Tag archive for ‘Europe’
Europeans want Economic Governance
There we have it: Europeans want economic governance mechanisms for Europe the new Eurobarometer found out. 75% of Europeans think that stronger coordination of economic and financial policies among EU Member States would be effective in fighting the economic crisis, according to the Spring 2010 Eurobarometer, the bi-annual opinion poll organised by the EU This [...]
Farage is Right About One Thing: The EU’s Democratic Deficit Does Matter
One of those sinful pleasures that some young progressives (among others) secretly indulge in is watching the chairman of the Europe of Freedom and Democracy EP group, Nigel Farage, humiliate time and again the EU’s leadership. Yes, even with all the cheap demagogy and the tasteless ad hominem attacks, Farage can be very funny. Nevertheless, [...]
Has Angela Merkel outlived her usefulness?
Steven Hill’s recent paean to Angela Merkel on the SEJ website (18/08/10) may yet prove woefully ill-advised. For although he is correct in arguing that ‘social’ Germany is well ahead of the USA is many respects, his endorsement of Merkel’s economics is—to put it as politely as possible—somewhat overenthusiastic.
Christian-democrats prefer islamophobic populists
In the Netherlands, like in Belgium, the formation of a new cabinet is underway. In these small, but ultracomplex coalition countries, it takes weeks and weeks to form governments. Cabinet formation is a giant Sudoku puzzle. In the Netherlands, the most rightwing coalition ever in its history is in the making: a combination of conservative [...]
Social Dialogue between strong Social Partners: Vital for Democracy, Vital for Europe
In most EU member states, social dialogue between trade unions and employers is an essential feature of the democratic process. Trade unions and employers negotiate pay and working conditions, and, in some countries, they also have a say in social security arrangements or have key roles in other areas. They help government manage the economy, [...]
Europe’s New Climate Narrative – The Race is On!
It was an unexpected move and a surprise for many observers of Europe’s climate policy: German Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen, French Environment Minister Jean-Louis Borloo and UK Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Huhne jointly called for a more ambitious European climate target in international newspapers two weeks ago. A reduction target of at least [...]
The “Stimulus Debate” and the Golden Rule of Mountain Climbing
The global macroeconomy is at a juncture; some economists argue for continued fiscal stimulus to avoid a double dip recession while others argue for fiscal prudence. In this column, one of the world’s leading macroeconomists argues for continued stimulus combined with a plan to ensure long-run sustainability by reforming the funding of pension liabilities. The [...]
Handling Crisis Economics – Where is the European Debate?
I have been following the debates on crisis economics for quite some time now. Especially the discussion about austerity packages and fiscal consolidation versus a more expansionary fiscal policy to make sure the fragile economic recovery is not choked off is one of the key debates of our time. Get it wrong and millions of [...]
The Economic Crisis, US Progressivism, and West European Socialism and Social Democracy
It occasionally is rewarding to think of ideal solutions to current crises rather than of outcomes dictated by evident and immediate constraints. It is rewarding because it invariably teaches us humility about our current political capacities – and because, even in that lesson, we may find new ways of looking at our situation. I designate [...]
Europe Needs a Public Relations Makeover
The American-European relationship has been crucially important during the post-World War II era for both places. Yet recently it has been hurt by both neglect and design. Even before the Greek debt crisis, Europe had been suffering a longstanding public relations crisis in the United States. Americans think they know quite a lot about Europe, [...]
Youth Without Work
Among the many devastating effects of the current global financial crisis, one of the most pernicious in the developed world is the upward trajectory of the unemployment rate for youth, which rose by six percentage points in the OECD area from 2007 to 2009, with Spain experiencing an alarming 42% youth unemployment rate in 2010. [...]
Germany’s Europe Deficit
Germany used to be at the heart of European integration. Its statesmen used to assert that Germany had no independent foreign policy, only a European policy. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, its leaders realized that German reunification was possible only in the context of a united Europe, and they were willing to make [...]
