Opinion pieces
Itinera takes part in the public debate by publishing incisive opinion pieces. These opinions and columns reflect the views of Itinera’s fellows on current affairs and the issues that occupy society.
The necessity of reforming the banking system
At this moment comparable conclusions to those of our extraordinary parliamentary commission are being drawn all around the world. It would really be counterproductive to lead a strategy of divide and rule.
Only systemic reforms can make social security sustainable
For Marc De Vos, it is “game over” with the preparation of ageing in Belgium. Our social security is not sustainable. The budgetary situation needs fixing, but only policy reform can save us. We urgently need a broad societal consensus on a new socioeconomic model.
Plea for a new dismissal law
Marc De Vos stresses that the harmonisation of dismissal law for blue collar and white collar workers has to serve two priorities: equal rights and labour market circulation. We need to combine income security with tailor made re-employment.
Use care for the elderly as an economic opportunity
Marc De Vos points out that care for the elderly constitutes a fantastic economic opportunity. He underscores that government has the task to offer a framework that allows seniors to choose and finance their twilight years.
Necessity of an audacious monetary policy
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.
Temporary unemployment is not the solution
Marc De Vos underscores the perverse effects of temporary unemployment and proposes to reform it into an insurance system that internalizes the costs and pays more attention to activation.