The ‘Tax Shift’: A Surrealist Fantasy
Reducing taxes on labour – personal income taxes and employers’ and employees’ social security contributions – is often seen as key to increasing employment levels. The latest crop of
A State-Powered Green Revolution
Discussions about building a green future tend to focus on the need to improve the generation of energy from renewable sources. But that is just
Same ECB Medicine, Higher Dosage – Good But More Needed
The ECB has announced a further expansionary shift by beefing up a range of existing policy instruments. Barring unexpected positive shocks this will not be
Putting The EU Wrongs Right: The Trade Union View
Haven’t we all had enough of the doom-mongers predicting the end of the EU? Of comparisons to the last days of the Roman Empire or
The Politics Of Anger
Perhaps the only surprising thing about the populist backlash that has overwhelmed the politics of many advanced democracies is that it has taken so long.
Create Social Wealth Funds! It’s Time To Halt The Great Public Asset Boot Sale
Britain’s public assets are now the subject of a giant boot sale. The great rolling privatisation juggernaut not only includes the £4bn Green Investment Bank,
The American Fascist
I’ve been reluctant to use the “f” word to describe Donald Trump because it’s especially harsh, and it’s too often used carelessly. But Trump has finally
As The Euro Time Bomb Ticks Away The ECB Turns Desperate
These are not happy times for Europe. Ukraine, Russia, and rising anti-democratic influences in Hungary and Poland represent latent threats at the European Union’s eastern
For A Robust Policy Of Integration Of Refugees
The introduction of a thought-provoking book by Anthony de Jasay on political theory starts with the question: “What would you do if you were the
Why Brexit Would Be Bad For Employment Rights
Imagine a country in which there is no statutory right to paid holiday, no legal limit on the number of hours employees can be required
Why We Need To Rewrite The Maastricht Rules
The 1992 Treaty of Maastricht that lay the basis for the euro committed signing governments to several economic targets. Subsequent treaties and protocols made these targets
The Secret Of Donald Trump’s Success
Donald Trump is winning Republican presidential primaries at such a great rate that he seems likely to become the next Republican presidential nominee and perhaps
Restoring Power To Politics: A Eurozone Finance Ministry
Mario Draghi’s proposal to create a European Treasury Ministry is the first step (after the euro) towards genuine European integration and another renunciation of national
Will Slovakia’s Government Return To The EU Mainstream Ahead Of Its EU Presidency?
Slovak general elections do not usually get attention beyond the immediate neighbourhood. However, with the SK EU Presidency approaching and a controversial stance on the
Ars Longa, Vita Brevis: Key Role Of Collective Bargaining In Establishing EU Working Time Standards
Nowadays we all know that long or excessive working hours may have serious negative impacts on a person’s health and wellbeing. Eurofound‘s new report “Working
Is This Angela Merkel’s Plan B?
In her policy statement to the Bundestag prior to the EU summit last week, Angela Merkel gave an insight into her progress in the search for a
Here Are The New Social Risks Of The Fourth Industrial Revolution
The newest technologies seem to be promising us a truly radiant future: robots whose skills become more refined with every passing day; increasingly numerous and