The global economy is picking up steam, but that’s deceptive. The foundations of expansion are soft, marked by weak productivity growth and inequality. The two are related. The productivity problem confronting the world’s advanced economies predates the financial crisis more than a decade ago. When we look beyond the headline statistics, patterns emerge. Advanced economies have become less …

  Warren Buffett’s war chest is ready for his next deal — maybe even his biggest one yet. The company’s cash swelled to $86.4 billion at the end of 2016, and at this rate it means even takeovers in the $100 billion ballpark are conceivable, as my colleague Noah Buhayar wrote for Bloomberg News this week. He flagged Costco Wholesale …

  Malls are fighting for shoppers with one thing their web rivals can’t offer: parking lots. With customer traffic sagging, US retail landlords are using their sprawling concrete lots to host events such as carnivals, concerts and food-truck festivals. They’re aiming to lure visitors with experiences that can’t be replicated online — and then get them inside the properties to …