Economies Prove Voters Aren’t Careful on What’s Wished For

The world economy is paying a price for democracy.

As recoveries from the U.S. to Europe lose momentum, policy makers are running into gridlock formed by the politicking and ideological preferences of governments that voters have chosen. Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. squabble about how to restrain the budget deficit and spur job growth, while officials throughout the euro zone differ over how best to safeguard the future of the single currency.