This and that for your Thursday reading. – David Vognar argues that we should push for a guaranteed annual income not only as a matter of social equity, but also as a means of building human capital. – Mike Benusic, Chantel Lutchman, Najib Safieddine and Andrew Pinto make the case
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The Progressive Economics Forum: ROCHON on: A tale of two economies? Making sense of recent US and Canadian labour market data
Louis-Philippe ROCHON Associate Professor, Laurentian University Co-Editor, Review of Keynesian Economics Follow him on Twitter @Lprochon With data on the performance of Canada’s labour market released today, many economists and pundits on both sides of the 49th parallel are arguing that what seems to be emerging is two very
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Greece: Phase Two | Jacobin
Very interesting interview with Syriza MP and SOAS Professor of Political Economy Costas Lapavitsas. Greece: Phase Two | Jacobin. Much — too much — has been written in a journalistic, superficial vein about Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis and last month’s negotiations with the European Union. But now that the lines
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: Deficit Déjà Voodoo again in New Brunswick
The Fredericton Daily Gleaner published an op-ed I wrote about how the province doesn’t have a structural deficit, despite the government claiming it does. The commentary piece is behind a pay wall so I’ve copied it below. Last month, CUPE New Brunswick also published a paper I wrote on this issue,
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Following up on last week’s column, Frances Ryan laments the UK Conservatives’ choice to inflict needless suffering on anybody receiving public benefits: During seven weeks of undercover work at a universal credit contact centre in Bolton, Channel 4 journalists witnessed a farcical
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Contesting Capitalism in the Eurozone
In light of the new Syriza government’s difficult struggle against the German dominated institutions of the Eurozone, I’ve revisited a little known book published ten years ago by political scientist Richard Dunphy called Contesting Capitalism? Left Parties and European Integration (Manchester University Press, 2004). In the book, Dunphy charts out the
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Deadlier Than Putin’s Missiles. The IMF Pays Ukraine a Visit.
The International Monetary Fund has worked its magic on Ukraine. The carrot is about $17-billion in bailout funding. The stick is the market price of natural gas. Soon the democracy-loving Ukrainians will see their gas bills soar nearly threefold. While Kiev will have to help poorer families pay for pricier
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Syriza’s Only Choice: A Radical Step Forward | The Bullet No. 1089
Syriza’s Only Choice: A Radical Step Forward | The Bullet No. 1089. 1. Introduction The transitional “bridge Agreement” of the 20th of February is a truce intended by the Greek government and welcomed by the other side (the European “institutions”). Within the truce period (the next four months), the
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: THE EURO, THE DRACHMA AND GREECE: limited options in an impossible situation
Jean-Francois Ponsot Associate Professor of Economics, Université de Grenoble (France) and Louis-Philippe Rochon Associate Professor of Economics, Laurentian University (Canada) Co-Editor, Review of Keynesian Economics ___________________ The final agreement between Greece and the Eurogroup is a disappointment for anyone who held high hopes that Greece would have taken away more
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: The rise of Europe’s new Left
The rise of Europe’s new Left. By Bryan Evans Filed under: Europe, Socialism Tagged: Austerity, Europe, Eurozone Crisis, Greece, Podemos, Spain, Syriza
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: They’ll Nip This in the Bud
It’s enough to give an oligarch chest pain. Barely a month in power, popular support for the left-wing, anti-austerity government in Greece is soaring. Syrzia won the January polls with 36% of the votes. A few weeks later and there’s no sign of buyers’ remorse. Instead the party’s support has
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: European Banks vs. Greek Labour
Filed under: Austerity Tagged: Austerity, Eurozone Crisis, Greece, neoliberalism
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Germany’s sickly economy | Europe’s World
Germany’s sickly economy | Europe’s World. Filed under: Austerity, Eurozone crisis Tagged: Eurozone Crisis, German Economy, Germany
Continue readingPolitical Eh-conomy: Syriza buys four months of breathing room
Belatedly, here is an article I wrote on Greece’s agreement with the Eurozone for Ricochet. It focuses on the next four months with their opportunities and pitfalls. Given that the list of reforms authored by Yanis Varoufakis looks to get the approval of the Eurogroup member states, the article remains relevant, the breathing
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Varoufakis Keeps Greece in the Eurozone, by its Fingernails » CounterPunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names
Varoufakis Keeps Greece in the Eurozone, by its Fingernails » CounterPunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names. Mike Whitney It’s not easy to negotiate with a gun to your head. Nevertheless, that’s the situation Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis found himself in on Friday preceding a crucial meeting with the Eurogroup. According to one report, the
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Reading The Greek Deal Correctly
Reading The Greek Deal Correctly. James K. Galbraith On Friday as news of the Brussels deal came through, Germany claimed victory and it is no surprise that most of the working press bought the claim. They have high authorities to quote and to rely on. Thus from London The Independent
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: How Greece Got Outmaneuvered – The New Yorker
How Greece Got Outmaneuvered – The New Yorker. By John Cassidy To the surprise of nobody except a few alarmists, the finance ministers of the European Union reached a deal with Greece on Friday, extending the country’s existing bailout until the early summer. Greece’s new left-wing Syriza government had been
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Greek Bailout Extension Deal Represents a “Significant Retreat” by the European Authorities, CEPR Co-Director Says | Press Releases
Greek Bailout Extension Deal Represents a “Significant Retreat” by the European Authorities, CEPR Co-Director Says | Press Releases. Washington, D.C.- A deal reached between the Greek government and European authorities represents a “significant retreat” by the so-called troika and “shows that their austerity program, which has failed miserably, is no
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Greece deal is first step on the road back to austerity | Business | The Guardian
Philip Inman – The Guardian The rightwing orthodoxy that dominates thinking in Brussels has asserted itself over the hapless Greeks. A deal that allows the eurozone policymakers, the International Monetary Fund and the government of Athens to keep talking next week is the first stage in a clampdown on anti-austerity
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Is Syriza Retreating? | Jacobin
Is Syriza Retreating? | Jacobin. Stathis Kouvelakis To use a worn-out cliché, “the times are critical.” In fact, they are more than just that: we are at the edge of a crucial temporal sequence. The whole endeavor of a Syriza government will be judged by its reaction to the unprecedented
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