All Entries in the "Economics" Category
Allègre vivace!
Claude Allègre is a courageous man, besides being a former government minister and a scientist. And unlike most public figures in France, he is not afraid to speak his mind on the climate issue.
His new book, L’imposture climatique is a more than welcome diatribe against the ecologically correct and constructivist establishment.
Don’t Get Mad About the Weather – Get Even
by Einar Du Rietz
Two of the more intriguing accusations I got thrown at me in Copenhagen were: “Climate Hater” and “Weather Denier”.
Funny, but strange. I’m convinced that cursing along, hating the ever changing climate is about as constructive as trying to steer a sailing boat by shouting orders to the winds. Either one would just [...]
You ain’t seen nothin yet
If you thought that the Copenhagen jamboree moderated the ambient hysteria, the following items may reassure you that worse is yet to come.
JACOB ARFWEDSON (Paris)
According to researchers at King’s College (London) future natural disasters are bound to increase strongly stress levels and anxiety among our fellow citizens. The authors did demand that these concerns be [...]
Activists without concern: how to use the climate for your own purposes
As Noël Coward put it in a song, “Why do the wrong people travel?” It should not come as a surprise, yet the cheerful way in which some groups exploit international events to hijack the agenda is quite astounding (just imagine for a second free-market groups doing the same thing, and the reaction that would [...]
Pascal’s Wager, Gore’s Wages
“- Supposing a tree fell down, Pooh, when we were underneath it?
- Supposing it didn’t, said Pooh after careful thought.”
(The House at Pooh Corner)
The Economist in its special report argued that the world needs a new climate treaty as an “insurance policy against a catastrophe that may never happen”. A curious statement, especially in [...]
Monsanto, mon amour
In truth, there is no such thing as absolute safety; but this fundamental human need may explain the excessive search for certainty in particular as the world seems awash with a constant flow of disconcerting events.
It seems obvious then to assume that risk is the opposite of safety. But it isn’t: as inaction also entails [...]
The Hypocritical Oath – Save Yourself – Blame the Media
The leading energy company Vattenfall and it’s owner has been under attack recently. Einar Du Rietz tries to sort out the mess.
One of the largest energy companies in Europe, Swedish state owned Vattenfall has come under heavy media attack recently, and so has the responsible minister for industry, Maud Olofsson. The main reason is [...]
Reversing the burden of spoof
by Jacob Arfwedson
One of the less endearing features of government supporters is their general disdain for democracy when eventually popular vote goes against their designs. The legitimacy of consent suddenly becomes irrelevant and a downright nuisance. In Europe, we experienced this in the constitutional negotiations: first with the Maastricht Treaty, and more recently with [...]
It’s Real Money – Your Money
By Einar Du Rietz
Maybe because most other topics seem to be covered and debated intensely in the media, finally some focus now start to fall upon the costs. The estimated and real costs for what the politicians will discuss in Copenhagen. And if media does this, chances are the general public will start to realize that [...]
The Efficiency Battle is Won – Don’t Lose it
The development in energy efficiency for appliances has been remarkable over the past decades, notes Einar Du Rietz. The best thing is not only the cost savings, but that not even a galloping increase in the amount of white goods in use in the world would harm the environment. Quite the opposite. However, the industry seems [...]
All Pain No Gain
The reality behind American Cap and Trade
PAUL DRIESSEN (Washington)
What is Cap and Trade?
To address concerns that global warming threatens our planet, activists and politicians are pushing for a “cap-and-trade” program that would limit and tax carbon dioxide released by power plants, cars, factories and other facilities. It is a very complicated regulatory scheme that [...]
Statue of Liberty Returning to France?
SIMON ESPERSEN (COPENHAGEN)
In recent years, a number of pro-free-market think tanks and taxpayer associations have been formed in France, and their effectiveness and impact clearly are increasing. These groups include Institut Economique Molinari, the Institute for Economic Studies-Europe, Institut de Formation Politique, Contribuables Associes (French Taxpayers Association), etc.
In part because of their efforts, France has [...]
Still Feeding the World
The great Norman Borlaug Died September 12, 2009
By PAUL DRIESSEN (Washington)
Norman Borlaug just turned 94 – and is still going strong
During the “Eat This” segment of their docu-comedy series BS, Penn Jillette beat Teller in a round of their “Greatest Person in History” card game. Penn needed just one card: Norman Borlaug.
This Iowa [...]
Germany Cancels Biofuel Plans
Fears repercussions from angry motorists
HOLGER J. THUSS (Jena)
“ production may go down as one of the biggest blunders in history. An unholy alliance of environmentalists, agribusiness, biofuel corporations and politicians has been touting ethanol as the cure to all our environmental ills, when in fact it may be doing more harm than good. An array [...]
Vaclav Klaus to the UN: We Should Not Make Big Mistakes
Politicians know that they have to act when it is necessary. They know that their duty is to instigate public-policy responses to issues that could pose a threat to the people of their countries. And they have to form partnerships with colleagues from other countries when a problem cannot be “confined” within national boundaries. To [...]
