politics Archives - IREF Europe https://en.irefeurope.org/tag/politics/ Independent research and policy analysis on fiscal, monetary, and regulatory issues in Europe Wed, 04 Feb 2026 05:26:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.2 https://en.irefeurope.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/04/IREF-LinkedIn-Profile-DarkBlue-scaled.png politics Archives - IREF Europe https://en.irefeurope.org/tag/politics/ 32 32 Venezuela Is Not a Victim of Sanctions—It’s a Victim of Its Own Policies https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/venezuela-is-not-a-victim-of-sanctions-its-a-victim-of-its-own-policies/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=venezuela-is-not-a-victim-of-sanctions-its-a-victim-of-its-own-policies https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/venezuela-is-not-a-victim-of-sanctions-its-a-victim-of-its-own-policies/#respond Wed, 04 Feb 2026 05:26:01 +0000 https://en.irefeurope.org/?p=36217 Few economic collapses in modern history have been as dramatic, prolonged, and devastating as Venezuela’s. Once the wealthiest country in Latin America, endowed with the world’s largest proven oil reserves,…

The post Venezuela Is Not a Victim of Sanctions—It’s a Victim of Its Own Policies appeared first on IREF Europe.

]]> https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/venezuela-is-not-a-victim-of-sanctions-its-a-victim-of-its-own-policies/feed/ 0 Trump’s H-1B Restrictions: A Blow to Innovation and America’s Global Competitiveness https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/trumps-h-1b-restrictions-a-blow-to-innovation-and-americas-global-competitiveness/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=trumps-h-1b-restrictions-a-blow-to-innovation-and-americas-global-competitiveness https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/trumps-h-1b-restrictions-a-blow-to-innovation-and-americas-global-competitiveness/#respond Tue, 30 Dec 2025 10:36:39 +0000 https://en.irefeurope.org/?p=36154 For more than a century, America’s greatest strength has been its ability to attract the world’s most talented people — the scientists, engineers, researchers, and entrepreneurs who made the U.S.…

The post Trump’s H-1B Restrictions: A Blow to Innovation and America’s Global Competitiveness appeared first on IREF Europe.

]]> https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/trumps-h-1b-restrictions-a-blow-to-innovation-and-americas-global-competitiveness/feed/ 0 Why Trump’s War on the Fed Is Monetary Populism at Its Worst https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/why-trumps-war-on-the-fed-is-monetary-populism-at-its-worst/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=why-trumps-war-on-the-fed-is-monetary-populism-at-its-worst https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/why-trumps-war-on-the-fed-is-monetary-populism-at-its-worst/#respond Wed, 15 Oct 2025 03:55:08 +0000 https://en.irefeurope.org/?p=36052 Since returning to office in January 2025, President Donald Trump has made the Federal Reserve a central target of his presidency. At first, there were hints of serious reform, including…

The post Why Trump’s War on the Fed Is Monetary Populism at Its Worst appeared first on IREF Europe.

]]> https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/why-trumps-war-on-the-fed-is-monetary-populism-at-its-worst/feed/ 0 The myth of inclusivity https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/the-myth-of-inclusivity/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-myth-of-inclusivity https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/the-myth-of-inclusivity/#respond Wed, 03 Sep 2025 09:49:07 +0000 https://en.irefeurope.org/?p=35995 Modern progressive movements have built much of their identity around concepts of inclusivity, diversity, and acceptance. On paper, these movements frequently champion values of tolerance and understanding of diverse political,…

The post The myth of inclusivity appeared first on IREF Europe.

]]> https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/the-myth-of-inclusivity/feed/ 0 What is the German stance towards uncertainty around debt, the economy, and defence? https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/what-is-the-german-stance-towards-uncertainty-around-debt-the-economy-and-defence/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-is-the-german-stance-towards-uncertainty-around-debt-the-economy-and-defence https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/what-is-the-german-stance-towards-uncertainty-around-debt-the-economy-and-defence/#respond Wed, 18 Jun 2025 03:49:43 +0000 https://en.irefeurope.org/?p=35922 Introduction In previous newsletters we looked at the Brexit Re-set, US tariffs, and unconvincing responses to high government debt. Now we examine the response to all of this in the…

The post What is the German stance towards uncertainty around debt, the economy, and defence? appeared first on IREF Europe.

