Marc De Vos warns for a “tobacco scenario” for the financial sector, with taxes as an alternative for financial reregulation. Taxing bank profits merely addresses a symptom, while leaving the underlying problem unaddressed.

A new study from the World Trade Organization reports no significant intensification of trade or investment restriction since September 2009. This is good news for anyone who values global prosperity, and that includes Belgium.

The financial crisis reminds us once again at the wisdom that the free market, just like a football game needs rules to be able to function in an efficient and competitive way. We come out of a period where the sophism which means that new financial instruments can reduce the risk, was at its best.

In view of the difficult budgetary negotiations the debate about the healthcare expenditure growth rate is everywhere. For some, a more modest rate stands for the beginning of the end of a solidary social security; for others the status quo will condemn our welfare state to bankruptcy.

It is important for us to learn from the failure of the Japanese experience in the 90s. A first lesson is certainly that the bank system has to be seriously cleared up. The Japanese financial institutions are associated with the notion of zombie banks.