Hello and welcome to the Intelligence on Economist Radio. I'm your host, Jason Palmer.

Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

Research from this year's Jackson Hole Meeting of Central Bankers and Economists suggests

the pandemic may well affect consumers and investors' decisions for the rest of their lives.

Central banks will need lots of help to keep things on an even keel.

And chicken or pasta? Chicken or pasta? Chicken or pasta?

With so many flights curtailed or avoided, which in-flight meal you'd like isn't being

asked so much in the air. But here's the funny thing, those meals are selling like hot cakes

on the ground.

On Friday, Abe Shinzo announced he would be standing down as Prime Minister of Japan.

The 65-year-old has long suffered from a chronic bowel disease, but his condition has worsened.

Mr. Abe said he didn't want his illness to get in the way of decision-making, and he apologized

to the Japanese people for failing to complete his term in office.

Last week, that term as Prime Minister became the longest since the post was created for a

post in Imperial Japan, and it isn't even his first time in the role. He'll remain until

a successor is chosen, a successor who will face some pressing challenges.

So the press conference where Mr. Abe announced his decision to resign was somber to say the least.

Nois Knighter is our Tokyo bureau chief.

I ran into one of his advisors who looked to be honest like someone had died. Even his inner

circle, his closest associates, seemed shocked by the sharp turn of events. The Japanese

press, meanwhile, was peppering the Prime Minister with questions primarily about his legacy,

about the problems he left unresolved and the accomplishments that he felt most proud of.

...