Is the Estonian e-residency program a digital fairytale?

November 5, 2022

Estonia is considered a role model for digital public administration. The Estonian e-residency program is the most recent e-government initiative, which promises entrepreneurs worldwide access to its public administration 24/7. In its current state, the program cannot achieve its ambitious goal due to structural misconceptions that have caused issues around its efficiency and inclusiveness.

Anna Mayer

School Choice in the United States

August 16, 2022

School choice encompasses a variety of programs run by the U.S. government that allows parents to choose a school other than their local publicly funded school. Wealthy parents have been able to afford choices in education for a very long time. Now it is time that we allow poorer citizens to choose an education that best fits the needs of their children. School choice will allow this to happen.

Jaireet Chahal

Inflation During the Pandemic: Is ‘Transitory’ a Myth?

July 19, 2022

Caused by pent-up demand and intense supply disruptions, inflation has risen to its highest level in decades. As the specter of “entrenched inflation” looms, central banks must use monetary policy sensibly without overreacting. Central banks should allow time for overheated demand and supply disruptions to ease, lest the world’s advanced economies face their hardest landing yet.

Joshua Rajendran

U.S. vs. China? Cooperation in Telecommunications in East Africa

May 3, 2022

Some Western political strategists suggest a “Tech Cold War” is playing out in Africa between China and the U.S. Based on case studies from Ethiopia and Kenya, this perspective neglects the actual state of affairs. Instead of searching for “China-free” actors, the West should take the rationale of each project as a yardstick to stay engaged and relevant in the emerging African information and communications technology sector.

Jonas Pauly

Avoiding a Persian Flavor of Dutch Disease

January 25, 2017 Economic Policy

When sanctions on Iran were lifted, the country moved toward market liberalization. Now pressure on the Iranian Rial is undermining non-oil export sectors as they lose competitiveness both nationally and internationally. If Iran’s economy is to flourish, policy makers will need to embrace a new mix of fiscal, structural and monetary policies.

Ramona Hotz, Josiah Littlehales, Federica Merenda & Roberto Musmeci

Is Microfinance a Sustainable Solution to Poverty?

July 16, 2016 Development and Global Health

Microfinance is based on the idea that people can be lifted out of poverty through the help of microloans. It has become a key part of the global development strategy, as a bottom-up poverty alleviation tool. But despite its wide popularity, various studies have shown that its effects have generally been far from beneficial to the poor.

Ana Maria Tabacaru

That Small Plaster on the Russian Bear

July 16, 2016 European Policy

Two years after the downing of Malaysia Airline flight MH17 the geopolitical rammifications of this tragic event – and the EU’s heavy-handed retaliation – are stronger than ever. This article explores the rhetorical dimension of the EU-Russian confrontation over the Ukrainian crisis and questions the effectiveness of the EU’s sanctions-led response.

Marta Cioci