Time for a more radical Europe
- Martin Enlund
- 3/9/25
Last fall, Italian economist Mario Draghi, former head of the European Central Bank (ECB), published his 400-page report on Europe’s (actually the EU’s) competitiveness. Draghi’s verdict was harsh: Europe is facing an “existential challenge.” It’s hard to disagree. While the EU is launching new regulations on plastic corks and hiding text messages from the public, Elon Musk is changing the world with groundbreaking innovations in the automotive, robotics, and space industries.
When Control Becomes Pathological
- Martin Enlund
- 2/10/25
The risks associated with cryptocurrencies have recently received attention in the media, where e.g. the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority warns of the high volatility and risk of investments in crypto. Within the EU, as usual, significant efforts are being made to expand the already extensive regulatory framework. Meanwhile, in the US, there has been a marked turnaround. Even the presidential family has launched their own cryptocurrencies, resulting in criticism from industry experts .
You can't have your cake and eat it too
- Martin Enlund
- 1/18/25
Preparedness is a hot topic these days. In Europe, Poland has recently introduced compulsory lessons in weapons handling for schoolchildren for war-preparedness purposes. In Sweden, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) has recently published the brochure “If crisis or war comes”.
On Car Seats and Censorship
- Martin Enlund
- 12/27/24
Fertility rates in Western countries have fallen to historically low levels in recent years - not a single Western country had a fertility rate above the replacement rate in 2023. The replacement rate being 2.1 children per woman. The driving forces are said to be several, such as better pension systems, increased demands for education, more women in the workforce, the fiat monetary system, and so on. However, it can be argued that the driving forces are rather few. Perhaps many can be summarized with the concept of “unpredictable consequences”. For who were those who, in their time, predicted that a more generous pension system, more years in school, or more women in the workforce would lead to a veritable collapse in birth rates?
What if the Green Facts Don't Add Up?
- Martin Enlund
- 12/22/24
Beneath the green rhetoric: A worrying picture is emerging, revealing that the EU’s green agenda may be stifling economic growth, compromising security, and undermining preparedness. Is the EU really in a position to afford the luxury of prioritising green ideals over the essential needs of its citizens’ economic well-being and national security?
No Green Future without Economic Prosperity
- Martin Enlund
- 12/19/24
Germany, the EU’s largest economy, is once again forced to bear the label “Europe’s sick man”. The economic news makes for dismal reading. Industrial production has been trending downward for a long time. Energy-intensive production has decreased by as much as 20% in just a few years. Volkswagen is closing factories. Thyssenkrupp is laying off employees and more than three million pensioners are at risk of poverty according to a study.
What is freedom of speech without 'freedom of reach?'
- Martin Enlund
- 8/27/24
After Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter (now X) in autumn 2022, there has been plenty of turmoil surrounding the platform. For instance, some groups were upset after the team responsible for “moderation” has been shut down. Instead of limiting freedom of speech, X primarily limits users ability to reach others. ("Freedom of speech does not mean freedom of reach"). Even so, some argue that the platform falls short in ensuring a respectable tone and combating the spread of disinformation (intentional spread of false information) as well as misinformation (false or inaccurate information that is unintentionally spread).