The Way In And Out Of Europe
British Remainers do themselves and their country no favours by insisting that the decision to quit the European Union is based on the stupidity of
Year: 2017
World Wide Web Of Equal Freedom?
From boundless euphoria to bitter disenchantment. Whoever reviews the digitalisation debate over the last few years will identify a clear trend: We interpreted the Arab
The European Social Pillar – Towards An EU Minimum Wage Policy?
On 26 April, the European Commission launched its proposal for a European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) as a flagship initiative to strengthen the EU’s
What Can We Learn From The Nordic Model?
The neoliberal era started in the eighties as a revolt against the welfare state. It was a reassertion of the fundamentalist belief in market infallibility.
Rescuing Veneto Banks Would Have Cost Less With Indirect Nationalization
The Italian government has launched a package of extraordinary measures to handle the crisis at Veneto Banca (VB) and Banca Popolare di Vicenza (BPVI). The
Fallacies of Brexit: Personifying Countries & Simplistic Polemics
Babbling Brexit The British media provides a consistently misleading version of the process of UK disengagement from EU membership. The term used for this process,
IMF’s Approval-In-Principle And Greece’s Third Program: An In-Depth Look
The Greek case of the Eurozone crisis from 2010 onwards has, by now, turned into a multi-series drama. Another instalment came in the June 2017
Trump’s Travel Ban v. Macron’s Police Power Reforms
“In Europe, in the United States, Civil Liberties are Under Attack!” We’ve heard this story before, rehashed every few years since the New York terrorist
EU – Fateful Year 2017
Economic policy has predominantly been run on neoliberal lines, notably since the 1970s. This trend has manifested itself in the liberalization of markets, cuts in
How Populists Win When They Lose
Today, it appears that every single election in Europe can be reduced to one central question: “Is it a win or a loss for populism?”
Britain’s Deepening Confusion
“Enough is enough,” proclaimed British Prime Minister Theresa May after the terrorist attack on London Bridge. Now, it is clear, almost half of those who voted in
Mercron: The Franco-German Tandem Is Back – On Berlin’s Terms
They haven’t done a thing, but “Mercron” (Merkel & Macron) is everybody’s latest buzzword. The Franco-German engine is back, so you hear all over the
Brexit In Reverse?
Economic reality is beginning to catch up with the false hopes of many Britons. One year ago, when a slim majority voted for the United
Dispelling Creative Myths On Lower Employment Protection
In the years since the 2008 crisis, 229 employment protection reforms have been imposed across EU member states (see here). There has been a strong
Understanding The Productivity Puzzle
In all major economies, the so-called productivity puzzle continues to perplex economists and policymakers: output per hour is significantly lower than it would have been
How To Get Rid Of Germany’s Excessive Current Account Surplus
There’s no end to the criticism of the excessive German current account surplus. Quite rightly, people suggest that this imbalance has the potential either to
The Answer Is Wages, Not Capital
As in any other religion, faith lies behind capitalism. Faith that capital is a panacea always and in any situation: to push economic growth or