Infantilisation of the electorate

The subtext of some of the key arguments against a ‘Yes’ vote is infantalising. For example:‘You shouldn’t be supporting a vainglorious leader/party’ i.e. Alex Salmond/SNP. ‘You won’t have a currency union, and there’s no Plan B’. Even if these are true (and the second one certainly is), why is that a reason to vote ‘No’? Basically […]

Sham investment bank research

European monetary union represents a major step on the road to European integration. The euro will promote not only economic prosperity but also political stability by leading to intensified cooperation among the countries of Europe, a stronger focus on common interests and the establishment of common institutions to help solve conflicts. Deutsche Bank Research (1998), […]

Small states > Big states

In 1957 in his classic book The Breakdown of Nations economist and political scientist Leopold Kohr persuasively and rigorously argued that small nations are the natural order having been throughout history the engines for enlightenment, innovation, mutual aid and the arts.  The large nation state, he argued, is not a reflection of improved efficiency but […]

Finally a difference of opinion with Krugman

There’s a reason he’s been called Krugtron. Oppose him at your peril. Nevertheless, I’d personally play down the ‘financial catastrophe’ angle of failure to raise the debt ceiling. Krugman in today’s NYT: “it looks quite possible that default would create a huge financial crisis”.I think it would certainly hurt from a GDP point of view, through the […]