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<title>Itinera Institute - Issues - Government &amp; Taxation</title>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org</link>
<description>Itinera Institute - Issues - Government &amp; Taxation</description>
<image>
<url>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/web/sources/img/logo_itinera.jpg</url>
<title>Itinera Institute - Issues - Government &amp; Taxation</title>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org</link>
</image>
<copyright>Copyright 2012, Itinera Institute</copyright>
<language>en</language>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
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<title>Euro-policy in the balance: too little, but not (yet) too late</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos offers a broad reflection on the crisis management of the euro. Notwithstanding all the tribulations, the basic direction is right albeit incomplete. But the European politicians are playing a historic poker game with a different timing than the financial markets. It is therefore improbable that the Eurozone will come through the crisis intact.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/euro-policy-in-the-balance-too-little-but-not-yet-too-late/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/euro-policy-in-the-balance-too-little-but-not-yet-too-late/</guid>
</item>
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<title>Belgium divided between strike and anti-strike </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Jean Hindriks and Laurent Hanseeuw shed lights on the popular opposition against the general strike taking place this Monday 30 January. They explain the apparent paradox stating that powerful labor unions can be useful safeguard against inopportune strikes. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/belgium-divided-between-strike-and-anti-strike/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/belgium-divided-between-strike-and-anti-strike/</guid>
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<title>Presentation Marc De Vos: Happiness and politics</title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/presentation-marc-de-vos-geluk-en-politiek/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/presentation-marc-de-vos-geluk-en-politiek/</guid>
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<title>Presentation Vandenbroucke Happiness and politics</title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/presentation-vandenbroucke-happiness-and-politics/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/presentation-vandenbroucke-happiness-and-politics/</guid>
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<title>Hooray for the European criticism!</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The intervention of the European commission is to be considered a sign of progress on the road towards European integration and a positive consequence of the current crisis.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/hooray-for-the-european-criticism/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/hooray-for-the-european-criticism/</guid>
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<title>Why our public debt needs to be reduced</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos and Ivan Van de Cloot explain why the Belgian public debt is problematic. We will over many years, unfortunately, have to pay the debt bill of the past in order to build the future.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/why-our-public-debt-needs-to-be-reduced/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/why-our-public-debt-needs-to-be-reduced/</guid>
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<title>In Europe, we need to move!</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Laurent Hanseeuw recalls the issue of factor mobility, and labor mobility in particular, in the constitution of an optimal currency zone. When comparing to the US, European workers are reluctant to move, even in their own state. Languages are a natural barrier, but they are many others which policymakers should cope. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/in-europe-we-need-to-move/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/in-europe-we-need-to-move/</guid>
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<title>VAT reduction for the catering industry: who benefits? </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Laurent Hanseeuw and Jean Hindriks analyze the effects of a VAT reduction for the catering industry, introduced in Belgium in 2010. First, they review the economic fundamentals pleading for such a favorable rate. Then they analyze the impact of this reduction based on the reasons which have been used to justify such a reduced rate. We can conclude that the impact has been fairly modest when it comes to job creation and that the sector remains heavily exposed to the black economy.   ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/vatreductioncateringindustry/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/vatreductioncateringindustry/</guid>
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<title>Less trains is not the solution</title>
<description><![CDATA[ It is inconceivable to weaken rail transport in Belgium as the demographic, economic en environmental needs push us rather to strengthen it. How to justify then the suppression of almost 200 trains by December 2012?]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/less-trains-is-not-the-solution/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/less-trains-is-not-the-solution/</guid>
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<title>The euro crisis : everything you always wanted to know, but never dared to ask</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Etienne de Callata&#255; explains the economic fundamentals which lie at the basis of the euro crisis. He then details the consequences this crisis could have and possible solutions we could reach. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-euro-crisis-everything-you-always-wanted-to-know-but-never-dared-to-ask/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-euro-crisis-everything-you-always-wanted-to-know-but-never-dared-to-ask/</guid>
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<title>Call for a broad pension strategy</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos responds to the demonstrations against pension reform. The debate is poisoned by a combination of denial, fundamentalism and utopic spinning. He argues for a general mobilization for a broad pension strategy, carried by visionary realism.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/call-for-a-broad-pension-strategy/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/call-for-a-broad-pension-strategy/</guid>
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<title>Relieve the traffic: trifling work in the short term</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Since some weeks the reserve road on the E313 road is accessible to traffic during peak hours. One could consider reducing the number of paths during peak hours and have an express bus use the reserve road instead. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/relieve-the-traffic-trifling-work-in-the-short-term/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/relieve-the-traffic-trifling-work-in-the-short-term/</guid>
