Spain’s platform workers win algorithm transparency
Legal amendments will not only recognise ‘riders’ as employees but require algorithm transparency from platforms generally.
Economy
Analysis and debate on the European economy: growth and investment, fiscal and monetary policy, trade, industry and inequality.
Europe could make good use of a new SDR allocation
Jayati Ghosh begins a new Social Europe column by pricking Europe’s conscience on its pandemic-related responsibilities towards the developing world.
Covid-19: a tale of two service sectors
If the 2008 crash brought on a ‘mancession’ of lost jobs, the sectors most hit by the pandemic employ mainly low-paid women workers.
UK gig drivers recognised as workers—what next?
The UK’s highest court has delivered another benchmark judgment on gig workers. But the battle is not over.
Bearing the brunt: the impact of Covid-19 on women
Sofia Fernandes and Klervi Kerneïs
The pandemic has proved not to be an equal-opportunity destroyer of economic and social wellbeing.
Germany adds to recognition of platform workers
The Federal Labour Court ruled late last year that a crowdworker was indeed an employee, despite the platform’s contrary claim.
Algorithmic control
Work in the social sciences on algorithmic systems can inform how unions address their impact on the power balance between workers and employers.
Bitcoin lacks a unique selling proposition
Peter Bofinger identifies the cryptocurrency’s Achilles heel.
It is the ECB’s job to close spreads
Spreads in a single market with a single currency distort trade flows and competitiveness. The European Central Bank should close them.
The problem with the Covid convergence
A surprising global trend in the pandemic is reduced inequality across countries—but the convergence reflects losses at the top, not gains at the bottom.
Supplying critical goods: lessons from the pandemic
Security of supply for medical and pharmaceutical goods must become a high political priority—with industrial policies promoting reshoring.
An end to wage-dumping in the German meat industry?
Şerife Erol and Thorsten Schulten
The German meat industry is being pushed off its low road of migrant-labour exploitation towards regulation and potential collective agreement.
Europe’s ‘long-Covid’ economic frailty
Last year’s agreement on an EU recovery package was widely celebrated. This year its inadequacy will sink in.
Time to put an end to union-busting
Trade union rights are human rights and must be protected in EU law.
Spain: more stable employment contracts
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
The European Parliament’s committee exploring AI needs to give the floor to civil society. Big Tech has had enough influence.