“Almost £40 million of taxpayers’ money paid for lobbying and political campaigning” Courtesy Taxpayers’ Alliance New analysis from the TaxPayers’ Alliance reveals how ministers, officials and quangocrats are wasting taxpayers’ cash funding organisations that lobby the government. From 2017-19, organisations that lobby for changes in public policy received at least £39,584,172. Taxpayer money […]
Author: Erik Sass
Fate of UK manufacturing hangs on minimizing trade friction with EU
“Minimum trade frictions will be vital for the UK automotive industry” By Prof. David Bailey, courtesy of UK In a Changing Europe The UK manufacturing and especially the automotive industry has faced a turbulent period since the referendum. By 2018-19 something of a perfect storm had hit. The auto industry faced a triple […]
U.S.-China trade deal will hurt Germany, Brazil — coronavirus is wildcard
“New US-China trade agreement to hurt Germany and Brazil” IFW Kiel German exporters will be particularly affected from the implementation of the Phase I trade agreement between the USA and China which has now come into force. As a result of trade diversion, Germany’s exports of goods to China are likely to […]
Exposure to good news increases tax compliance
“How biased news affect our willingness to pay taxes” Courtesy of IZA People’s willingness to pay taxes does not only depend on the fear of a tax audit or the amount of penalties for cheaters. Satisfaction with the actions and trustworthiness of the government is another crucial driver of tax compliance. Theoretical work […]
White House takes victory lap with economic report
By Erik Sass, TES Editor-in-Chief The United States is enjoying the longest period of economic growth in its history, now 127 months into the current economic expansion, with unemployment hovering around 3.5% and a GDP growth rate of 2.3% of 2019. The White House highlighted these gains – and the benefits […]
Politics, technology and environmental change merging in megatrend, threatening upheaval
By Dr. Alexander Görlach, Senior Fellow, Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs The coming months will see three trends from last year merge into a megatrend that will not only define the presidential election in the USA but also send waves across the Atlantic to Europe and across the Pacific to […]
What’s really in the U.S.-China trade deal?
“What Will the US‐China Deal Accomplish on Tech Transfer, IP Protection and Innovation?” By Simon Lester and Huan Zhu, courtesy of the Cato Institute The US-China Economic and Trade Agreement, described as a “phase one” deal, entered into force today (30 days after signature, pursuant to Article 8.3, para. 1). The Agreement has created a […]
What’s behind euro-area housing boom… and is a crash coming?
“Recent euro-area house price increases are dissimilar to earlier housing booms” By Zsolt Darvas, Marta Domínguez-Jiménez, and Guntram B. Wolf, courtesy of the Bruegel Institute Rapid house price increases are good for homeowners and bad for people wishing to buy. They could also be bad for the economy as a whole if there […]
Rules playing catchup with transport technology
“Moving America Forward with Transportation Infrastructure” By Krista Chavez, courtesy of the Mercatus Center Imagine receiving emergency medical supplies that were delivered to your house by drone; enjoying a sandwich while your autonomous vehicle drives you from Dallas, Texas, to Salt Lake City, Utah; or taking an air taxi from downtown Los Angeles […]
Who will steer Brexit in months to come?
“Post-Brexit: who are the new thinkers that will reshape Britain” By Jack Powell, courtesy of the Austrian Economics Center Many in the anti-Brexit lobby are still trying to portray the vote to leave the European Union as the project of a very small number of Westminster elites. Carole Cadwalladr and her band of […]