Social Europe articles on the economy

The pandemic made us all familiar with ‘social distancing’. Employers are starting to glimpse a future where ‘contractual distancing’ is normalised.

Last October, the European Commission proposed a framework directive on minimum wages. Whether one likes it or not, the EU is competent to do so.

A ‘helicopter money’ stimulus of direct payments to individuals, as in the US, would be neither well targeted nor transformatory in Europe.

The arcane notion of ‘monetary dominance’ lay behind the last eurozone crisis. Unless challenged, it could underlie another one.

Monetary policy is never neutral. The recovery must not follow financial markets but rather reflect a shared vision of a green future.

Branko Milanovic warns that the post-pandemic world could see further polarisation in a now global labour market.

Legal amendments will not only recognise ‘riders’ as employees but require algorithm transparency from platforms generally.

After Ireland closed its notorious corporate-tax loophole, it might have been thought tax avoidance would have gone with it. Not so.

Jayati Ghosh begins a new Social Europe column by pricking Europe’s conscience on its pandemic-related responsibilities towards the developing world.

The UK’s highest court has delivered another benchmark judgment on gig workers. But the battle is not over.

The Federal Labour Court ruled late last year that a crowdworker was indeed an employee, despite the platform’s contrary claim.

With the EU strategic framework on occupational safety and health expiring, the post-pandemic version should prioritise prevention and wellbeing.