DiEM25
Don't mention the war? A reader's objection to Stuart Holland's piece, with a rejoinder
, 27/07/2013
A German reader objected most strongly to Stuart Holland’s reply to Mr Schuable’s Guardian piece and, in particular, to Stuart’s discussion of Gestalt Psychology plus his reference to the awful ‘Arbeit Macht Frei’ slogan. Here I present the reader’s objection in full. With a reply that I scripted.
Guilt, debt and interest rates: A comment on double moral standards
, 27/07/2013
Moralising is not a good foundation for macroeconomic policy, especially at a time of Crisis. Still, moral objections to sound policy recommendations must be taken seriously as they have the potential to prevent their adoption, with terrible consequences for all. Here, I respond to a Portuguese reader’s question regarding double standards in the moral assessment […]
Six critical responses to the Modest Proposal – now with our rejoinders
, 26/07/2013
Following his article on the Modest Proposal 4.0, Jorge Nascimento Rodrigues invited six economists to comment on it. Here are their responses. With rejoinders added by myself and Stuart Holland.
Debt, Guilt and German History: A Reply to Wolfgang Schäuble, by Stuart Holland
, 26/07/2013
On 19th July Mr Wolfgang Schäuble, Germany’s finance minister, published an article in The Guardian entitled We Germans don’t want a German Europe. Two days later I responded by annotating his article while colleague, co-author and friend Stuart Holland wrote the following reply (published in Il Foglio in Italian – click here). As it is a poignant article, I […]
Can Greece get out of the Eurozone now? Should it? Comments on Munchau and Sinn
, 24/07/2013
Portuguese journalist Jorge N. Rodrigues noticed a revival in talk about a velvet divorce between Greece and the Eurozone. So, he asked me to comment on two articles in the Financial Times, one by Wolfgang Munchau the other by Hans-Werner Sinn. Here are my responses:
THE ANNOTATED WOLFGANG SCHÄUBLE – Commentary on his Guardian article, 19th July 2013
, 21/07/2013
On 19th July Mr Wolfgang Schäuble, Germany’s finance minister, published an article in The Guardian entitled We Germans don’t want a German Europe. The article was written hours after Mr Schäuble left Athens, following a controversial visit during which he told Greeks to expect no relief and to stick to the script written three and a […]
Debt Redemption, PSI&OSI versus our Modest Proposal: Q&A with Portuguese readers
, 20/07/2013
The debate on the Modest Proposal 4.0 is hotting up. Here are comprehensive answers to queries from Portuguese readers of Exrpesso magazine concerning debt haircuts, the European Stability Mechanism, the differences between a Debt Redemption Fund and our Modest Proposal etc. My answers were later incorporated into this comprehensive story by Jorge Nascimento Rodrigues.
NEW: A Modest Proposal for Resolving the Euro Crisis, Version 4.0 – by Yanis Varoufakis, Stuart Holland and James K. Galbraith
, 15/07/2013
For a year now, Europe has been lying to itself, pretending that the Euro Crisis has been, more or less, resolved. It is now clear that the Euro Crisis is alive and well and threatening Europe with disintegration, permanent damage, widespread poverty, a loss of democratic legitimacy and a swing toward misanthropy. Our Modest Proposal […]
Taking stock of the Euro Crisis on the Keiser Report (video)
, 12/07/2013
I always enjoy being interviewed by Max Keiser, despite our differences on a number of issues (the merits of the Gold Standard, Bitcoin – gold’s e’reincarnation), I beg to differ from him on his hypothesis that Greece fell to a well thought out conspiracy. There was no such thing. Just a badly designed common currency […]
On Portugal's latest political crisis, and its ramifications: Interview for Expresso
, 04/07/2013
Click here for the interview in Portuguese – as published. Or read on for the original English text
"Europe's house is on fire. No room for complacency." – Keynote by James Galbraith at the European Parliament
, 28/06/2013
On June 27, James Galbraith keynoted a conference at the European Parliament entitled “Achieving Europe,” sponsored by the parliamentary socialists and social democrats. Listen here. Brief closing statement here.
