All The Monitor's View
Amazon sets a high bar on wagesIts new $15 minimum wage and its lobbying for a higher federal minimum wage could inspire other companies to see a grander purpose of investing in the well-being of workers.
A trade accord that can mend North American tiesA replacement for NAFTA has the potential to fix trade problems as well as the torn ties between the US and its two important neighbors, Canada and Mexico.
The two Koreas eye a test zone for peaceA little-noticed agreement could create trust for talks on nuclear weapons by first lowering the risk of war along the border.
Brazil鈥檚 WhatsApp election campaignThe Oct. 7 election is a test case of what happens when citizens use social media to take charge of campaign information.
China鈥檚 faithful, under siege, can shine a lightAs the Communist Party cracks down on religion, the faithful can find the best response in their teachings.
Saving Venezuela with the long arm of the lawFive Latin American countries have asked an international court to prosecute Venezuelan officials for crimes against humanity. Such neighborly concern is a new norm in global affairs.
The key to recovery from a sports scandalOne big difference between Russia鈥檚 doping scandal and the sex abuse of American female gymnasts: contrition in their governing institutions.
Green light for reform of UN鈥檚 blue helmetsAs top leaders gather at the United Nations, they must back reform of UN peacekeepers in order to prevent abuses and assure better performance in new types of conflicts.聽
The prospect of no people living in extreme povertyFewer than 10 percent of the world鈥檚 people now live on less than $1.90 a day. As such progress shifts the attitude of the remaining poor, the rate could more easily get to zero.
An African model for ethnic reconciliation?Ethiopia鈥檚 new leader has quickly begun democratic reforms but none will mean more than reconciling the country鈥檚 ethnic groups. Recent violence shows the urgency to develop a civic identity that he says starts with forgiveness.
The freedom driving North Korea to the tableThe latest North-South summit is yet another test on whether the Kim regime feels pressure from its people聽to further embrace a market economy in return for giving up its nuclear arsenal.
Amazon鈥檚 Bezos clicks on homelessnessA big new focus of his philanthropy will be innovators solving this acute social problem. The best are nonprofit volunteers equipped with special qualities of care that can heal the homeless from the inside out.
A golden lesson from the 2008 financial crisisOn the 10th anniversary of the financial crash that triggered the Great Recession, one lingering result is the use of 鈥榬isk officers鈥� in financial firms. They are really affinity coaches.
The best way to curb illegal migrationThe largest numbers of migrants caught at the US border now are from Guatemala, a country struggling to renew its efforts toward the kind of clean governance that can quell violence.
The FDA鈥檚 crackdown on teen vapingThe agency's move against the makers and sellers of e-cigarettes is aimed at keeping children from addiction. But it joins a larger trend in the safeguarding the most innocent in society.
Frat houses refine the purpose of brotherhoodIn response to cases of tragic misuse of alcohol, fraternities decide to ban hard liquor at events. The next step is to restore the core purpose of these campus clubs.
In China, a great leap in corporate governanceBucking a deep tradition in private companies, the founder of tech giant Alibaba picks a successor 鈥� not a family member but a person with 鈥榩rofessional talent.鈥� A kinship of qualities beat out succession by clannishness.
The truth about South African 鈥榣and seizures鈥�The country is undertaking a difficult but needed debate on how to put more farmland into the hands of its poor black majority.聽
Ending North Korea鈥檚 nuclear program: What now?President Trump鈥檚 domestic troubles could endanger 鈥� or perhaps impel 鈥� a deal with North Korea鈥檚 Kim.聽 The benefits for both sides remain in place.
A year later, Puerto Rico says 鈥楥ome on down鈥�New studies on the effects of hurricane Maria highlight a much greater loss of life than reported earlier, as well as inadequate responses by both federal and local governments. But Puerto Ricans see brighter skies ahead.