Budapest’s new mayor and the redemocratisation of Hungary
Local elections in Hungary have placed a question-mark over the durability of the ‘illiberal democracy’ of Viktor Orbán.
The big Green New Deal and its little red social question
Why does environmental promise always fall short in practice? A new answer to the social question can bridge the gap.
Drinking the blood of Ukraine: east-west competition for a country in crisis
The bizarre recent phone conversation between the president of the US and his counterpart in Ukraine returned to the public mind a neglected country with a frozen conflict.
Central-bank digital currencies: proceed with caution
Peter Bofinger argues that introducing central-bank digital currencies would need to be subject to very careful consideration.
Collective bargaining must be rebuilt in Europe
Revivified collective bargaining would benefit workers but also society as a whole—and political support is needed.
UN treaty on business and human rights vital for economic and social justice
How can transnational corporations be held to account in a world of nation states? A binding UN treaty would be an important step.
‘One In, One Out’ is a danger to workers’ health and safety
The new European Commission’s ‘One In, One Out’ approach to ‘burdensome’ legislation would stymie progress towards safer, healthier workplaces.
Elections in Switzerland: left-green gains and challenges
The parliamentary elections in Switzerland deprived the right of its majority. Can the surging greens and the social democrats take advantage?
The Manchester revolution
Paul Mason reimagines the Manchester of his birth in a postcapitalist age—and raises the challenge of getting there.
Our shrinking economic toolkits
For four decades, mainstream economists and policymakers have been wedded to fixed dogmas. Their blind belief in fiscal discipline threatens the very stability of societies.
The Goulard case—a rap on the knuckles for Emmanuel Macron
The rejection by the European Parliament of Slyvie Goulard as French commissioner showed that ‘it’s France’ is not a sufficient excuse for special treatment.
Can Europe help the Balkans keep its young emigrants?
High emigration rates are doing massive damage to the prospects of the western Balkans—would a stronger EU perspective reverse this outflow?
Western Balkans need accession-talks signal from EU
Access for the states concerned, most immediately for North Macedonia and Albania, would be many years off—but the symbolism is important.
Is it time to ban political advertising on Facebook?
Karin Pettersson argues that ‘free speech’ is not a licence for politicians relying on rage to lie, and for such lies to be amplified by ‘social media’.
Ireland’s recovery: from bust to buoyancy … to Brexit?
If procyclical domestic policies inflated Ireland’s economic bubble, procyclical austerity demanded by the troika which bailed it out makes Ireland’s recovery all the more remarkable.