Constitutional law and disorder

On Friday morning the Germans threw the constitutional cat among the europhile pigeons by announcing that the ECB’s plan to save the bond markets of peripheral Europe, including Ireland, was unconstitutional. Yes, you read it right: any move by the ECB to save...

What we’ve learned from the past year — and where we are heading

Now that we are at the end of the year, here are a few things that 2013 taught us about economics, how our economy is doing and what determines where it goes from here. HOUSES AND PROPERTY PRICES This was the year the property market started showing signs of life. Two...

Official Europe is in denial

What’s worse? Having to listen to a Portuguese communist telling us that the Euro was a victim of Ireland? Or having to listen to our own guy, when the EU has just nailed his ass to a post, telling us there is “no row” between Ireland and the EU President? I don’t...

The view from Germany

If you want to understand the economic power of Germany, just drive here. You can feel the vibrations of this great superpower on the inside lane of the A1 autobahn from Dusseldorf to Cologne. Unlike motorways in other countries, which can be empty or when full are...

An uncomfortable truth about eurozone growth

The local lad, more meat on a seagull, walks precariously on the narrow ledge of the enormous bridge. One false move and he is gone. Far below, the green Neretva river moves slowly. The blazing summer sun forces the locals into the shade and it is from here underneath...