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<title>Healthcare: From star to cash cow? </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Lieven Annemans analyses the potential impact of budgetary restrictions in our healthcare system. He pleads for more quality-friendliness in the payment system if we want to maintain a solidary and internationally renowned healthcare system. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/healthcare-from-star-to-cash-cow/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/healthcare-from-star-to-cash-cow/</guid>
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<title>Do not obstruct, but construct</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos responds to the union march against the government. The protesters underestimate the situation and the government offers too little positive perspective through structural reforms. We are not reforming too much but too little.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/donotobstructbutconstruct/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/donotobstructbutconstruct/</guid>
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<title>From Dexia to energy invoices</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Laurent Hanseeuw and Ivan van de Cloot recall the structure of a liberalized energy market and the appropriate regulation it requires. Political projects which intend to maintain, or even rise, revenues for municipalities via the so-called distribution tariffs should be avoided. The losses related to Dexia&#8217;s fall should be compensated by other means.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/from-dexia-to-energy-invoices/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/from-dexia-to-energy-invoices/</guid>
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<title>Reclaiming Happiness from Politics</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Happiness is back, both in the sciences and in politics. While the economy is suffering from a systemic crisis, the time is ripe for an explicit happiness agenda that seeks to steer society consciously towards personal wellbeing. This essay &#8211; the first discussion paper in the series &#8220;Back to Basics&#8221; &#8211; embraces happiness as a relevant policy concern but refutes fundamentally the terms and the purpose of the current happiness revival. It ends with a call to save happiness from politics, and instead promote it through careful facilitation.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/reclaiming-happiness-from-politics/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/reclaiming-happiness-from-politics/</guid>
<enclosure url="http://www.itinerainstitute.org/upl/1/en/doc/dp_1_uk_final%20versionfor%20website_uk.pdf" length="455083" type="application/pdf" />
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<title>The Budget 2012 through the Itinera Lens</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The government passes the European exam but misses structural reforms. Itinera calls on the new government to implement, within this term, structural reforms and to keep additional fiscal measures in reserve.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/thebudget2012theitinerapointofview/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/thebudget2012theitinerapointofview/</guid>
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<title>Video: budgetary reflections IVDC</title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/videobudgetaryreflections/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/videobudgetaryreflections/</guid>
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<title>Vid&#233;o: La Belgique a-t-elle trafiqu&#233; ses comptes?_Jean Hindriks</title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/labelgiqueatelletrafiquesescomptesjeanhindriks/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/labelgiqueatelletrafiquesescomptesjeanhindriks/</guid>
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<title>Reform in Italy is also important to us </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Italy need better an economic performance than in the last ten years. For this structural reform in the field of pensions, tax policy, labour market, innovation and others are essential. We thus share not only common interests with Italy but also many challenges. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/reform-in-italy-is-also-important-to-us/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/reform-in-italy-is-also-important-to-us/</guid>
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<title>Does Belgium cheat? Nonsense!</title>
<description><![CDATA[ German scientists distrust the quality of economic data on Belgium, using the Benford law. This law enables to find potential irregularities in accounting books. Jean Hindriks squashes the  rumour  and explains why Belgium distances itself from this &#8220;accounting rule&#8221; in order to cope better with budgetary rules.   ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/does-belgium-cheat-nonsense/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/does-belgium-cheat-nonsense/</guid>
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<title>Tackling with the roots of the european crisis</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The European strategy known as kicking the can down the road has proven to have been counterproductive. A vigorous solution cannot escape the need for decisive measures for both insolvent countries and the too big to fail banks. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/tackling-with-the-roots-of-the-european-crisis/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/tackling-with-the-roots-of-the-european-crisis/</guid>
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<title>Video: a modern and effective public sector: Jean Hindriks</title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/videopublicsectorjeanhindriks/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/videopublicsectorjeanhindriks/</guid>
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<title>Video: From #NoGov to #GoodGov</title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/videofromnogovtogoodgov/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/videofromnogovtogoodgov/</guid>
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<title>Itinera and the clash of ideas</title>
<description><![CDATA[ It is crucial for democracy to have an open mind towards opposite visions as this reduces the risk  that similar people harbor ever more extreme  opinions in their own incrowd. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/itinera-and-the-clash-of-ideas/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/itinera-and-the-clash-of-ideas/</guid>
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<title>The Dexia Saga</title>
