Game theory isn't much help in Syria

[Bloomberg View]( A daily digest of opinions and analysis The War in Syria Defies Forecasting [Tyler Cowen says]( that, in terms of complexity, the conflict in Syria looks a lot like the situation before World War I — making traditional game-theory predictions more or less useless. That's another reason to be worried. Reality Check for a High-Profile Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman made a big splash on his recent U.S. visit. But one Middle East expert says it's too soon to be carried away. [Albert R. Hunt speaks]( with Bruce Riedel, author of "Kings and Presidents: Saudi Arabia and the United States Since FDR," about what the high-profile trip really means.  Bad News for Compulsory-Voting Enthusiasts Dismayed by the outcomes of the Brexit and Trump votes — where large portions of the electorate didn't bother casting ballots — some British and American pundits have looked to Australia, where mandatory voting has been the law for nearly a century. But [Daniel Moss sees]( little evidence the Aussies' model could cure the anglophone world's political ills. No Taxpayer Bailout for Puerto Rico's Creditors Despite the devastation of Hurricane Maria last summer, Puerto Rico's government inexplicably says it's in a better position to pay off its debts than it was a year ago. At issue: tens of billions in emergency funds that could, conceivably, create a windfall for the island's creditors. [Desmond Lachman, Brad Setser and Antonio Weiss warn]( that a too-rosy fiscal forecast threatens the island's economic future. Ritholtz's Reads - John Casey, the billionaires' consigliere ([Institutional Investor]() - In the battle for the American West, the cowboys are losing ([Wall Street Journal]() - Free-trade malaise: Vindication (and a change of heart) for a veteran contrarian who saw it coming ([Literary Review of Canada]() (Read Barry Ritholtz's full daily news roundup [here](.) Bloomberg L.P. ● 731 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022 [Web]( ● [Facebook]( ● [Twitter]( [Feedback]( ● [Unsubscribe](