The voices urging “economic growth plans” for EU countries in recession are getting louder and more numerous by the day. They say Germany should stop forcing crisis-ridden countries (Greece, Spain…actually all except Germany itself) to reduce their budget deficits. Instead short-term stimulation programmes should be rolled out. In true Keynesian style.

I must be missing out on something, because I don’t understand how these countries are supposed to finance such business cycle  stimulation programmes. We’re beyond the point where Keynes can help these countries. [Read on]

On 25 May last year I sided with those who said the EU doesn’t have much longer to live in its current form. Go here for all I said then about the coming break-up. [Read on]

I would have loved to write something on the Euro crisis today, but time doesn’t allow me. So, here is another “warm-up” – something I wrote earlier this year. Between May and September 2010 economists and governments all eagerly revised their growth forecasts for 2011 and beyond up. On 25 May 2010 (with the Greek tragedy still fresh in our minds) I wrote this: [Read on]

Wow, listen to this one: The Russian government is about to give the green light to a blanket curfew on children between 12 and 18 years of age. After a certain hour, no-one will be allowed on the streets. 

Just chew on that one: A government puts part of its population (about 5 million young people) under house arrest for most of the night (that’s effectively what it is – a blanket jailing of all young people in Russia for part of the night). 

What kind of government comes up with such a solution? What kind of constitution allows politicians to limit the personal freedom of sections of the population in this way? Worst perhaps: What kind of society allows its youth to be treated like jailbirds by its government? The same, disinterested society, I guess, which created the youth problem in the first place. 

Also interesting: The news service RIA Novosti is part-financed by the state. Still the commentator (journalist) criticised the legislation.

First published on my old blog on 14/7/2005. 

Come to think of it, what is it about politics that is so bad for women’s hair? Think about Maggie Thatcher, Hilary Clinton. And now our own Angie Merkel. Not to speak of all those Green female politicians we see on our German TV screens every night. They all have terrible hair.  [Read on]

First published on my old blog on 11/12/2007. 

Last week’s EU/Africa Summit produced one especially big disappointment: It made clear that some (quite a few?) of Africa’s leaders were still caught in the mindset of the Cold War era.  [Read on]

First published on my old blog on 7/10/2005. 

Of all the things I don’t understand in this world (e.g. black holes, my wife, George Bush) the topic which perplexes me most is why the governments of member states of the EU haven’t yet revolted against the straight-jacket which is the Maastricht Treaty – and specifically the fact that it robbed them of all their power to determine economic policy (here defined as fiscal policy and monetary policy).  [Read on]

First published on my old blog on 5/8/2005. 

My gut tells me the European Union (EU) can’t exist with the monetary and fiscal arrangements as they stand now. They are to “country-insensitive”. Amongst others. Somehow, sometime, something has to change.  [Read on]