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A capital idea: corporate taxation in a globalised era

US election 2020

The transformation of work

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Unsplendid isolation: Britain after ‘Brexit’

Unsplendid isolation: Britain after ‘Brexit’

by Paul Mason on 18th January 2021

Paul Mason writes that a Biden US presidency allied to an EU pursuing ‘strategic autonomy’ leaves a ‘sovereign’ UK with a bit-part role.

What saved American democracy?

What saved American democracy?

by Bo Rothstein on 13th January 2021

Democracy in the United States survived the assault by Donald Trump and his supporting mob. But why it survived raises questions awkward for some.

Capital and ideology: interview with Thomas Piketty

Capital and ideology: interview with Thomas Piketty

by Thomas Piketty on 23rd December 2020

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

Gig workers’ rights and their strategic litigation

by Aude Cefaliello and Nicola Countouris on 22nd December 2020

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

The infrastructural power of platform capitalism

by Funda Ustek-Spilda, Fabian Ferrari, Matt Cole, Pablo Aguera Reneses and Mark Graham on 16th December 2020

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?

New forms of employment in Europe—how new is new?

by Irene Mandl on 15th December 2020

Standard employment is not simply being replaced by non-standard work. But work is becoming more diverse and policy must accordingly become more tailored.

Politics

Unsplendid isolation: Britain after ‘Brexit’

Unsplendid isolation: Britain after ‘Brexit’

by Paul Mason on 18th January 2021

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

Belarus needs more than the Sakharov Prize

by Frank Hoffer on 14th January 2021

Strengthening of civil society, construction of democratic institutions and economic support must all figure in an EU agenda for a post-Lukashenka Belarus.

What saved American democracy?

What saved American democracy?

by Bo Rothstein on 13th January 2021

Democracy in the United States survived the assault by Donald Trump and his supporting mob. But why it survived raises questions awkward for some.

Whither America?

Whither America?

by Joseph Stiglitz on 13th January 2021

It will take more than one person—and more than one presidential term—to overcome America’s longstanding challenges.

Economy

Food-delivery riders, algorithms and autonomy

Food-delivery riders, algorithms and autonomy

21st January 2021 By Valeria Pulignano and Claudia Marà

A ruling by a court in Bologna has undermined platforms’ claims to impartial algorithms and autonomous contractors.

Spain: more stable employment contracts

Spain: more stable employment contracts

21st January 2021 By Ane Aranguiz

The Supreme Court has modified its jurisprudence on subcontracting, limiting the scope for abuse of temporary contracts.

MEPs need to listen to more voices on artificial intelligence

MEPs need to listen to more voices on artificial intelligence

11th January 2021 By Aida Ponce Del Castillo

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?

EU-China investment deal: a ‘values-based’ relationship?

11th January 2021 By Vittorio Emanuele Parsi and Valerio Alfonso Bruno

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

A European job guarantee to foster wellbeing

7th January 2021 By Giorgos Argitis and Nasos Koratzanis

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.

Society

Must try harder: recovering from educational inequality

Must try harder: recovering from educational inequality

19th January 2021 By Shane Markowitz

School closures during the pandemic have hit socially excluded students hard. The EU needs to ensure every child can reach their potential.

Culture, creativity and coronavirus: time for EU action

Culture, creativity and coronavirus: time for EU action

19th January 2021 By Elena Polivtseva

The pandemic has highlighted a longer-term failure adequately to address the working conditions of cultural professionals in Europe.

Reinforced European Youth Guarantee can be a lifeline

Reinforced European Youth Guarantee can be a lifeline

18th January 2021 By Sergei Stanishev, Iratxe García Pérez, Ana Mendes Godinho, Agnes Jongerius, László Andor and Paul Magnette

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?

Our good health: economic fuel or core value?

14th January 2021 By Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, Gediminas Cerniauskas and Birute Tumiene

Solidarity in health has never been so urgent or imperative—a European Health Union would be its ideal expression.

Ecology

No time to spare for the Paris climate promise

No time to spare for the Paris climate promise

12th January 2021 By Mary Robinson

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

Legal hurdles facing a green and just transition

24th November 2020 By Ingo Venzke

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

How public development banks can help nature

17th November 2020 By Elizabeth Mrema and Carlos Manuel Rodriguez

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

Trade unions and climate change: the jobs-versus-environment dilemma

12th November 2020 By Adrien Thomas and Nadja Dörflinger

Unions can be torn between mitigating climate change tomorrow and saving jobs today. A significant Just Transition Fund could ease that dilemma.

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Social Europe Publishing book

The Brexit endgame is upon us: deal or no deal, the transition period will end on January 1st. With a pandemic raging, for those countries most affected by Brexit the end of the transition could not come at a worse time. Yet, might the UK's withdrawal be a blessing in disguise? With its biggest veto player gone, might the European Pillar of Social Rights take centre stage? This book brings together leading experts in European politics and policy to examine social citizenship rights across the European continent in the wake of Brexit. Will member states see an enhanced social Europe or a race to the bottom?

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Renewing labour relations in the German meat industry: an end to 'organised irresponsibility'?

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