"The European Central Bank (ECB) is the central bank responsible for the single European currency, the euro. The ECB's main task is to maintain the purchasing power of the euro and, consequently, price stability in the euro area. The European Central Bank is committed to performing efficiently all central banking tasks entrusted to it, and in doing so …
More »The political mechanism, democracy and efficiency
On October 5th, many will head to the polls. The purpose of voting – at least for most of them – will undoubtedly be to improve their well-being, help resolve social conflicts, and redirect resources to the most important public areas for them. But let's see if the political …
More »The Bulgarian right – raises taxes and spends more
For those familiar with the nature and history of major political movements in the US and UK, it is clear that one of the main elements of what is considered the “right” is the so-called fiscal conservatism. The idea that the state apparatus should (at a minimum) spend as much as it can collect through the tax system, and …
More »Canada shows it can be done
Janet Nielsen Canada was once a laughing stock when it came to economic freedom. A Wall Street Journal article in the mid-1990s called the country an “honorary member of the Third World” because of its out-of-control debt and government spending. But today, the same country leads the G8 in economic indicators, and …
More »Commissioned science, economic principles and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
At the very end of last week, the results of a study commissioned by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and conducted by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences were published, which concluded that: "Minimum social security income (MSI) and the minimum wage (MW) do not negatively affect employment and do not reduce it." These are ...
More »The welfare state enslaves European workers
Oliver Mark Hartwich For Germans, July 8th was a good day. Not just because it was this author's birthday or because of Germany's pleasant 7-1 victory over Brazil in the World Cup, but also because this year, it is Tax Freedom Day. …
More »At a conference on right-wing social policy (sort of a report)
On July 17, in one of the smaller halls of the Balkan Hotel (former Sheraton) in the center of the capital, a conference was held under the title "Social Policy for Growth - the Right Path", organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, affiliated with Mrs. Merkel's party in Germany. The main idea of the event, as explained by the hosts, is ...
More »How Japan squandered its savings surplus: what a Keynesian dystopia looks like
Financially, Japan is fast becoming a Keynesian dystopia. Its entire economy is now hostage to a fiscal time bomb. Namely: a national debt that already exceeds 240% of GDP, and which is growing rapidly because even the recent painful increase in the sales tax from 5% to 8% is not even …
More »Educated as if for corruption
It is true that in recent years people have dared to do business, the shootouts in the center of Sofia have long been forgotten, and shady deals seem to be disappearing (or simply being more skillfully concealed). However, is corruption in Bulgaria a fading phenomenon? Although such a development has been a long-standing dream, its implementation is still …
More »The anti-market reforms of the Oresharski cabinet – part one
In just over a year in power, the coalition led by the BSP has proposed, submitted for consideration and adopted quite a few changes. The effects of some of them are not yet visible, and when they do appear, many may not associate them with the current rulers. In any case, we can now prepare an anthology …
More »
EKIP– Expert Club for Economics and Politics A Different Opinion