Say it quietly, but Germany has learnt the lessons of Keynes. Would that others had done so too.
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Capital and ideology: interview with Thomas Piketty
Thomas Piketty tells Robin Wilson how wealth and power can be transferred from capital to workers and citizens.
Gig workers’ rights and their strategic litigation
A window of opportunity has opened up to utilise EU law on health and safety to advance the rights of ‘gig’ workers in domestic courts.
The infrastructural power of platform capitalism
We can’t go back to a world without labour platforms, so their proprietary digital infrastructure must be recreated as a public good.
New forms of employment in Europe—how new is new?
Standard employment is not simply being replaced by non-standard work. But work is becoming more diverse and policy must accordingly become more tailored.
The first global event in the history of humankind
While some talk of ‘deglobalisation’, Branko Milanovic argues that the pandemic will push forward the globalisation of labour.
Politics
Unsplendid isolation: Britain after ‘Brexit’
Paul Mason writes that a Biden US presidency allied to an EU pursuing ‘strategic autonomy’ leaves a ‘sovereign’ UK with a bit-part role.
Belarus needs more than the Sakharov Prize
Strengthening of civil society, construction of democratic institutions and economic support must all figure in an EU agenda for a post-Lukashenka Belarus.
Whither America?
It will take more than one person—and more than one presidential term—to overcome America’s longstanding challenges.
What saved American democracy?
Democracy in the United States survived last week’s assault by Donald Trump and his supporting mob. But why it survived raises questions awkward for some.
Build back better—then pay for it
The pandemic-linked crisis is not the time for fiscal consolidation. But introducing a genuinely progressive tax system will become essential.
Economy
MEPs need to listen to more voices on artificial intelligence
The European Parliament’s committee exploring AI needs to give the floor to civil society. Big Tech has had enough influence.
EU-China investment deal: a ‘values-based’ relationship?
The year-end conclusion of the EU-China investment deal was followed by a wave of arrests of pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong—not a good look.
A European job guarantee to foster wellbeing
Short-time working has saved many livelihoods during the pandemic. But the EU needs to go on to the front foot with a job guarantee programme.
Protecting European migrants’ rights
National and EU-level action are needed to make seasonal labour migration in the single market a ‘win-win’ for the member states involved.
Germany bows to Keynes, again
Say it quietly, but Germany has learnt the lessons of Keynes. Would that others had done so too.
Society
Reinforced European Youth Guarantee can be a lifeline
A strengthened European Youth Guarantee allows member states to tackle rising youth unemployment—Eurostat figures show that’s urgent.
Our good health: economic fuel or core value?
Solidarity in health has never been so urgent or imperative—a European Health Union would be its ideal expression.
Designing vaccines for people, not profits
For all the hope spurred by the efficacy announcements of multiple Covid-19 vaccine candidates, national and private interests are trumping health justice.
Not part of Europe anyway?
The language of the Brexit stand-off is of a ‘level playing-field’ versus ‘sovereignty’. But beneath that, it’s about divergent social models.
Ecology
No time to spare for the Paris climate promise
Having squandered past opportunities and shirked previous commitments, we now must start making up for lost time.
Legal hurdles facing a green and just transition
The irony of genuinely ‘free trade’ is only regulation enables it. Europe cannot lead the ecological transition without recognising this.
How public development banks can help nature
Public development banks will be critical to global efforts to ‘build back better’. They should complement their climate investments with nature-based goals.
Trade unions and climate change: the jobs-versus-environment dilemma
Unions can be torn between mitigating climate change tomorrow and saving jobs today. A significant Just Transition Fund could ease that dilemma.
