The sun has finally appeared, and the TV trucks are rolling out of this ancient hot springs town on the outskirts of Sendai, Japan. This was the location over the weekend of the G7 meeting of finance ministers and central bankers which, although civil, has ended with a lack of consensus.

Liberated data connects people, informs decision-making, stimulates innovation, streamlines production, creates wealth and advances humanity.  The upward trajectory of human accomplishment arises from ever-more sophisticated data exchange supporting ever-more complex win-win partnerships. 

The following remarks with subsequent modification were delivered at the November 6-8 convening of the International Finance Forum, headquartered in Beijing. IFF’s mission is to facilitate high-level, multilateral dialogue and promote insights about current issued defining the international economy. The writer is a member of the IFF Academic Committee.

Today the Institute for Economics and Peace released their third Global Terrorism Index. This year, their annual November release has been preceded by devastating terrorist attacks in Pairs, Beirut and Baghdad. It is more important than ever to understand the underlying drivers of terrorism and violent extremism. Please click here to access this detailed report.

A truly dismal report card on international cooperation in a variety of spheres, ranging from health care to nuclear proliferation. Based on a survey of global think tanks in 23 countries, it is evident that the world’s thought leaders are pessimistic about the progress being made.  Click here http://www.cfr.org/councilofcouncils/reportcard/#!/grades/2014 to view the report card by country and by issue.