Confronting The Global Threat To Democracy
Across the world, populists are attracting votes with their promises to protect ordinary people from the harsh realities of globalization. The democratic establishment, they assert,
Universal Basic Income: a disarmingly simple idea—and fad
Universal basic income is a disarmingly simple idea based on a disarmingly simple premise. The digital revolution threatens massive technological unemployment; ergo, every citizen should
Simple Arithmetic Shows Why Basic Income Schemes Cannot Work
Swiss voters decided in a referendum on June 5 whether to introduce a “basic income”. In proposed reforms to the social welfare system, all residents would be
Going Beyond The Headlines To Find Out What It Is Really Like To Live And Work In Europe
Brexit dominates political debate, migrants stream through borders, social protection systems are collapsing, changing forms of work are corroding conditions, unemployment levels remain high and
The Worldwide March To Basic Income: Thank You Switzerland!
June 5, 2016 will be remembered as an important landmark in the worldwide march towards the implementation of unconditional basic income (UBI) schemes. All Swiss
A British Test of Reason
If voters in the United Kingdom decide in the country’s referendum on June 23 to leave the European Union, it will not be for economic
On Unproductive Labour
Today I read an article on shortages and economic collapse in Venezuela. The reason why there are huge lines in front of the stores was
The ECB’s Illusory Independence
A commitment to the independence of central banks is a vital part of the creed that “serious” policymakers are expected to uphold (privatization, labor-market “flexibility,”
Helicopter Money: A Disguise For debt Financing Funded By Short-Term Borrowing
The term “helicopter money” is derived from a vivid image created by the US economist Milton Friedman in which a central banker showers notes on
Support For Brexit Is No Longer A Minority Viewpoint On The British Left
Among the British press, which overall shows a bias for leaving the EU, the Guardian is seen as one of the few papers with a friendly attitude towards
Economic Recovery Of The EU Is Not Beholden To The ECB
Europe is in a Gordian knot of debt, deflation and democratic deficits. A hegemonic Germany that Adenauer, Brandt, Schmidt and Kohl wished to avoid dominates
The IMF On Greek Debt – Redefining Chutzpah?
A definition of chutzpah is murdering your parents and then claiming social benefits as an orphan. It is not widely recognised, but the IMF illustrates
The False Promise Of Negative Interest Rates
As a biographer and aficionado of John Maynard Keynes, I am sometimes asked: “What would Keynes think about negative interest rates?” It’s a good question,
Towards A European Pillar Of Social Rights: An Opportunity Not To Be Squandered
In March 2016 the European Commission presented the preliminary outline of a European Pillar of Social Rights as part of the work undertaken towards a
The New ‘Pop-Nat’ Authoritarianism
The drift to illiberal Pop-Nat – populist nationalist – politics in Europe continues. Across the Atlantic Donald Trump exemplifies Pop-Nat politics. There is no sign that the