Opinion pieces
Itinera takes part in the public debate by publishing incisive opinion pieces. These opinions and columns reflect the views of Itinera’s fellows on current affairs and the issues that occupy society.
Belgium divided between strike and anti-strike
Jean Hindriks and Laurent Hanseeuw shed lights on the popular opposition against the general strike taking place this Monday 30 January. They explain the apparent paradox stating that powerful labor unions can be useful safeguard against inopportune strikes.
Why our public debt needs to be reduced
Marc De Vos and Ivan Van de Cloot explain why the Belgian public debt is problematic. We will over many years, unfortunately, have to pay the debt bill of the past in order to build the future.
Hooray for the European criticism!
The intervention of the European commission is to be considered a sign of progress on the road towards European integration and a positive consequence of the current crisis.
In Europe, we need to move!
Laurent Hanseeuw recalls the issue of factor mobility, and labor mobility in particular, in the constitution of an optimal currency zone. When comparing to the US, European workers are reluctant to move, even in their own state.
Less trains is not the solution
It is inconceivable to weaken rail transport in Belgium as the demographic, economic en environmental needs push us rather to strengthen it. How to justify then the suppression of almost 200 trains by December 2012?
The future will be bright, if we want it to be
Marc De Vos opens the new year with a dose of optimism. In the short run many lights are red. But if we undertake the right reforms then the weather at the end of the tunnel will be better than at its beginning.
