Can Network Science Predict the New Pope? Insights from the 2025 Conclave

How can network science help us understand and even anticipate the outcome of the papal conclave? Drawing on Bocconi University’s research and the latest election, this article explores how cardinal alliances, status, and information flow shaped the 2025 conclave-and what it means for the future of the Church.

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U.S. Tariffs: Global Shockwaves and African Trade Implications

Following a historic surge in U.S. tariffs, global financial markets have reacted with sharp corrections and widespread uncertainty. This blog post explores the roots of the policy shift, market consequences, and the potential ripple effects on Africa’s economies and trade strategies.

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Granger Causality in Time Series Analysis

In time series econometrics, establishing causal relationships is challenging. Clive Granger formalized a specific, testable notion of predictive causality known as Granger Causality.

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Monetary Policy Debates: Gordon, the NKPC, and DIS Curve Insights

Modern monetary policy analysis often utilizes the New Keynesian framework, typically featuring a New Keynesian Phillips Curve (NKPC) and a Dynamic IS (DIS) relationship. Robert J. Gordon's extensive work on inflation dynamics provides important context and highlights challenges for policymakers relying solely on this framework.

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Understanding Auction Mechanisms: First-Price vs. Second-Price Sealed Bids

Auctions are common mechanisms for allocating goods. In sealed-bid auctions, participants submit bids simultaneously. Let's analyze bidder strategy in two key types, assuming independent private values where each bidder $i$ knows their own value $v_i$ but only the distribution of others' values.

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