More ambitious European minimum-wages directive demanded
The European Parliament has upped the ante, beyond a European Commission proposal, on a minimum-wages directive.
Economy
Social Europe is an award-winning digital media publisher driven by the core values of freedom, sustainability, and equality. These principles guide our exploration of society’s most pressing challenges. This archive page curates Social Europe articles focused on economic issues, offering a rich resource for innovative thinking and informed debate.
The twin original sins of fiscal Europe
With the post-Maastricht fiscal rules in abeyance due to the pandemic, it’s time to address their fundamental flaws.
Globalisation, telemigrants and working conditions
The globalisation of service work may not bring the major job losses feared—but it could weaken workers’ power significantly.
Tax abuse—it’s costing the earth
The world’s health workforce could be vaccinated in 36 hours if the pandemic of tax abuse were ended.
The feminist building-blocks of a just, sustainable economy
Jayati Ghosh finds in a UN Women report a blueprint for an economy which serves the public—rather than the other way around.
Aiming for a revolution in world trade
In the neoliberal era, global trade deals have come at the expense of workers. That can and must be reversed.
Artificial intelligence and workers’ rights
A draft EU regulation on artificial intelligence risks exclusion of the social partners and lack of compliance with data-protection requirements.
If young people ‘are the future’, that needs to start now
Next year has been designated ‘European Year of Youth’. The Conference on the Future of Europe must hold out a real prospect for young people.
An unorthodox solution for Europe’s electricity crisis
National schemes sparing consumers the worst impact of soaring prices are no substitute for the EU redefining electricity as a public good.
Minimum wage—yet another gender divide?
The number of minimum-wage earners has increased across Europe over the last decade—and they are more likely to be women.
Who will be covered by an EU instrument on platform work?
A broad definition of the ‘worker’ will be essential to avoid platform companies sustaining false self-employment claims.
A new global economic consensus
The pandemic has highlighted the deficiencies of economic deregulation and market liberalisation and a new policy-making paradigm is emerging.
The Pandora Papers and the threat to democracy
In demonstrating how some of the world’s most powerful people hide their wealth, the Pandora Papers have exposed the details of a global system.
Trade unions take on platform companies in the struggle for decent work
On World Day of Decent Work, the European Trade Union Confederation puts the spotlight on justice for platform workers.
‘Recovery and resilience’—how that looks from the east
EU funding of bricks-and-mortar projects in central and eastern Europe hasn’t addressed its human-resources crisis. Could the Recovery and Resilience Facility be a turning point?
Another win for workers: Uber drivers are employees
As the platforms lose case after case over the designation of ‘contractors’ as workers, they are lobbying at European level to win back control.
Global inequality and the pandemic: exaggerated hopes and fears?
The pandemic has barely increased global income inequality—but it has made other inequalities worse.