Who will be covered by an EU instrument on platform work?
A broad definition of the ‘worker’ will be essential to avoid platform companies sustaining false self-employment claims.
To end poverty, invest in children
The author presents a report today to the UN General Assembly on the persistence of poverty, following dialogues with people in poverty around the world.
The EU must step up in Glasgow
The EU was critical in the Paris climate agreement of 2015 and success in Glasgow may again depend on its leadership.
What did the German federal election mean for equality and diversity in the Bundestag?
Despite the share of women and of representatives with a minority background increasing by a small margin, there is still a long way to go.
‘Social media’, market power and the health of democracy
With the whistle blown on Facebook, Congress must allocate ownership of personal data to the person—not the platform—to allow competitive providers to emerge.
Biden’s trap
Joe Biden’s administration must deliver on sweeping new federal programmes while placating moderates who oppose radical policy measures.
Can Xi Jinping defeat three stubborn modern inequalities?
Branko Milanovic argues that ‘socialism with Chinese characteristics’ is replicating United States inequalities.
A new global economic consensus
The pandemic has highlighted the deficiencies of economic deregulation and market liberalisation and a new policy-making paradigm is emerging.
Making lifelong learning a reality in the EU
There was a time when education and training were for life. But amid today’s social transformations only lifelong learning will do.
Brexit: why does Northern Ireland matter so much?
So little appears at stake in the Northern Ireland protocol yet it’s at the heart of the Brexit deadlock. But then it’s a proxy for something else.
The Pandora Papers and the threat to democracy
In demonstrating how some of the world’s most powerful people hide their wealth, the Pandora Papers have exposed the details of a global system.
Why a new University of Labour?
As workers’ representatives face the challenges of digitalised work and fragmented workforces, a ‘University of Labour’ in Germany offers support.
The improbable victory: lessons of the SPD’s election win
In his first Social Europe column, Robert Misik explains how the SPD prevailed in the Bundestag elections—and what follows.
The new way of doing politics in times of elections
As Czechs go to the polls, a new politics is emerging across Europe, variously populist and technocratic.
Trade unions take on platform companies in the struggle for decent work
On World Day of Decent Work, the European Trade Union Confederation puts the spotlight on justice for platform workers.
Hungary’s path puts everyone’s rights in danger
The ostensible assault on LGBT+ rights in Hungary, Poland and Russia has a very big target—anyone who signs up to universal norms.
Intellectual monopoly capitalism—challenge of our times
Unregulated capitalism has always tended to monopoly. But Big Tech represents a challenge antitrust tools can’t tame.