In late January, just before Chongqing and Shanghai launched their property taxes, the authorities announced new market-cooling measures.

ECONOMIST: China's property market

Remittances, which make up 20% of GDP, have soared not only because the war prompted generosity but also because of solid banks that offer 7% interest on the dollar and property prices that have doubled or tripled in four years, and only now show signs of cooling.

ECONOMIST: Resilient Lebanon