Opinion pieces

Being clear now that we need to make a second round of recapitalization around the world, the concept of bad bank reappears. This is an institution where junk credits from big Belgian banks can be put.

Because we did not save our margins when the economy was doing well, the average employee will have to pay an extra €3700. This also implicates we will not have the budgetary means of effectively stimulating the economy.

Some entrepreneurs chose for the profession out of necessity while others made a deliberate choice in order to grasp a business opportunity. For the first group, push factors like the small amount of job opportunities triggered by a high unemployment were a sufficient motivation.

A budget of 380 million euros has been freed for the Cancer Plan for the period 2008-2010. This testifies of a middle-term vision. It would be an error to think this plan guarantees results though. The Cancer Plan needs more than only a budget to be successful.

Approximately 90% of the Flemish between 18 and 45 years old dispose of a computer and access to the internet. Whereas the digital gap in terms of ICT possession was only recently filled, a new form of digital inequality suddenly emerges.

Marc De Vos gives a critical and constructive appraisal of the ongoing Belgian political crisis for international readers.