]]> https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/what-is-the-german-stance-towards-uncertainty-around-debt-the-economy-and-defence/feed/ 0 How China went from low-cost exporter to tech rival and why tariffs won’t save the day https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/how-china-went-from-low-cost-exporter-to-tech-rival-and-why-tariffs-wont-save-the-day/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-china-went-from-low-cost-exporter-to-tech-rival-and-why-tariffs-wont-save-the-day https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/how-china-went-from-low-cost-exporter-to-tech-rival-and-why-tariffs-wont-save-the-day/#respond Wed, 28 May 2025 05:30:34 +0000 https://en.irefeurope.org/?p=35875 The United States has accused China of leveraging an unfair advantage in trade relations and is threatening the imposition of substantial new tariffs. This raises two fundamental questions: are the…

The post How China went from low-cost exporter to tech rival and why tariffs won’t save the day appeared first on IREF Europe.

]]> https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/how-china-went-from-low-cost-exporter-to-tech-rival-and-why-tariffs-wont-save-the-day/feed/ 0 Global Trade Under Siege: The Threat of Trump’s Second-Term Trade Strategy https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/global-trade-under-siege-the-threat-of-trumps-second-term-trade-strategy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=global-trade-under-siege-the-threat-of-trumps-second-term-trade-strategy https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/global-trade-under-siege-the-threat-of-trumps-second-term-trade-strategy/#respond Wed, 08 Jan 2025 04:43:02 +0000 https://en.irefeurope.org/?p=35742 As Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, his proposed trade policies threaten to unleash economic chaos that could devastate American consumers, businesses and the global economic order.…

The post Global Trade Under Siege: The Threat of Trump’s Second-Term Trade Strategy appeared first on IREF Europe.

]]> https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/global-trade-under-siege-the-threat-of-trumps-second-term-trade-strategy/feed/ 0 Keir Starmer wants to ‘re-set’ the UK’s relationship with the EU – but on what? https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/keir-starmer-wants-to-re-set-the-uks-relationship-with-the-eu-but-on-what/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=keir-starmer-wants-to-re-set-the-uks-relationship-with-the-eu-but-on-what https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/keir-starmer-wants-to-re-set-the-uks-relationship-with-the-eu-but-on-what/#respond Wed, 18 Dec 2024 04:36:57 +0000 https://en.irefeurope.org/?p=35737 Introduction Keir Starmer, the UK’s Prime Minister, wants a ‘re-set’ in the UK’s relations with the EU. About what? Starmer has said that he cannot envisage the UK rejoining either…

The post Keir Starmer wants to ‘re-set’ the UK’s relationship with the EU – but on what? appeared first on IREF Europe.

]]> https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/keir-starmer-wants-to-re-set-the-uks-relationship-with-the-eu-but-on-what/feed/ 0 Time to rethink the European transport policy? https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/time-to-rethink-the-european-transport-policy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=time-to-rethink-the-european-transport-policy https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/time-to-rethink-the-european-transport-policy/#respond Wed, 06 Dec 2023 04:45:49 +0000 https://en.irefeurope.org/?p=35304 Cars and trucks are polluting, dangerous, generate congestion and consume a lot of energy. Trains are clean, safe and energy efficient. A single convoy can replace up to 500 cars…

The post Time to rethink the European transport policy? appeared first on IREF Europe.

]]> https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/time-to-rethink-the-european-transport-policy/feed/ 0 Addressing migration challenges with an entry fee https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/addressing-migration-challenges-with-an-entry-fee/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=addressing-migration-challenges-with-an-entry-fee https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/addressing-migration-challenges-with-an-entry-fee/#respond Wed, 08 Nov 2023 04:47:53 +0000 https://en.irefeurope.org/?p=35275 Free movement of people, i.e., the ability of individuals to move freely and without bureaucratic restrictions to the country where they want to live and work, could have a highly…

The post Addressing migration challenges with an entry fee appeared first on IREF Europe.

]]> https://en.irefeurope.org/publications/online-articles/article/addressing-migration-challenges-with-an-entry-fee/feed/ 0