By Paz Gomez, Frontier Centre For Public Policy The macro effects of government stimuli to address COVID-19 lockdowns are starting to emerge. In Canada, they have taken the form of an overheating housing market. With mortgage rates plunging to historic lows, the demand for residential real estate is driving prices through the roof. […]
Tag: investment
How South Korea, Taiwan leveraged tech to contain COVID-19… and win FDI
By Frank Bickenbach and Wan-Hsin Liu, courtesy of IFW Kiel In the coronavirus crisis, Taiwan and South Korea have shown that they dispose of efficient governance systems, high-quality research and public services and highly developed digital skills and infrastructures, and that they can successfully use these capacities to meet challenges. These capacities are among […]
Free Private Cities: The Future of Governance
By Titus Gebel, Free Private Cities One thing that COVID-19 will probably change, even after the virus is no longer an immediate threat, is the number of home workers. This number is supposed to remain higher than it was before. Under duress, companies found out that many jobs can indeed be done remotely, saving […]
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 […]
Don’t loosen bank rules for Green New Deal
“European green finance is expanding, a discount on bank capital would discredit it” By Alexander Lehmann, courtesy of the Bruegel Institute The Commission’s ‘European Green Deal’ sets out massive investment needs in a variety of areas, amounting to potentially 1.5 per cent of the EU’s annual GDP. If these targets are to be […]
New finance rules: Too much information?
“MiFID II: Too much consumer protection?” By Benedikt Schmal and Alexander Fink, translation by Anna-Maria Köhnke; Courtesy of IREF The recently updated European Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, commonly abbreviated as MiFID II, is supposed to enhance consumers’ protection. Adjustments of regulatory background questions aside, the EU aims to improve “protection of investors by prohibiting the […]
Dump certificate-of-need laws to boost healthcare competition
“Florida Points the Way Toward Increasing Competition Among Its Healthcare Providers” By Davis Warnell, courtesy of the Mercatus Center Did you know that in many states, healthcare providers need to obtain government permission before rolling out new services or technologies? It sounds nonsensical, but these requirements, known as certificate-of-need (CON) regulations, exist […]
Worker representation on corporate boards boosts investment
“Worker representation in the boardroom increases capital formation” Courtesy of IZA A fundamental question societies face is whether and how to involve stakeholders, in particular workers, in corporate decision-making. Many countries, particularly in continental Europe, grant workers formal authority in firms’ decision-making. Such shared governance or codetermination institutions include worker-elected directors on company boards. […]
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, […]
“Escape the crisis by growing” is a myth
By Natalia Motyl, courtesy of Ámbito Financiero and Libertad y Progreso Many politicians and professional colleagues declare that to get out of the crisis you have to grow. Which up to a point is obvious. That is why we have to transform the premise “you get out of the crisis by growing” […]