“Government wrong to propose ‘unscientific’ and ‘discriminatory’ ban on energy drinks, says report” Courtesy of the IEA Plans to ban the sale of energy drinks to teenagers are “unscientific” and “discriminatory” according to a new report from the Institute of Economic Affairs. ‘Vox Pop’, written by the IEA’s Head of Lifestyle Economics Christopher […]
Tag: regulation
France shows the results of 50 years of short-term politics, statism
“Why did France choose unemployment and debt?” By Patrick Aulnas, courtesy of Contrepoints For half a century, France has made an implicit choice: mass unemployment and public debt . The two elements are linked because the size of the state weighs heavily on the economy and harms its dynamism. Hyper-regulation and massive taxes hamper the functioning […]
Bitte nicht! Germany still opposes banking union
“Germany Remains Firmly Opposed to Banking Union” By Gordon Kerr, Cavin O’Driscoll and Enrico Colombatto, courtesy of IREF In November, Germany’s Finance Minister Olaf Scholz wrote an article in the Financial Times claiming that he had devised a common European Deposit Insurance Scheme (EDIS)[1] that could be acceptable to both sides of the hitherto […]
Are women more willing to accept jobs with lower pay?
“Are women more willing to accept jobs with lower pay?” Courtesy of IZA Few topics in labor economics have received more attention in academic, public and policy debates than the gender pay gap. The IZA Newsroom frequently summarizes new research findings on various drivers of the gap, including the role of discrimination vs. structural differences, […]
Drones are saving lives, but regulation might stop them
“Clipped Wings: How Excessive Red Tape Holds Back the Drone Industry” By Adam Thierer, Michael Kotrous, and Connor Haaland, courtesy of the Mercatus Center Throughout much of human history, technological innovation has raised living standards and saved lives. But when regulators prioritize red tape over experimentation, these opportunities can quickly be lost. Unmanned […]
The European Green Deal Is Every Bit as Bad as Expected
By Bill Wirtz, courtesy of the Austrian Economics Center The European Commission has unveiled its “European Green Deal,” after taking hints on denomination from its American counterpart, the “Green New Deal.” While the legislation introduced in the U.S. Congress remains fiction under a Republican executive and Senate, the Brussels initiative will become law unless […]
FinTech: Not so innovative after all?
“FinTech Companies; little innovation and no reform of banking” By Gordon Kerr, Cavin O’Driscoll, and Enrico Colombatto, courtesy of IREF New entrants into every aspect of banking were encouraged by two recent regulatory developments: the Open Banking initiative and the ‘sandboxing’ exemptions from regulations. Open Banking, part of the Payment Services Directive […]
Warren’s wealth tax is a disaster (and disingenuous too)
“Warren’s Wealth Tax Only Makes Sense if the American Dream is Dead” By Michael Schultz and Veronique de Rugy, courtesy of the Mercatus Center Who wants to be a millionaire? Everyone. Who should be a millionaire? No one. That at least seems to be the underlying aim of Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s […]
Weekly Update: Hungary’s Economic Miracle
Hungary has economic virtues along with its much-discussed vices There’s a lot to be concerned about in Hungary, currently on the outs with other members of the EU because of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s praise for “illiberal democracy,” prompting allegations that his government has strong-armed the news media and stacked the courts. These […]
Whither the EU? (Wither the EU?)
“What Next, EU?” By Dr. Rudolf Pozgay, courtesy of the Austrian Economics Center 1.Introduction The amount of economic and social challenges that the European Union has faced to date have given rise to the idea that EU reform is required. An example of such efforts is Juncker’s “White book” with five possible […]