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

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

For national leaders, propping up car industries is good politics. At the city level though,

politicians want measures that make for fewer vehicles on the road. More cars are being

bought even as driving them gets trickier and it's all getting a bit political.

And in the pandemic era, the office has serious competition in the form of remote working,

so how to make the office worth to commute. Our columnist paints a picture of more flexible

working spaces, more data gathering on employees, and a fair bit more booze.

But first,

today marks 80 years since America's place in the world began a transformation.

Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy.

The United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces

of the Empire of Japan.

America and Japan had been battling for influence in the Pacific. Then, just before 8am Hawaii

time, hundreds of Japanese aircraft attacked the naval base at Pearl Harbor.

America's role in World War II was suddenly crystallized by the Japanese.

In response, America's president Franklin Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war with Japan.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people

in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

America went on to establish itself as the global military hegemon, helping to build

a post-war world order and keep it stable. But that old order is starting to break down.

I was in Honolulu a couple of weeks ago at Pearl Harbor.

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