Category Archives: Europe

No Alternative to Sustainable Agriculture: How Community-Supported Farms Show the Way to Food Security in an Uncertain World

One of the areas in which we are least prepared for the many complex challenges surrounding us is in our relationship to food.

“Something Has Gone Wrong”: UK Government, Banks Screw Up Coronavirus Loans, Small Firms Near Collapse. Better Results in Other Countries

Quelle surprise! Big banks in the UK don’t like making small business loans, especially not at 1.5%.

Angela Merkel Urged To Put European Solidarity Over German Interests and Back Coronabonds

Angela Merkel is under pressure to abandon her long-standing “Germany first” policy towards the EU. Will she finally relent?

Right to Repair and Ventilators: Saving COVID-19 Patients

The coronavirus crisis highlights the importance of ensuring wide access to repair information for lifesaving machines, such as ventilators.

The EU’s Green Deal: Bismarck’s ‘What Is Possible’ versus Thunberg’s ‘What Is Imperative’ in the Age of Covid-19

A detailed look at the Green Deal: bold goals, with a shortage of money, transition plans, and social democracy.

The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Letter to G20 Leaders (“The G20 must act now”)

Delaying emergency measures in emerging and developing economies will lead to unimaginable health and social impacts which will come back to haunt us for decades. The G20 must act now.

Coronavirus Means Zero Hour for the European Union

Germany’s long-standing practice of muscling the European Union to serve its own ends now risks dissolution and a banking system crisis.

The Fed Backfires: Shock and Awe Rate Drop to 0%, Emergency Bond Buying Program Leads to Limit Down Drops in US Equity Futures as Real World Coronavirus Damage Worsens

The Fed just told everyone to assume the brace position.

After Bloody Day, Coronavirus Meltdown Continues. Big Danger: Italian and Eurobanks Are Set To Blow

So many coronavirus panics that a looming risk is getting little notice: implosion of Italy’s banks, a potential Credit Anstalt event.

Coronavirus: Three Vignettes

Three coronavirus snippets from around the world.

Mr. Market Loses It Over Coronavirus Risk: Oil Tanks, S&P Futures Trades Halted on Limit Down Overnight, Gold Jumps

Coronavirus infects Mr. Market.

Right to Repair: Will the European Commission Have the Guts to Stand Up to Apple et al? Details on Wednesday…

European Commission to decide Wednesday whether to adopt a right to repair for smartphones as part of its Circular Economy Action Plan, to match what already exists for household appliances.

Brexit: Pawing and Snorting

In theory, Brexit negotiations are moving forward, but they sure don’t look like it.

Why East Germans Are Not Taking Advantage of the Large Wage Gap Between East and West Germany

Reallocating workers to better jobs at their current location could be a more cost-effective avenue to increase aggregate wages, and even accelerate regional convergence