Category Archives: Europe

Covid Baby Bust Has Governments Rattled

A falloff in baby production has capitalists very worried.

Italy’s Newly Unelected Prime Minister, Mario Draghi, Has Urgent Unfinished Business With the World’s Oldest Bank

In his former role as governor of the Bank of Italy, Draghi was partly responsible for Monte dei Paschi’s di Siena’s decline. Now he must reverse it.

Yanis Varoufakis: Trumpism after Trump – NEWSWEEK Magazine, Interviewed by Basit Mahmood

Varoufakis believes Biden Administration fecklessness and love of austerity will strengthen the Trump faction.

How the Catalonia Question Caused Blushes for Brussels in Moscow

In a heated face-off Russia reminded the EU that when it comes to imprisoning politicians, it too has form. In Catalonia tensions are coming back to the boil as new elections loom.

Why Is Everyone Talking About Squatters’ Rights in Covid-Ravaged Spain?

Squatters versus landlords: the battle lines are drawn as this once-in-a-lifetime crisis threatens to create a whole new generation of olvidados.

Coronavirus and Banking: Evaluating Policy Options for Avoiding a Financial Crisis

A scorecard for various approaches to combatting the looming European banking crisis.

Central Bank Machinations with No Exit: ECB Leaks New Thingy, It’s Doing Yield Spread Control

Not your grandmother’s “yield curve control.” Only one thing that could force this ECB absurdity to end: a big bout of inflation.

Perhaps It’s Time to Start Worrying About Italy Again

The causes for concern surrounding Italy are growing, even as the ECB keeps a tight lid on its bond yields, pushing its debt servicing costs lower as its debt explodes higher.

The Double Irony of the New UK-EU Trade Relationship

The Trade and Cooperation Agreement signed between the European Union and the United Kingdom goes against six decades of UK efforts to avoid being economically disadvantaged in Europe.

Brexit: Wheels Coming Off

Brexit pains are becoming more and more evident.

Will the Senate Confirm Coup Plotter Victoria Nuland?

Showing his true uber-hawkish colors, Biden wants to put Victoria Nuland in a position where she can do even more damage.

Wall Street Mega-Landlord Blackstone Prepares to Reap the Spoils of Another Crisis

Blackstone was a big winner of the last crisis. Now, it hopes to repeat the feat, albeit using a somewhat different playbook.

Quick Notes on the Brexit Deal

Brexit: an undertaking of great advantage, but nobody to know what it is.

UK’s Covid and Brexit Siege

Fog on the Covid and Brexit fronts.