Lessons from Denmark’s eight-hour workday reform
In recent years, calls for shorter working weeks have re-emerged in Europe and elsewhere. This column examines how Denmark’s 1919 shift to the eight-hour workday
Soviet communism was not more successful at reducing inequality than other regimes
Inequality is a major concern for many economies, prompting the question of whether some regimes are more effective at reducing inequality than others. This column
Geopolitical shifts and their economic impacts on Europe: Short-term risks, medium-term scenarios and policy choices
Over the last decade, Europe has suffered from the decay of the post-war international order, economic coercion from both China and the United States, and
The hidden toll of Sunday store closures: New evidence from GPS data
Sunday morning store closures impose significant costs on consumers, but supporters of such ‘blue laws’ argue these rules protect workers, family life, and small retailers.
Oil heads for weekly loss as higher supply expected
For the week, Brent is down 2.2% and WTI down 1.3%. Oil extended its decline into a third session on Friday, heading for a weekly
How dirty air hurts economies in Europe and Central Asia and what can be done
Worldwide, air pollution is an “equal opportunity offender” impacting high-, middle-, and low-income countries. While low- and lower-middle-income countries bear the brunt of air pollution, middle-
Europe’s old power plants to get digital makeover driven by AI boom
Some of Europe’s ageing coal and gas fired power plants can look forward to a more high-tech future as big tech players, such as Microsoft
Beyond carbon: The overlooked benefits of fuel taxation
Fuel and carbon prices are typically assessed based on their effectiveness in reducing emissions, while their broader societal benefits often go overlooked. This column evaluates
Dollar rises versus euro and yen before US economic data
It also sees the European Central Bank as having concluded its easing cycle. The dollar edged up against the euro and the yen, but remained
Time to be strategic: How public money could power Europe’s green, digital, and defence transitions
After the June NATO summit, Europe faces greater challenges in funding its green, digital, and defence transitions, as new defence commitments strain national and EU
