By Calum Nicholson, UK Correspondent There is a famous piece, by the comedian Louis CK, widely known as ‘of course…but maybe’. The clip‘s subtle power and disarming truth doesn’t survive transcription, but in it the American makes an important point: there are many things in life that, of course, are incontrovertible. But maybe, […]
Tag: society
Behavioral science can help fight pandemics
“Using behavioural science to help fight the coronavirus” By ESRI The spread of the coronavirus could be slowed using findings from behavioural science, according to a new ESRI research paper. The conclusion is based on more than 100 scientific research papers reviewed over the past week by the institute’s Behavioural Research Unit. […]
Individual responsibility now, or face illiberal regimes soon
“Private and state responsibility in pandemic times” By Dr. Peter Grünenfelder, courtesy of Avenir Suisse Anarchists and libertarians have one mistake in common: both believe that a community can function without sovereign institutions. Classic liberals have never had anything to do with such enthusiasms. Whether Immanuel Kant, John Locke or Montesquieu, they were […]
Global wealth inequality fell over last two decades
“Global wealth inequality has declined since 2000” Jørgen Sloth and Thomas Due Bostrup, courtesy of CEPOS Summary and commentary This analysis is about the evolution of global inequality. Among other things, it shows that wealth inequality has decreased over the past 20 years. Thus, the richest 10 per cent share of global wealth has fallen […]
Gig economy innovators face tough fight against California’s daft AB-5 law
“Uber and Postmates’ Important AB-5 Lawsuit Faces an Uphill Battle” By Trace Mitchell and Jennifer Huddleston, courtesy of the Mercatus Center January 1 did not just ring in a new year and a new decade, it also heralded the start of California’s new worker classification law: Assembly Bill 5 (AB-5). Signed last […]
A European Minimum Wage Is the Next Bad Idea from Brussels
By Bill Wirtz, courtesy of the Austrian Economics Center The incoming European Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs has only about one thing in common with yours truly: he’s Luxembourgish. Nicolas Schmit is a lifelong socialist and has been Minister of Labor in Luxembourg for as far as I can remember. Bureaucrat-made-politician, Schmit […]
Limits on Pension Investments Hurt Returns
By Ian Madsen, courtesy of Frontier Centre for Public Policy Recently, members of ‘Extinction Rebellion’, a climate change activist group, sat in protest at the University of British Columbia, beginning a hunger strike on January 6th, trying to stop UBC’s pension fund from making or holding any investments in fossil-fuel-related companies. Sadly, the […]
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 […]
Capitalism, the Most Effective Remedy for Poverty In History, Is Under Attack
By Dr. Barbara Kolm, Director, Austrian Economics Center During the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, which took place in January, the newest edition of the Edelman Trust Barometer was released. The results were shocking to say the least: 56 percent of respondents agreed that “capitalism as it exists today does […]
Heavy social media use is bad for teens’ mental health
“Extensive social media use hurts teenagers’ mental health” Courtesy of IZA Social media use can affect adolescents’ well-being and mental health in different ways. On the one hand, social media can promote interaction with peers with similar interests, facilitate communication and information on sensitive topics, and can be a vehicle of collaboration and involvement […]