<description><![CDATA[ In a sane banking system there is a difference between saving and investing on the one hand, and speculation on the other. A sane banking system takes responsibility for the consequences of wrong choices instead of passing the bill on to the tax payers. The Dexia saga painfully shows that we have a long way ahead of us, says Ivan Van de Cloot. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-dexia-saga/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-dexia-saga/</guid>
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<title>Will we need to outsource care for the sick and elderly to foreigners? </title>
<description><![CDATA[ In the short term, foreign nurses can help coping with the shortages of our white economy. In the long term we will need structural solutions, says Brieuc Van Damme. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/will-we-need-to-outsource-care-for-the-sick-and-elderly-to-foreigners/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/will-we-need-to-outsource-care-for-the-sick-and-elderly-to-foreigners/</guid>
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<title>From #NoGov to #GoodGov</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The report &quot;From #NoGov to #GoodGov&quot; is a constructive contribution to the negotiations, from a strategic and long-term perspective. The emphasis lies on the major challenges facing the new government, with 45 concrete recommendations for a vigorous policy.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/fromnogovtogoodgov/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/fromnogovtogoodgov/</guid>
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<title>Presentation: From #NoGov to #GoodGov</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The report &quot;From #NoGov to #GoodGov&quot; is a constructive contribution to the negotiations, from a strategic and long-term perspective. The emphasis lies on the major challenges facing the new government, with 45 concrete recommendations for a vigorous policy.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/presentationfromnogovtogoodgov/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/presentationfromnogovtogoodgov/</guid>
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<title>Involve babyboomers when financing nursing homes </title>
<description><![CDATA[ The extra subsidies of Flemish Minister for wellbeing Vandeurzen for the construction and renovation of eldercare infrastructure will not be enough to satisfy the growing needs of an ageing population. Thanks to intelligent schemes, babyboomers can finance care infrastructure partly by themselves. If official care initiatives do not need to face new tax increases that is, says Brieuc Van Damme. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/involve-babyboomers-when-financing-nursing-homes/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/involve-babyboomers-when-financing-nursing-homes/</guid>
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<title>The road to a modern unemployment insurance</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos argues for a modern unemployment insurance, through a combination of degressive benefits, progressive career support and eventual societal service. This also settles the debate on time limits for benefits, and on the waiting benefits for the young.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/de-weg-naar-een-moderne-werkloosheidsverzekering/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/de-weg-naar-een-moderne-werkloosheidsverzekering/</guid>
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<title>Taxing or getting rid of fat? </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Following a new fat tax in Denmark, Brieuc Van Damme recalls the negative externalities implied by junk food and pleads for the introduction of a similar tax in Belgium. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/taxing-or-getting-rid-of-fat/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/taxing-or-getting-rid-of-fat/</guid>
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<title>The budgetary and fiscal challenges for the next government</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Ivan Van de Cloot and Etienne De Callata&#255; draw an overview of the budgetary challenges for the next government. The focus should be on savings and efficiency. New government resources are necessary but these should go together with structural reforms. In the short term, Itinera pleads for enshrining a budgetary rule in the constitution and the appointment of a commission of experts. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/budgetfiscalchallenegs/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/budgetfiscalchallenegs/</guid>
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<title>The long-term declared disabled employee caught in its statute</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The way in which incapacity to work is defined is vulnerable to critique: we are either fully valid, either fully invalid. That has to change. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-long-term-declared-disabled-employee-caught-in-its-statute/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-long-term-declared-disabled-employee-caught-in-its-statute/</guid>
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<title>Modernize dismissal</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos pleads once more for a modern dismissal law with a pillar re-employment and pre-financing. This will not happen unless it is integrated into the coalition negotiations.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/modernize-dismissal/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/modernize-dismissal/</guid>
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<title>A G-0 world</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos sees how the G-20 is becoming a talk shop where only collective threat can produce collective action. Globalization is not globally managed, but the subject of a cabal of limited interest clubs with their own agenda.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/ag0world/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/ag0world/</guid>
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<title>Financing university without taboo</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Laurent Hanseeuw and Jean Hindriks highlight the structural underfinancing of universities and the segregation it induces. They plead for a refinancing of our universities via the so-called deferred tuition fees&#8217; system. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/financing-university-without-taboo/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/financing-university-without-taboo/</guid>
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<title>Selling Belgacom? Yes, but&#8230;</title>
<description><![CDATA[ It is likely that the next government plans to sell its shares in Belgacom, the main telecom operator in Belgium. Laurent Hanseeuw explains this makes sense on economic and governance aspects. However, one should avoid to proceed to such a disinvestment for budgetary purposes. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/selling-belgacom-yes-but/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/selling-belgacom-yes-but/</guid>
