Debating The Confidence Fairy
In 2011, the Nobel laureate economist Paul Krugman characterized conservative discourse on budget deficits in terms of “bond vigilantes” and the “confidence fairy.” Unless governments cut their deficits, the
A New Deal For Greece
Three months of negotiations between the Greek government and our European and international partners have brought about much convergence on the steps needed to overcome
Technology And The Future Of Work In Advanced Economies
The potential scope of automation – driven by computerisation and intelligent robots – has increased significantly in recent years and will continue to do so.
A High Seas Disgrace That Should Shake Us Into Action
Europe cannot afford the shame of doing nothing while thousands of migrants die in the Mediterranean simply seeking a better life. There have been more
From Val Duchesse To Riga: How To Relaunch Social Dialogue?
The new European Commission (EC) under President Jean-Claude Juncker is committed to re-launching social dialogue and a first step was taken with the organisation of
Labour Market Deregulation and Productivity: IMF Finds No Link
New research by IMF staff has found there is no evidence that reforms that deregulate labour markets have any positive impact on increasing the economy’s
An Innovation Agenda For Europe
Any ‘economic growth’ strategy which ignores the all-important strand of promoting, encouraging and developing innovation is doomed to fail. It has been more than a
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
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,