The ECB’s strategy review, Adam Tooze writes, says more by its silences than its statements.
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The soft underbelly of British politics
A by-election in northern England highlights the corrosive atrophying of the UK body politic, Paul Mason writes.
Threats to American democracy
Sheri Berman warns that while the threats may seem incremental they pose a real danger—which Europeans should note.
It’s time to rewrite the macroeconomic rulebook for the euro area
Peter Bofinger contends that the economic impact of the pandemic has rendered obsolete the old eurozone fiscal rules.
Work harder: the Porto Social Summit’s call to Europe’s welfare states
Welfare states are having to run harder to stand still. They need to act in mutual support to win the race against inequality and poverty.
Next steps for a people’s vaccine
Ending the pandemic requires not only an intellectual-property rights waiver but scaling up knowledge transfer and public production of vaccine supplies.
Politics
Enhancing the political participation of women from under-represented groups
The author of a report to the Council of Europe elaborates how representation gaps can be closed so politics is refreshed and reflects wider society.
Transatlantic trade co-operation: a lever for environmental and labour protection?
If the pitfalls of the last attempted transatlantic trade deal are avoided, this could be a vehicle for improving standards.
The long and winding road to global corporate tax justice
In theory, the Biden administration and the EU can collaborate to end multinational tax abuse. In practice, it’s not that simple.
Fighting Covid-19 requires fewer patents and more state
Big Pharma has not been the real innovator in the fight against the pandemic and intellectual property rights must be reshaped to restore fairness.
Towards global progressiveness
Branko Milanovic sets out an agenda for global progressives in the 21st century.
Economy
Recruiting irregular migrants to … fight irregular migration
The EU directive sanctioning employers for utilising irregular migrants is putting migrant workers who might complain in a Kafkaesque scenario.
The courage to change
Europe’s trade union and Christian business leaders appeal jointly for a new economic and social order after the pandemic.
Corporate tax cuts do not boost growth
Implicit in the global ‘race to the bottom’ on corporation tax in recent decades has been that this favours growth. Yet does it?
Minimum wages rise, but more slowly
Convergence of central and eastern-European EU members towards older ones with high minimum wages is much stronger than in the Mediterranean countries.
A minimum-wage directive could undermine the Nordic model
Several negative effects need to be addressed in the current negotiations on the directive, in the Swedish trade union view.
Society
A chance for a social future
Can the Conference on the Future of Europe be a turning point from a mere economic union to one of social rights?
The power of civil society in a post-pandemic world
A vibrant civil society is essential to the foundations of democracy—a lesson especially important when those seem under siege.
Is Europe socially fit for the ‘Fit for 55’ package?
The centrality of market mechanisms to the European Commission’s climate package poses big questions as to its effectiveness and distributional impact.
How to prevent a mental-health pandemic
The huge toll of Covid-19 on mental health highlights the need for public investment to tackle the vast reservoir of distress.
Lessons learnt from the pandemic for long-term care
After privatisation and austerity, long-term care needs to be restored to resilience and readiness for an ageing population.
Ecology
Pollution: no acceptable levels
‘Zero pollution’ is a very good goal for the European Union to adopt—but only if zero means zero.
A first tango in Glasgow?
A new transatlantic relationship is critical to any hope of global realisation of the goals of the Paris agreement.
People v Shell: from ‘corporate social responsibility’ to legal accountability
The successful action by citizens and NGOs in a Dutch court against Shell has sent a frisson through corporate boardrooms—with reason.
The climate X factor
The climate and biodiversity crises we face demand not only carbon-neutral energy sources but also a circular economy.
Ethical consumerism meets ‘eco-awakening’
If consumers are not given the tools to go green, then their eco-awakening could doom the climate.