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<title>&#8220;BHV&#8221; casts its shadow</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos sees how &#8220;BHV&#8221; casts a long shadow, also on the budget for 2012. He fears for &#8220;Royco Minute Soup&#8221; while the budget should follow from strategic vision and structural reforms.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 22 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/bhv-casts-its-shadow/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/bhv-casts-its-shadow/</guid>
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<title>How to refinance our universities?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Since higher education has been decentralized in Belgium, public financing of universities in both communities has almost been frozen. Students&#8217; coaching has been continuously scrapped for the last forty years; which certainly does not help the graduation rate. Communities budgets have almost no room to increase means significantly. Therefore, tuition fees need to be increased. In order to avoid creating new hurdles for higher education&#8217;s accessibility, one should implement the so-called deferred tuition fees. Meanwhile, more scholarships should be given to young people from modest backgrounds. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-to-refinance-our-universities/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-to-refinance-our-universities/</guid>
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<title>Reducing the influence of principal rating agencies: easier said than done</title>
<description><![CDATA[ For reducing the influence of the three principal rating agencies, one should actively stimulate the creation of other agencies.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/reducing-the-influence-of-principal-rating-agencies-easier-said-than-done/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/reducing-the-influence-of-principal-rating-agencies-easier-said-than-done/</guid>
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<title>Green arms&#8217; race: China floors the West</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos explains how China is gaining advantage in the development of a green economy. China uses the open world market where it can en abuses it where it musts. Western companies have the choice between demise and collaboration, making Chinese state capitalism more dominant or corrupting.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/green-armsrace-china-floors-the-west/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/green-armsrace-china-floors-the-west/</guid>
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<title>Why 9/15 is more important than 9/11</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos gives his vision on 9/11. The collapse of Lehman Brothers is for him of greater historical significance, but in ten years&#8217; time it can also be the reverse.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/why-915-is-more-important-than-911/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/why-915-is-more-important-than-911/</guid>
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<title>Libyan oil : will there be an occidental altruism ? </title>
<description><![CDATA[ The potential uprising of a democratic State in Libya highlights the question of the oil rent&#8217;s utilization. Laurent Hanseeuw explains the importance of a limited use of this rent in order to avoid economic and political issues that are created by such a money flow.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/libyan-oil--will-there-be-an-occidental-altruism/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/libyan-oil--will-there-be-an-occidental-altruism/</guid>
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<title>Less fiscal spendings for less fiscal pressure</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Among the austerity measures and the necessary reforms proposed in the note by formateur Di Rupo, more attention should be given to the necessity to simplify our tax system.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/less-fiscal-spendings-for-less-fiscal-pressure/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/less-fiscal-spendings-for-less-fiscal-pressure/</guid>
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<title>No more fiscal gifts!</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Today adequacy of the tax distortion between savings accounts and other forms of savings is being questioned. Unfortunately the proposed solutions are not the right ones. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/no-more-fiscal-gifts/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/no-more-fiscal-gifts/</guid>
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<title>What after refusal of the eurobonds ? </title>
<description><![CDATA[ As Germany has blocked the introduction of Eurobonds, alternatives have to be considered. Mechanisms for an orderly exit of a member country, debt reduction schemes have to be considered to open up a new perspective for countries without building castles in the air. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Aug 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/what-after-refusal-of-the-eurobonds/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/what-after-refusal-of-the-eurobonds/</guid>
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<title>Why a crisis tax on the super-rich is no solution</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos explains that we need first and foremost to reform taxation for better governance en more strong shoulders in the economy. Rather than through a symbolic crisis tax, the super-rich can serve the country much more through experience, ideas, and a broad culture of philanthropy.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/why-a-crisis-tax-on-the-superrich-is-no-solution/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/why-a-crisis-tax-on-the-superrich-is-no-solution/</guid>
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<title>Double Dip is only the beginning</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos sees six crises that trouble our times: financial, public debt, the growth model, the welfare state, the political system, and all of us who are used to having more for less. There is no need for despondency but we have to take our responsibility in unity and with vision.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/double-dip-is-only-the-beginning/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/double-dip-is-only-the-beginning/</guid>
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<title>Deliver us, Lord, from job plans!</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos nuances the figures for Belgian job creation and criticizes expensive job plans with plenty of waste and perverse effects. Individual counseling and activation is much more efficient. Eliminating wasteful job plans is a duty in times of budgetary scarcity.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/deliver-us-lord-from-job-plans/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/deliver-us-lord-from-job-plans/</guid>
