Editor’s Picks: December 20th 2021

<p>A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the Christmas double issue of The Economist. This week: has <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2021/12/18/the-new-normal-is-already-here-get-used-to-it?utm_campaign=editors-picks&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the new normal</a> already arrived? Plus, meet the <a href="https://www.economist.com/business/2021/12/18/the-billionaire-battle-for-the-metaverse?utm_campaign=editors-picks&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">lords of the metaverse</a> (10:10) and, a century apart, <a href="https://www.economist.com/christmas-specials/2021/12/18/sons-of-tokyo-dreams-of-europe?utm_campaign=editors-picks&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">two men with very different dreams</a> contend for Europe’s future (17:50).</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Please subscribe to <em>The Economist</em> for full access to print, digital and audio editions:</p><p><a href="http://www.economist.com/podcastoffer?utm_campaign=editors-picks&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/podcastoffer</a>&nbsp;</p> &#10;&nbsp;<br /><hr><p style='color: grey; font - size: 0.75em; '>See <a style='color: grey; ' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>