Q&A on Greece, Portugal and Ireland – June 25th 2013
, 25/06/2013
A portuguese newspaper put to me a set of questions on the state of our PIGS. I list them here, together with my answers.
The United States and Europe have nothing to fear from a Syriza government: Our op-ed in the NYT
, 24/06/2013
Today’s New York Times features an op-ed by James Galbraith and myself on the reasons the US and Europe have nothing to fear from a Syriza government in Athens – and a great deal to benefit from. Our own title was “Why a Syriza victory is not against the interests of the United States or […]
EUROPE UNHINGED – Article in the European Financial Review
, 23/06/2013
The following article was commission by the European Financial Review which just published it online – a hard copy version of the periodical is also out soon. It is based largely on the ideas in my Global Minotaur. For the EFR’s site click here.
The Australian Dollar, China's Bubble, QE Exit and the Eurozone: Guest Post
, 22/06/2013
I just received an interesting letter from a colleague who authorised me to share its essence with you, but without revealing his identity. The views expressed are his own and, though I do not agree with his conclusion, I believe this short letter should be essential reading for all those of us who follow the […]
The Death of Direct Bank Re-capitalisation: Europe’s (newest) day of shame
, 21/06/2013
The idea was to de-couple the banking from the debt crisis. The reality is that they propose to do nothing of the sort.
Olli Rehn: "I love Greece but…"
, 21/06/2013
Olli Rehn said yesterday: “I love Greece but I’m very much looking forward to a eurogroup press conference where Greece is not going to be discussed and a summer where we don’t have any Greek crisis.” Mr Rehn reminded me of my years in Britain, when I would say to friends living in warmer climes: […]
Censorship in Austria – guest post by Professor Kunibert Raffer (University of Vienna)
, 16/06/2013
The tale of my blacklisting from ERT, back in 2011, motivated Professor K. Raffer, of the University of Vienna, to send me a letter outlining his own experience with censorship on matters regarding debt restructuring (recall that my blacklisting occurred because I insisted on discussing the inevitability of a haircut to Greece’s debt). Only in […]
James Galbraith on ERT, the Fight for Greek Democracy and the Euro Crisis
, 15/06/2013
On Wednesday 12th June James Galbraith and I addressed a crowd of 2500 in Thessaloniki. After having visited the ERT’s Thessaloniki headquarters, were we had the honour and privilege of talking to ERT employees and the crowd of people that had gathered in support of public media, we walked over to the Vellidio Expo Centre […]
Why am I defending a public broadcaster (ERT) that banned me, and which I always considered problematic?
, 14/06/2013
Last night I spent a few hours, again, at ERT’s main building in Athens, keeping a finger on the ‘liberated’ organisation’s pulse, being interviewed (for the web tv broadcast that is keeping ERT’s voice alive) in tandem with my friend and colleague James Galbraith, listening to the excellent bands performing in the courtyard, soaking up […]
A night at occupied ERT. A night to remember. A night that friends at the BBC, ABC, CBC ought to note
, 12/06/2013
For those of us who grew up in the Greece of the neo-fascist colonels, nothing can stir up painful memories like a modern act of totalitarianism. When the television screen froze last night, an hour before midnight, as if some sinister power from beyond had pressed a hideous pause button, I was suddenly transported to […]
Deutsche Welle: Is the IMF's Greek Mea Culpa motivated by anger over Germany's undermining of Banking Union?
, 09/06/2013
DW’s most recent Top Story focused on the IMF’s report of Greece, and its famous Mea Culpa. DW quotes my view that “… IMF economists are considering an exit from the Troika and are now paving the path for it… They don’t want to watch idly as Germany is trying to undermine the planned European banking […]
Interviewed by Portuguese newspaper Jornal de Negócios, 7th June 2013
, 08/06/2013
Jornal de Negócios 7th June 2013, p.8 Jornal de Negócios 7th June 2013, p.9
Interviewed by Kristina Bozic, for OBJECTIV
, 08/06/2013
On 13th March Kristina Božič paid me a great complement by interviewing me for slovenian journal Objectiv. The breadth and insightfulness of the questions gave me much pleasure. To read the article in its original home, click here. Alternarively, read on (Google translate does a decent job)…