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<title>Creating, instead of debating, economic value </title>
<description><![CDATA[ The creative forces in Greece were too much diverted to a competition for government resources rather than for wealth creating initiatives.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/creating-instead-of-debating-economic-value/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/creating-instead-of-debating-economic-value/</guid>
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<title>Eliminate the meal vouchers</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos sees only one solution for the fraud with meal vouchers: abolish the vouchers. All exemptions generate needless complexity. We can best replace them by overall tax reduction. That will also ensure economic progress.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/eliminate-the-meal-vouchers/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/eliminate-the-meal-vouchers/</guid>
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<title>We are living beyond our means</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos sees an age of debt everywhere. Our prosperity and welfare are partly rooted in illusion or exploitation, at the expense of the next generation. We will have to become poorer in the upcoming years, in order to become richer again.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/we-are-living-beyond-our-means/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/we-are-living-beyond-our-means/</guid>
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<title>The real lesson of the eurocrisis: less is more</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos sees a pattern behind the euro-crisis: European hubris in the face of national realities. The members of the European Union have made a habit out of committing the European Union to run while they are only willing to walk themselves. The key lesson of the Euro-crisis is therefore that less can indeed be more.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jul 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-real-lesson-of-the-eurocrisis-less-is-more/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-real-lesson-of-the-eurocrisis-less-is-more/</guid>
<enclosure url="http://www.itinerainstitute.org/upl/1/default/doc/mdv_56_uk.pdf" length="157403" type="application/pdf" />
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<title>The bill for the Euro-crisis will hit Belgium too</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos sees only three ways to pay the bill for the euro-crisis. The easiest path is stealth redistribution among the European tax payers. Belgium will have to bear its share of the burden.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-bill-for-the-euro-crisis-will-hit-belgium-too/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-bill-for-the-euro-crisis-will-hit-belgium-too/</guid>
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<title>The Greek-European tango </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Ivan van de Cloot thinks we will come to a rational analysis of the European debt crisis only if we admit responsibility should be shared between Greeks authorities, European politicians and private investors. The goal is not to consider, as it is often the case, everyone is guilty which makes de facto no one responsible but to share the unavoidable burden on the three stakeholders. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 12 Jul 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-greek-european-tango/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-greek-european-tango/</guid>
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<title>A family affair	</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Etienne de Callata&#255; analyses the splitting of family allowances policy between communities as it has been proposed in Di Rupo&#8217;s nota. He sees two essential positive points: the refusal to create sub-nationalities in Brussels and the financial responsibility implied on communities. He nonetheless regrets Di Rupo has not looked at children education costs policies through an integrated view.  ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-family-affair/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-family-affair/</guid>
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<title>The negative side of diploma inflation</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos underscores the lowering standards of university education. He warns for a negative spiral of diplomatosis, with ever more students obtaining ever more degrees that are worth ever less.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-negative-side-of-diploma-inflation/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-negative-side-of-diploma-inflation/</guid>
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<title>No age fetishism in pension reform</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos nuances the discussion on the legal retirement age. What really matters is the actual work that our society requires as the solidarity contribution that entitles one to a pension. An adjustment to demographics is unavoidable and needs to be decided as soon as possible. But we need to work longer now if we are to have the Baby-Boomers share in the burden.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/no-age-fetishism-in-pension-reform/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/no-age-fetishism-in-pension-reform/</guid>
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<title>State payment delays&#8230; Be careful with austerity</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Jean Hindriks and Laurent Hanseeuw show the worrying payments delay of the public sector in Belgium and the negative consequences it can have on the economy. Moreover, dramatic delays recorded in Southern European Countries highlight that austerity can push governments to further delay their payments. In a time when Belgium opts for budgetary restrictions, one should keep off following a trend with numerous pernicious effects&#8230; ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 22 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/state-payment-delays-be-careful-with-austerity/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/state-payment-delays-be-careful-with-austerity/</guid>
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<title>How Belgium resembles Greece</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos remarks that Belgium also has the Greek disease. We too have a culture where fraud is not only tolerated, but even openly defended. This is an existential problem when the whole of society faces a budgetary challenge of many billions.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-belgium-resembles-greece/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-belgium-resembles-greece/</guid>
