Understanding The European Union’s Facade Democracy
It is quite amazing that the European Commission has never really addressed the question of European democracy. Neither a White Paper nor a Green Paper
We Now Have Money For Nothing
The developed world seems to be moving toward a long-term zero-interest-rate environment. Though the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and the eurozone have kept central-bank
The Eurozone’s False Recovery
At first glance, the eurozone economy seems like it might finally be on the mend. Stock markets are rallying. Consumer confidence has picked up. Lower
Why Social Progress Matters
Economic growth has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and improved the lives of many more over the last half-century. Yet it
Preconditions For Successful Implementation Of The New Minimum Wage In Germany
It is just a few weeks since the minimum wage was introduced in Germany, but it is already becoming quite clear that its implementation in
Why Tackling Inequality Is An Economic Imperative
It has long been recognised that extreme inequality has many serious social consequences, as well as causing economic fragility and weakness – now the time
The Five Things Everyone Should Know About the European Union
Where to start when asked, in five points, to encapsulate an institution as complex, as contested, as frequently misunderstood and indeed as deliberately misrepresented as
Excessive Austerity Not A Lack Of Structural Reform Is Holding Back Investment In Greece
A while ago I participated in a TV debate on Greece (German speakers can follow this link). One of the points of contention was whether
Five Things You Need To Know About The Philosophy Of Europe
1. Europe enters philosophy in the context of a distinctively philosophical conception of human history. One might wonder what philosophy, as an a priori inquiry,
New Forms Of Employment Offer Both Benefits And Risks
Social and economic changes in Europe have given rise to new forms of employment, many very different from traditional ‘work’. What are these new trends,
Deescalating Europe’s Politics Of Resentment
A German television presenter recently broadcast an edited video of me, before I was Greece’s finance minister, giving his country the middle-finger salute. The fallout
Pegida: Poland Takes Stock
Pegida’s rise has been watched with much attention in Poland. The phenomenon tends to be regarded as a reaction to globalisation and a way of
Employment And Inclusive Development: Contesting Conventional Wisdom
In a recently published book, my co-author Rizwanul Islam and I suggest that the notion of inclusive development should have the following attributes: (1) rapid,
Believe In Europe But Prepare For Brexit
The people of Britain are poised for one of the biggest decisions in our history. In 2017, while the rest of Europe celebrates the 60th
Pegida’s Spirit Haunts France – With No Response Yet
Pegida may have caught everyone by surprise in Germany, but its spirit is unfortunately all too familiar to French people. With the Front National’s enduring
The European Social Dialogue: Time For A Choice
The European Social Dialogue this year celebrates its 30th anniversary (1985-2015). On 6 March, to mark the occasion and provide new impetus, the European Commission
How The Troika Breaches EU Law
How did the troika come about formally? In 2010 it became apparent that the European constitution offers no clues as to how one should handle