Why Are Rich Countries Democratic?
When Adam Smith was 22, he famously proclaimed that, “Little else is requisite to carry a state to the highest degree of opulence from the
The Wolves Of Wall Street
“What a commentary on the state of twentieth-century capitalism,” mused “motivational speaker” Jordan Belfort as he looked back on his life of fraud, sex, and
Urbanisation And Globalisation
The phenomenon we have been witnessing for some time now looks more and more like an industrial revolution overturned. Vast masses of migrants converge on
Youth Unemployment – How Do The Austrians Do It?
In 11 EU member states youth unemployment is over than 25% and it is 49% or higher in Croatia, Spain and Greece. This fact is
Chancellors, Fools And The UK Recovery
I grew up in Texas where state and local judges are elected, not unusual in the United States. In most states minimum legal qualifications are
The Mediterranean Gods Cannot Do It Alone
The ancient’s world geopolitical center, the cradle of civilization, the Mediterranean Basin; a unique location with some of the world’s most important geostrategic corners. Life
Inflation, Deflation And ECB Asymmetry
It is quite interesting to see how popular myths can live on in the public’s mind and continue to cause harm and irritation even when
What Is Europe About?
At its foundation the European project was primarily about peace. Following the murderous preceding decades this was rightly the overriding priority. It was also about
Why The ECJ Should Reject The German Constitutional Court’s Ruling
Despite having a positive effect on the economic situation within the Eurozone, the European Central Bank’s Outright Monetary Transactions (OMT) program has proved controversial, with
How To Explain The Swiss Vote Against The Free Movement Of Workers
On 8 February 2009, almost 60 percent of Swiss voters supported the extension of the bilateral EU-Switzerland agreement on the free movement of workers to
Positive Developments Can Result From Climate Change
Climate change is one of the most salient issues facing governments across Europe, but does it have the potential to alter the political and social
The Disastrous Labor And Social Reforms In Spain
Spain, under pressure from the Troika (International Monetary Fund, European Commission and European Central Bank) has gone through three major labor market reforms, presented to
The Arab Spring And The Changing Balance Of Global Power
More than three years have passed since Mohammed Bouazizi set himself on fire in the Tunisian city of Sidi Bouzid and inadvertently lit the spark
The Swiss Referendum, Free Movement, Xenophobia, and Substitution Effects
Of course, it is not easy to strike a fair balance when qualifying the Swiss referendum of 9 February 2014: Is it all about xenophobia
How A German Sovereign Wealth Fund Could Help To Rebalance The Eurozone
Germany is on the dock, big time. In its 2013 ‘Alert Mechanism Report’ the European Commission announced that Germany jointly with Luxembourg would have to
How To Make EU Governance More Effective
Recently I was asked to speak somewhere in The Netherlands about Croatia and the European democracy debate. Of course I did not get very far
Death To Machines?
At the start of the Industrial Revolution, textile workers in the Midlands and the North of England, mainly weavers, staged a spontaneous revolt, smashing machinery