The ECB Has Shaken The Eurozone’s Utopian Foundations
The 4th February late-night decision by the European Central Bank to reject Greek bank collateral for monetary policy operations will, I confidently predict, precipitate not
UK Ranks Behind Former Eastern Bloc Countries On Social Justice
Of the many tough economic lessons from the latter part of the previous decade, the one about the unreliability of GDP size and growth rates
A Greek Morality Tale
When the euro crisis began a half-decade ago, Keynesian economists predicted that the austerity that was being imposed on Greece and the other crisis countries
How To Create A Real European Social Market Economy
Europe’s citizens are torn between the European integration project, which requires market liberalization and competition rules promising greater welfare, and national welfare states, which are
The Share-The-Scraps Economy
How would you like to live in an economy where robots do everything that can be predictably programmed in advance, and almost all profits go
Why European Social Democracy Is In Danger Of Terminal Decline
With the rise of parties on the far-right and radical left of European party systems, social democratic parties now face a challenge to retain their
A New Start For Greece, An Opportunity For Germany
If misperceptions solidify, they become a reality. This seems to be the biggest political risk of the euro crisis. As a German living abroad I
Why Podemos Poses A Major Threat To The Spanish Political Establishment
Following Syriza’s victory in the Greek elections on 25 January, a number of commentators have turned their attention toward Spain, where the left-wing Podemos, which
Why Juncker’s Investment Plan Is A Good Try But Not Enough
Jean-Claude Juncker received approval for his long-awaited investment plan at the European Council meeting on 18 December 2014, giving more details and clarifying some of
Europe’s Jihadi Generation
He came from Algeria seeking a better life, anticipating an escape from poverty, oppression, and hopelessness. In Paris, he found a low-skill job and had
How To Improve The ECB’s QE Programme
With up to €60 bn of debt a month being bought for the next 19 months, the ECB’s programme of quantitative easing (QE) is massive.
The Cost Of Inequality In Women’s Work
It’s that Davos time of the year, when a bunch of powerful men gather in a luxurious Swiss ski resort to re-assure the 99% that
The Politics Of Economic Stupidity
In 2014, the world economy remained stuck in the same rut that it has been in since emerging from the 2008 global financial crisis. Despite
Can Insecure Workers Be Confident Consumers?
A paradox that lies at the heart of capitalism is that economies need consumers to be confident spenders of money on the one hand, while
Policy Priorities For A Social Europe
In 2012, the Four Presidents Report mentioned a European unemployment insurance as a possible mechanism to achieve greater fiscal stability at the EU-level. What do you think about
The Real Social Challenge Is Kickstarting Growth
It is impossible to meaningfully address Europe’s social challenges for the present, medium and longer term without addressing the central challenge of economic growth. We are
Is Financial Reform An Illusion?
The objectives of the planned structural reform of EU banking are ambitious: to prevent systemic risk, avoid misallocation of resources, and facilitate an orderly resolution