Marine Le Pen’s Tide Is Far From Ebbing
Well, that’s OK then. The second round of France’s regional elections has seen the clear winner of the first, Marine Le Pen and her Front
Curbing Tax Avoidance, Tax Evasion And Tax Havens
The aggressive tax avoidance by multinational corporations (MNCs) where they are now paying virtually no tax was highlighted recently by the takeover of “Irish” company Allergan
The Incurable Japanese Syndrome And Europe
For the fifth time in seven years Japan is back in recession, with GDP shrinking by a further 0.2% in the third quarter. Meanwhile, inflation
How To Welcome Refugees Properly
Most post-WWII conflicts are sparked and fuelled by geopolitics though many a European citizen has little knowledge about this. True, the influx of people from
How The European Far Right Uses The Dark Side Of Liberalism
The Front National secured the largest share of the vote in the first round of the French regional elections on 6 December and will aim
Understanding The Evolution Of Work
In mid-December, the United Nations will launch the latest of its annual landmark Human Development Reports. This year’s report focuses on the nature of work: how the
The Battle For Britain
The Islamic State’s attack in Paris in November was the latest crisis to delay Britain’s bid to renegotiate its membership in the European Union, ahead
How Inequality Kills
This week, Angus Deaton will receive the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics “for his analysis of consumption, poverty, and welfare.” Deservedly so. Indeed, soon after the award
How Will Poland’s Law And Justice Party Govern?
Poland’s new right-wing government has prioritised implementation of the expensive social spending pledges that were critical to its election victory. However, its determination to radically reform
Is It Meaningful To Talk About The Ownership Of Companies?
Shareholders own the corporation, and the duty of the directors to maximise shareholder value follows from that. I have lost count of the number of
Quantitative Easing (QE) And Public Investment
Since the start of this year the ECB has been applying “quantitative easing” (QE), i.e. a program injecting large amounts of money into the economy.
‘Welfare Tourism’ – An Unproven Case
Heated debates have been sparked in some of the EU’s key recipient countries on the alleged adverse effects of free movement of labour, including in
Europe’s Three Fault Lines
Ten or 20 years ago, the existential question facing the European Union was whether it still had a purpose in a globalized world. The question
Liquidity Helps Financial Market Participants, Not Businesses And Households
Nothing illustrates more starkly the difference between the preoccupations of financial market participants and the needs of businesses and households than the subject of liquidity.
Can COP 21 In Paris Prevent The Climate Catastrophe?
Today, the 21st UN Climate Change Summit (COP21) starts in Paris. All the way since the Rio Conference in 1992, the aim of these summits has
Is Europe Doomed To Collapse?
I am on a two-week European tour at a time that could make one either very pessimistic or constructively optimistic about Europe’s prospects. First the
The Vicious Cycle Of Pitiless Violence
There has been carnage over the last few days in Beirut, Baghdad, Paris and Bamako and, of course, there have been numerous such attacks before