Category Archives: Europe

Europe’s Crisis Was Caused More By Reckless Lending Than By Reckless Spending

Remedies have failed to produced growth and lower indebtedness because they’re focused on protecting toxic behavior by banks in Europe’s core

The Italian Referendum: The Vote, the Narrative, the EU, the Banks

The Italian referendum may have been more about Italy than anything else. Which says nothing about knock-on effects

Wolf Richter: Italians Vote “No,” Renzi to Resign, Banking Crisis Now Looking for Taxpayers

Will the failure of Renzi’s constitutional referendum and resulting political uncertainty finally force Italy’s banking crisis to a head?

Trump’s Win is a Warning: Europe Urgently Needs a New Deal

Europe is ignoring the lessons of New Deal era much to its peril.

John Helmer: Cyprus Wins Victory for Sovereignity, Backed by Greek Principle and Russian Arms

Talks between Greek and Turkish camps in Cyprus have collapsed: “Greece first, then Russia have cut the legs off the negotiating table.”

Banks Whinge About Tougher EU Regulations to Reduce Too Big to Fail Risk

The Financial Times is a bit too sympathetic to poor oppressed banks facing tougher EU safety rules.

Italy’s Bank Rescues Founder, With Small Savers and Prime Minister Renzi as Casualties

Italian banks may start bail-ins at the worst possible time for Matteo Renzi and his constitutional reforms.

In Upset, François Fillon Beats Sarkozy, Leads Conservative Party Runoff Vote for French President

Fillion’s surprise win shows again how pundits and pollsters failed to read the mood of voters.

Brexit and the Law

A round-up of opinion after the UK High Court’s ruling that the triggering of Article 50 should involve the UK Parliament.

France Plans to Implement Universal Biometric IDs

France seeks to implement a variant of a biometric ID database that was nixed by its courts. Will this succeed and set a dangerous precedent?

Public Support for the Euro

Why a Brexit, even if it moves forward, seems unlikely to lead to a Eurozone breakup.

Easy Money is Dangerous Without Activist Fiscal Policy

Why over-reliance on monetary policy and the failure to engage in fiscal deficits is a toxic mix.

Why the ECB is Going to Print, Print, PRINT!

The ECB is set to dig its hole even deeper….

The Danger of Germany’s Current Account Surpluses

Economists are more and more worried about Germany’s rising trade surpluses. Calling Wolfgang Schauble to the white courtesy phone….

Another Huge Brexit Spanner in the Works: UK Faces Customs Train Wreck With Need for IT Upgrade

The UK faces a customs nightmare as IT systems needed to handle the new volumes and requirements are almost certain not to be ready on time.