debating progressive politics in Europe and beyond
In 2010, France has experienced an intense social struggle. The triggering factor was the pension reform which the government of Prime Minister François Fillon argued was necessary to “save the pension system”. The French system relies on compulsory basic and supplementary state pension schemes financed mainly by contributions (proportional to wages) and taxes decided at [...]
The recent financial crisis has again demonstrated the inherent instability of capitalism. It could be argued that the current pensions reform concocted by the Fillon government is showing the inherent instability of Sarkozyism. On 7 September and again on 2 October, 3 million people took to the streets for the biggest one-day strike in years. [...]
Nine EU countries – eight from central and eastern Europe plus Sweden – have formally called on the European Commission to change the budget accounting rules in a way that would allow them to run higher deficits in the coming years without running foul of the Stability and Growth Pact. As argued in the last [...]
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