Merits

The highest inflation in decades and the steep drop in Russian natural gas exports to Europe have pushed a growing number of governments to experiment with ways to control energy prices. The plans will test the economic wisdom that price controls distort markets and create supply shortages. In the U.K., the new government is planning to cap household energy costs and pay utilities the difference between the cap and market prices, and Germany is working up plans to cap the cost of electricity and natural gas. The European…

Image via Universal Pictures The Black Phone was one of the highest-profile horror feasts of the year, with a heavyweight director in Scott Derrickson, Ethan Hawke’s uncharacteristic turn as a villain, and a particularly intriguing concept, there was quite a bit to bill it for. And then the reviews came out, leading the latest Blumhouse project to an affable 83 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, accompanied by an 89 percent audience score. Given its chilling and enrapturing premise, a hefty handful of…