Tax Reform

It is worthwhile to think thoughts through to their logical conclusion, e.g. tax reform. What does a tax system look like that is both socially just and ecologically accurate and guarantees a minimum income for all citizens? A century and a half ago, John Stuart Mill considered only the taxation of consumption to be socially just. Tax Reform weiterlesen

Future – God’s eighth Day of Creation?

When studying and trying to understand the past, we always do so in order to cope with the present and be better equipped for the future – that’s a truism. But our endeavors become difficult when the past provides us with contradictory signals so that the future turns into mystery. Then it can happen that our certainties waver and we look for completely new orientations and even concepts. Future – God’s eighth Day of Creation? weiterlesen

Neuer Fiskalismus – Entwurf einer reinen Besteuerung des Verbrauchs

Neuer Fiskalismus – Perspektiven für einen ökologisch orientierten Staat, der sich gegen die übermäßige Konzentration von Einkommen und Vermögen zur Wehr setzt und Wohlstand für alle schafft. Neuer Fiskalismus – Entwurf einer reinen Besteuerung des Verbrauchs weiterlesen

Neoliberalism: Death of a pseudo-science

Ten logical objections and empirical arguments against persistently held dogmas in current economics

The principle of neoliberalism may be summarized in the following formula: The best way of guaranteeing a maximum performance for the economy is to keep government entirely out of its sphere. Its role should be confined to ensure the safety of personal property, which it does by using police and justice to this very purpose. Neoliberalism: Death of a pseudo-science weiterlesen

Freihandelsdoktrin und ökonomischer Niedergang

Die tiefere Ursache für den gegenwärtig drohenden Zerfall Europas sehe ich in der von Deutschland forcierten Freihandelspolitik (siehe der „hässliche Deutsche“). Ich bin mir bewusst, dass diese Auffassung allem widerspricht, was in den Lehrbüchern über die segensreichen Wirkungen eines solchen Handels zu finden ist. Freihandelsdoktrin und ökonomischer Niedergang weiterlesen

Economic decline and the doctrine of free trade

In my opinion the underlying reason for the impending disintegration of Europe is free trade policy as pushed by Germany (see my essay the „The ugly German – a specter is coming back“). I am, of course, aware that this view is diametrically opposed to accepted wisdom as to be found in economic textbooks. Therefore, I would like to emphasize at the outset that I do not consider those textbooks to be wrong – their theory is, indeed, hard to refute and at first glance it seems to be morally sound as well. In my new book, „From Crisis to Chaos“, I even speak of „neoliberal idealists“ – a wording which may sound rather queer to some ears (1). But if they are honest, neoliberals certainly strive for the best. Unfortunately, despite of all their endeavors, they always achieve the worst, and for this there is a very simple and basic reason: Their theory and the world we happen to live in, do not share much of a common ground. Economic decline and the doctrine of free trade weiterlesen

Schuldenbruchlandung II – was kann der Staat tun?

Schuldenbruchlandung II – was kann der Staat tun?

Schuldenbruchlandung II – was kann der Staat tun? weiterlesen

Ein grober Unfug – wir bestrafen die Kreativität

Was spricht eigentlich dagegen,

dass wir endlich den Mut aufbringen, unser Wirtschaftssystem in seiner gegenwärtigen Verfassung als nicht-nachhaltig und daher sozial und ökologisch zerstörerisch zu bezeichnen? Ein grober Unfug – wir bestrafen die Kreativität weiterlesen