Expanding state
A trend toward increased government influence in economies and personal life is curbing growth, and freedom, in many Western countries. The outsized role of government results in misplaced incentives, overregulation – which restrains markets and competition – and irresponsible budgetary policies. It leads to planned economies and principalist, authoritarian, centralist and also socialist policies. As history shows, such governments inevitably fail in the end.
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Opinion: The financial elephant in the room
Like medieval alchemy that failed to turn lead into gold, today’s easy-money folly of central banks and governments will lead to crisis, not economic growth and prosperity. After years of addiction to overspending, neither politicians nor central bankers seem capable of returning to responsible policies. New technologies such as cryptocurrencies, cannot solve the problem but at least expose it by showing alternatives.
GIS Dossier: Mission impossible, or reforming France
France used to be one of the European Union’s “twin engines” along with Germany. These days, this once-proud civilization is considered more of a problem than a solution for the European project. Its economy is ailing under excessive government spending and overregulation, its enterprises are stifled by a rigid system ...
Millennials and democratic socialism
Millennials are increasingly supporting socialism as a remedy for today’s political and economic ills. Just 30 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, some might be surprised by this turn of events. A lack of academic rigor, cultural shifts and modern economic trends may all have contributed to the ...
A choice for economies: Freedom or socialism
Some say the global economy is slowing down due to Brexit and the U.S.-China trade dispute – but these developments are not the real dangers. Far more insidious is the trend toward increased government influence in economies and large public debts. Yet, even many economists have adopted the notion that ...
Big government means high taxes
There is a growing myth that the rich are not paying their fair share in taxes and that the middle class is therefore overtaxed. This is not the case. High-income taxpayers across the OECD pay more than their share of the national income. The blame for heavy tax burdens in ...
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More Disruptions
Middle East politics
The region, one of the cradles of civilization, is going through a turbulent period of historic realignment. Its powers are vying for political, military, economic and religious dominance with local players and outside actors. Armed conflicts, mainly civil wars, are ...
Russia resurgent
Russia’s incursion in Ukraine raised alarm about a new Cold War, deepened with the intervention in Syria and allegations of meddling in U.S. elections. But the Kremlin’s new assertiveness is largely defensive, while Ukraine’s emergence as a nation-state undermines Moscow’s ...
