“A Surprising New Alliance: Europe and Japan” Courtesy of CEPS Almost surreptitiously, Europe and Japan are discovering they have a great deal in common, joining up to defend free trade, democracy and the rule of law. For decades, low-grade commercial friction and political indifference marked the relationship. Japan’s powerful car industry frightened […]
Tag: technology
The race for (even) better batteries
“Why Businesses Are Building a Better Battery” By Jen Maffessanti, courtesy of the Foundation for Economic Education Batteries are everywhere: in our cars, cell phones, remote controls, laptops, flashlights, toys, tools, solar farms—the list is practically endless. Batteries are amazing, and humans have been using them for centuries. But they have their limitations […]
Of GPS and Ghost Ships: A Cautionary Tale from the Internet of Things
Of GPS and Ghost Ships: A Cautionary Tale from the Internet of Things By Daniel McGroarty, TES GeoPolicy Editor Call it a sign of our 21st Century times: Have you noticed how often the “News of the Weird” intersects the mundane world we live in, or strive mightily to? A new […]
Why isn’t AI boosting productivity?
“AI and the Productivity Paradox” By Georgios Petropoulos, courtesy of Bruegel Institute Our economy is undergoing tremendous digitalisation through numerous new information technology systems that are based on artificial intelligence and machine learning. While these new technologies bring big efficiency gains in the production process, they do not seem to contribute to productivity, […]
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, […]
U.S.-China compromise is (mostly) good news
“A Few Things to Like About the U.S.-China Trade Deal” By Daniel J. Ikenson, courtesy of Cato Institute More clarity and more questions emerged over the weekend about the terms of the U.S.-China trade deal, which warrants an update to this preliminary assessment published on Friday. The deal is pretty good for what is […]
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 […]
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 […]
Tech tax: a moderate European perspective
“Taxing the digital economy — Time for pragmatism” Courtesy of CEPS Globalisation and digitalisation, together with concerns over corporate tax avoidance, have sparked an international debate about whether tax rules are fit for purpose. The issue of taxing the digital economy figures ever more prominently on policy agendas around the world, while the OECD is […]
WEEKLY UPDATE: City air makes men free… so why not make new cities?
After all, we’ve been doing it for thousands of years It would be hard to list all the advantages that cities afford us, but the short version goes like this: urban centers concentrate labor, talent, wealth and innovation in a matrix that allows all of them to multiply and advance. Since ancient […]