebastian Mallaby examines the Spanish experience with countercyclical capital buffers to argue that even the most innovative banking regulations will never take taxpayers completely off the hook when banks go bust.

Peter Orszag calls for a "combo deal" of upfront stimulus and long-term deficit reduction because it would be less risky, offer more growth, and be more likely to be enacted than a stimulus-only approach.

Charles A. Kupchan argues that though it is not too late to save the euro, it is growing too late to save the E.U, as restoring confidence in Europe's integration will prove both more decisive and more elusive.

Jagdish Bhagwati argues the failure of the Doha round's multilateral trade negotiations undermines the rule-making authority and dispute-settlement mechanism of the World Trade Organization.

Economic Downturn: Compares economic indicators from the latest recession to past downturns, both post-war and pre-war, to demonstrate the recent recession is worse than other post-war recessions.

Robert Rubin explains how the pressures of the "fiscal cliff" will present U.S. political leaders with a rare second chance to make critical fiscal reforms after the 2012 elections.

Sebastian Mallaby explains why private equity represents a sound alternative to the beleaguered public equity model of corporate governance.

Martin Wolf writes that, if a eurozone breakup is too costly and greater fiscal solidarity is unattainable, faster adjustment is the only route to bring the region back to health.

Martin Wolf argues that the Cameron government's reluctance to take advantage of extraordinarily cheap borrowing costs risks permanent damage to the British economy and society.

This was a meeting of the Roundtable Series on America's Governability Crisis.

New electoral currents in Europe are threatening the German-backed fiscal responsibility pact and sparking fresh fears of debt contagion, says CFR's Sebastian Mallaby.

Martin Wolf argues that François Hollande can put the eurozone back on a path to prosperity by shifting German leaders' focus away from austerity and toward reforms coupled with symmetric adjustment of the monetary union's internal imbalances.

Peter Orszag discusses the strengthening link between high incomes and macroeconomic activity.

Martin Wolf surveys the future of central banking in a world transformed both practically and theoretically by the financial crisis.

Sebastian Mallaby explains how post-election gridlock could either send the U.S. economy over the edge of a "fiscal cliff" into recession or lead it down a risky road of more debt and downgrades.

Four global experts assess Dr. Jim Yong Kim's appointment as World Bank president and whether the institution needs governance reform.

Since its founding in 1944, the World Bank has evolved from a lender focused on European reconstruction into the preeminent international institution for economic development and poverty reduction. This Backgrounder examines the Bank's history and role.