America’s unhappy middle
Branko Milanovic unpacks the malaise of the US middle class and its implications for Democratic strategy towards the presidential election.
Time to expose the reality of ‘debt market discipline’
As another sovereign-debt crisis looms, Adam Tooze warns against repeating the mistake of delegating to anonymised ‘markets’ accountable political choices.
History repeating itself? The impact of the Covid-19 crisis on youth
Young people are anxious about the effects of the crisis yet also more trusting in the European Union—an asset which should not be squandered.
Digital welfare states: boundaries and opportunities
A Dutch court case has set out a framework within which the emergent digital welfare state can respect the right to privacy.
Machine learning should increase human possibilities
Sociologist Elena Esposito suggests shifting the focus of artificial intelligence to machines as communication partners. Interview by Florian Butollo.
A federal budget for European citzens
The proposal by the French president and the German chancellor for a €500 billion recovery fund refocuses attention on the EU budget—but that raises wider issues.
Europe’s leaders must stem falling trust
A mass online survey across the continent has found Europeans reeling from the coronavirus crisis—and losing trust in their leaders’ ability to manage it.
Brexit: deaths, more deaths… and no-deal calculations
In a nightmare-scenario 'Brexit' denouement, the UK government provokes no-deal chaos from which it hopes to profit after its Covid-19 shambles.
Health policy after the crisis: more of the same or a new path?
Years of pre-crisis adhesion to ‘new public management’ in health policy have seen public provision eroded. Now is an opportunity to change course.
What when there’s a vaccine?
Amid the accelerated scientific quest for a vaccine against the coronavirus, crucial ethical and social questions have not yet been addressed.
The pandemic and the day after
Emergence from the coronavirus crisis cannot be to ‘business as usual’ but must urgently open a transition to socio-environmental sustainability.
Robots won’t make us redundant
Globalisation, digitalisation, artificial intelligence—it’s time to stop debating work in a fear-laden way.
If it comes with interest, it’s no recovery
EU leaders must not behave like generals fighting the last war. If the Recovery Fund is to be adequate to the challenge of the coronavirus crisis, this time must be different.
Trade unions are key to a safe exit from the pandemic
There can be no return to ‘business as usual’ after the crisis: the ‘new normal’ must entail a profound political and social transformation.
An investment plan for European reconstruction
Europe must look beyond keeping companies on life support and staunching national debts to a continent-wide reconstruction driven by public investment.
German court decision ends treaty pretences
With ‘coronabonds’ stymied, an exit from the crisis had depended on ECB monetary operations—until the German constitutional court weighed in.
The ecological transition is the new mission for Europe
If once a peace project, the mission for Europe today is a safe ecological transition—the Green Deal the antidote to a malaise apparent long before the pandemic.