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

Trump’s Misguided Trade War

October 18, 2020 Economic Policy

The US is in a trade war with China, fueled by President Trump’s belief that tariffs will bring manufacturing jobs back to the US. Trump’s misguided view of trade is rooted in the past and ignores the position of the US dollar as the leading currency of exchange. As China works toward achieving global technological leadership, the US is fighting a war on the wrong front.  

Lion Hubrich

A Call to Action: Europe in a Post-American World

August 2, 2020 European Policy

Faced with a historic crisis spawned by COVID-19, the United States has withdrawn from its role as a moral and material leader within the international system. The EU and its Member States must react swiftly both internally and externally to address the complex challenges of the emerging multi-polar world.

Matthew T. Jabłoński

Fighting Back: Lessons Learned from Ghana’s Battle Against COVID-19

July 23, 2020 Development and Global Health

Ghana’s government reacted quickly and practically to the pandemic, an approach that can serve as an example in the exchange of lessons learned between states. The country undertook a timely closure of borders, targeted lockdowns in epicenters, and enhanced contact tracing. This was made possible by allowing experts to lead the discussions and by taking into account local factors and developments.

Isaac Newton Bortey

Police Brutality in Brazil: A State of War?

July 20, 2020 Human Rights and International Law

Brazil’s government attempts to legalize extrajudicial killings by the police, legitimizing them with the ‘war on drugs.’ Leaders in the international community should instead encourage the Brazilian government to address the systemic inequality fueling drug-related crimes rather than perpetrate violence against its citizens.

Emma Faverio

The Great Indian Lockdown: Internal Migrants Fight for Their Livelihoods

July 11, 2020 Human Rights and International Law

As the world fights the COVID-19 pandemic, internal migrant workers in India are struggling to survive during the country’s lockdown. The central and state governments can resolve this tragedy by improving local conditions and developing inclusive policies for internal migrant workers.

Lahari Chakraborty

Sharing But Not Caring?

June 22, 2020 Economic Policy

Renting, repairing and redistributing instead of hyper-consumption and ownership-the sharing economy seems to revolutionize market capitalism. But can the sharing economy really be a sustainable alternative to market capitalism and create a new socio-economic system for the 21st century? Or is it just another neoliberal experiment in disguise, creating ever more powerful platform owners and disempowered workers? 

Claudia Bothe