Strengthening the rule of law is a difficult, long-term project. But it's something that you can do piecemeal and there are examples of success. For example, in Brazil, there's been a dramatic change in the willingness at the very top to enforce the law. And then in Indonesia, for a very long time, it was under a kleptocratic dictator called Sahato who ruled from 1967 until 1998.
The economics are clear-cut: the benefits of preserving the lungs of the world vastly outweigh those of felling trees. We travel to the Amazon and find that the problem is largely down to lawlessness in the world’s rainforests. And reflecting on the life of Oe Kenzaburo, a Japanese writer shaped by family crisis who gave voice to the voiceless.
For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer