European Commission takes the lead in regulating platform work
The draft directive published today is already breaking the united front of the platform companies.
The revolt against reason
Many have lost all trust in politics, Robert Misik writes. The protests against vaccination and anti-virus rules however turn this into madness.
Andersson’s agenda
Magdalena Andersson has been elected the first female prime minister of Sweden. Again.
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.
Germany’s traffic-light coalition: green light or stuck on amber?
Peter Bofinger recognises the compromises necessary for a three-party government but regrets the lack of vision to face a decade of huge challenges.
Can Xi Jinping defeat three stubborn modern inequalities?
Branko Milanovic argues that ‘socialism with Chinese characteristics’ is replicating United States inequalities.
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.
Britain heads further down the Brexit rabbit-hole
Despite petrol shortages and empty shelves, Labour is adrift—and Johnson may press the Northern Ireland protocol nuclear button.
How Olaf Scholz won Germany
In a few months, Scholz reversed the social democrats’ decade-long decline, running on a message of dignity and respect for all workers.
The myth of green capitalism
Rallying behind market-based measures to address climate change allows the owners of capital yet another way to avoid a reckoning.
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.
The consequences of neoliberal capitalism in eastern Europe
Sheri Berman argues that post-communist left embrace of economic as well as political liberalism allowed populists to target the latter.
Amazon no longer absorbs carbon—has the world reached the point of no return?
The news that the Amazon rainforest is no longer a carbon sink puts a further big question-mark against the EU-Mercosur trade deal.
ECB strategy review: the mountain has given birth to a mouse
Peter Bofinger argues that the ECB strategy review represents a missed opportunity.
Climate crisis offers way out of monetary orthodoxy
The ECB’s strategy review, Adam Tooze writes, says more by its silences than its statements.
The soft underbelly of British politics
A by-election in northern England highlights the corrosive atrophying of the UK body politic, Paul Mason writes.
Threats to American democracy
Sheri Berman warns that while the threats may seem incremental they pose a real danger—which Europeans should note.
Work harder: the Porto Social Summit’s call to Europe’s welfare states
Welfare states are having to run harder to stand still. They need to act in mutual support to win the race against inequality and poverty.
Next steps for a people’s vaccine
Ending the pandemic requires not only an intellectual-property rights waiver but scaling up knowledge transfer and public production of vaccine supplies.
Decentralising and democratising while reforming European economic governance
The Conference on the Future of Europe needs to address how EU governance can be refitted to end the crisis of legitimacy.