The other day I had an interesting discussion about the European Fiscal Compact and its Article 11 in particular: With a view to benchmarking best practices and working towards a more closely coordinated economic policy, the Contracting Parties ensure that all major economic policy reforms that they plan to undertake will be discussed ex-ante and, where appropriate, [...]
Archive for the ‘Europe’ Category
european sovereignty
Posted in Europe, Politics on May 27, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
why growth rates matter
Posted in Economics, Europe, Growth on May 14, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
A few days ago the European Union published its updated economic forecast. All in all, the outlook is far from sunshine and roses: The EU economy is estimated to be currently in a mild recession. The picture presented in the interim forecast in February is broadly confirmed for 2012, with real GDP projected to stagnate in the [...]
inflation
Posted in Economics, Europe, Libertarianism, Milton Friedman, Politics, USA on April 7, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
With the ECB and Fed increasing money supply, it will not come as a surprise if we observe higher rates of inflation in the years ahead. Thus it is a good idea to have a closer look at the causes and repercussions of inflation. Nobel laureate Milton Friedman has dedicated much of his work to [...]
why men earn more
Posted in Books, Economics, Europe, Inequality, Politics on March 25, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Some years ago, Dr. Warren Farrell published a much-debated book called “Why Men Earn More“. At that time he also gave a bunch of interviews that have gained importance now that even the European Union believes it must act. If men earn a dollar for each 76 cents that women earn for the same work, [...]
cartooning the euro crisis
Posted in Economics, Europe, Politics on February 28, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Irish economist David McWilliams explains the ECB’s massive cash for trash scheme: We have insolvent banks lending to insolvent governments and we are calling it success.
centralized europe
Posted in Europe, Politics, UK on January 25, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
In a great 9-minute speech, British journalist and Member of the European Parliament, Daniel Hannan points out the nonsense of centralizing Europe: Decentralization is of the essence of the spirit of Europe.
a sad december morning
Posted in Europe, Politics on December 9, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Yesterday’s EU summit made it perfectly clear: central planning by the European Union should solve the Euro zone’s crisis. Of course, this strategy will not be ratified by the people. Decisions in the EU are always made for the people, not by the people. There will be no referendum about the designated changes. And it [...]
fiscal devaluation
Posted in Economics, Europe on November 25, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
As Greece more and more turns out to be unwilling or uncapable of leaving the Euro zone, economists have thought about alternative ways to increase their economy’s competitiveness. An interesting approach has now been formulated by two economists from Haravad and one from Princeton: Fiscal Devaluations Even when the exchange rate cannot be devalued, a [...]
european battle
Posted in Economics, Europe on November 18, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Many politicians currently ask for the ECB to step in as Lender of Last Resort in order to solve the Euro crisis. However, St.Gallen Professor Simon Evenett argues that the discussion alone might already cause this strategy to fail. An interesting article about the role of expectations in monetary economics: Have the Hawks Effectively Won [...]
the purpose of the euro
Posted in Economics, Europe on November 16, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
When the Euro crisis emerged in spring 2010, Harvard economist Kenneth Rogoff brilliantly described the currency’s purpose and its success: Europe finds the old rules still apply The euro was designed to be a superior debt financing machine and, to a considerable extent, it has delivered.
