So I think I want my doctorate in “Globalization, Europe and Multilateralism” from Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
Erasmus Mundus, Europe’s joyous answer to study abroad programs is now offering joint Masters (50) and Doctorate (13) programs.
Another reason why the US needs a more technocratic body to draw up policy proposals. Clearly Mr Frank has not thought this one all the way through. I know the European Commission is by no means perfect, and certainly is not immune to unwise policy formation. However, Frank’s call to ban US market entry to i-banks operating within areas of different regulation gives credence to the idea that individual policy prescriptions in a complex world like finance are not ideal. In this case, they are crazy.
European Union population reaches 500,000,000. Thanks for giving me an even number to reference Europe!
P.S. Special congratulations to Ireland for raising its birth rate to 16.9%!
If the EU is constantly, sometimes irritatingly, seeking out new ways of making itself relevant it is because it has so successfully completed its original mission: to keep the peace after more than a century of war.
Wine Reform in Europe
The European Council of Ministers just adopted CAP reform with the intent to “increase the competitiveness of the EU’s wine producers, strengthen the reputation of EU quality wine as the best in the world, recover old markets and win [new] ones in the EU and worldwide”. (see Commission website)
The photo to the left is me and some graduate school friends enjoying a bit of EU quality wine after a grand opening of our palazzo. I post this to make a comment on the EU’s newest stab at CAP reform. While I wholeheartedly applaud CAP reform I’m not so sure that the intentions of this move would have not been accomplished on their own. Seriously. This picture (taken before this reform took full effect) indicates:
- Increased Competitiveness - EU quality wine pictured in its cheapest form
- Strengthened Reputation - doesn’t it look like we’re having a good time?
- Recovering Old Markets - wine pictured came from a party in the cloister of a 500 plus year old church
- Winning New Markets - The picture is the result of Frecobaldi being marketed to Americans (the wine here was a gift from il Marchese Frescobaldi himself)
My point: none really. I wanted to share this joyous photo.
Suggested Reading
Mario Monti, once head of the European Commission’s Competition arm and now president of the prestigious Bocconi in Milano, appears in today’s (July 29, 2009) opinions section in the Financial Times.
Mr Monti is probably best known for his 2001 showdown with Jack Welch, then GE’s top dog. Monti and his band of Berlaymont wizards shutdown a massive merger between Welch’s GE and Honeywell.
Today’s opinion in the FT “Watchdogs of the World Unite” offers thoughts on moving forward with antitrust and anti state aid (Eurospeak for subsidies) regulation the world round. I hope you will read it.
