August 3rd 2026

The Economist Today Our best journalism, handpicked each day

Brooke Unger Senior digital editor

Procrastination may not be a killer, but it isn’t good. For one thing, procrastinators make less money than proactive folk. Our Well Informed column assembles the evidence on the harms caused by putting things off and on the remedies for it. Read now! Coincidentally, as governments go Ukraine’s is a big procrastinator. It’s dragging its feet on the reforms it will need to undertake to join the European Union. The only remedy in this case, we argue, is for Europe itself to force the pace.

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Editor’s picks A selection of must-read articles

Well Informed How to stop procrastinating Thwarting the thief of time

→ The delights of deadlines

Starting strong Andy Burnham passes his first test Opposition parties are struggling as Bev Craig of the new-look Labour Party wins in Manchester

Discipline me Ukraine needs the EU to force it to reform The government is shirking the work required for membership

Rushing the gates A migrant surge tests Spain’s open policies It is also angering the rest of Europe

Ashoka India’s monsoon is getting weirder Expect more extreme weather

More of our coverage ▸ Beerlao is probably the most important lager in the world. The drink is everywhere in Laos. In 2024 sales of the stuff amounted to $600m, equivalent to some 3.5% of the country’s GDP. Yet its success reflects the economy’s moribund state. ▸ Javier Milei’s Odysseus act. The president of Argentina is overhauling the country’s central bank. His plan is laudable—but it has wrinkles. ▸ Africa’s latest boom is in blueberries and oranges. Forget gold and copper: a surge in fruit exports shows how high-value agriculture can spur industrialisation.

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