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<title>The institutional crisis yields a symbolic parliament</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos sees how parliament, in the absence of a real government, improvises at the surface with symbolic issues. Without an overarching governmental vision, parliament becomes its own victim and leaves society with legislation that is ineffective and full of perverse effects.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-institutional-crisis-yields-a-symbolic-parliament/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-institutional-crisis-yields-a-symbolic-parliament/</guid>
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<title>It&#8217;s the economy, stupid!!</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos nuances the victorious claims of how social security saved us from the crisis. Belgium owes its relative better performance mostly to economic and demographic factors, some of which actually bode ill for our future growth potential.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/itstheeconomy-stupid/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/itstheeconomy-stupid/</guid>
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<title>The Constitution is being abused into a political instrument</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos attacks the political manipulation of the Belgian Constitution. Depending on the issue, this transpires as strict adherence or cavalier disregard. The infamous &#8220;F&#233;d&#233;ration Wallonie-Bruxelles&#8221; is an example of the latter: a political coup d&#8217;&#233;tat, but with no teeth or guns.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 31 May 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-constitution-is-being-abused-into-a-political-instrument/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-constitution-is-being-abused-into-a-political-instrument/</guid>
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<title>Pension&#8217;s solutions in an ageing country</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Ivan Van de Cloot approves that finally the pension debate is again on the table. In 2011 we cannot longer believe in financing the ageing costs without breaking down the taboo of 65 as the end of the career. As long as responsibility is taken, everyone can make his career choices in full freedom. The notional pension system makes sure it is the contributions to the system which determine the rights and no longer the fetish of the age of a person.Ivan Van de Cloot approves that finally the pension debate is again on the table. In 2011 we cannot longer believe in financing the ageing costs without breaking down the taboo of 65 as the end of the career. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 May 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/pensions-solutions-in-an-ageing-country/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/pensions-solutions-in-an-ageing-country/</guid>
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<title>The new law on family reunion copes with symptoms, not the real problems</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The federal parliament has just voted a new law on family reunion, strengthening dramatically migrant&#8217;s ability to come via this channel. According to Laurent Hanseeuw, the problem is that the new law offers only a quantitative response: reduce immigration. The key question is much more to better integrate migrants on our labor market. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 May 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-new-law-on-family-reunion-copes-with-symptoms-not-the-real-problems/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-new-law-on-family-reunion-copes-with-symptoms-not-the-real-problems/</guid>
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<title>The budgetary challenge is a fundamental societal choice</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos argues that the budgetary crisis is a systemic crisis. Improving the system is therefore the only sustainable solution. That means giving priority to efficiency gains over austerity, and to tax reform over tax increases. If we want to draw the lessons from the crisis and start the future with a clean sheet, we have no choice: we need to reform structurally and strategically.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 25 May 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-budgetary-challenge-is-a-fundamental-societal-choice/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-budgetary-challenge-is-a-fundamental-societal-choice/</guid>
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<title>What is at stake with family reunion in Belgium?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Laurent Hanseeuw analyses Belgium&#8217;s new legislation on family reunion. The main issue in our country remains the weak labor market integration of non-European immigrants. Nonetheless, the law will probably only have an impact on the size of immigration flows and presents no real solutions to increase migrants&#8217; integration. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 25 May 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/what-is-at-stake-with-family-reunion-in-belgium/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/what-is-at-stake-with-family-reunion-in-belgium/</guid>
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<title>Who is to blame for NIMBY?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos defends the rule of law. Rules apply to everybody and every citizen has the right to have them enforced by independent judges. The authorities should respect their own rules. Politicians have to guard zoning and planning. &#8220;Not in my backyard&#8221; is caused by too little backyard.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 May 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/who-is-to-blame-for-nimby/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/who-is-to-blame-for-nimby/</guid>
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<title>Can a working couple still afford a new house? </title>
<description><![CDATA[ With a relatively low interest rate, a new house building project of 220 000&#8364; can be afforded by 20,6% of the households in our country as long as they manage to come up with 50 000&#8364; own funding. In the typical case of a working couple with two children, 68% can afford such a house but only 18% can finance it without any equity fund (50 000&#8364;). The reduction of building activities could be the consequence of rising costs for housing projects which make potential households fleeing this market. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 May 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/can-a-working-couple-still-afford-a-new-house/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/can-a-working-couple-still-afford-a-new-house/</guid>
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<title>Great potential for Philanthropy in Belgium </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Ivan Van de Cloot presented on the second Day of the Philanthropy the first Index of Philanthropy. This was a combined initiative of the Fondation Roi Baudouin and Itinera Institute and the analysis points to a great potential for philanthropy in our country. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 May 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/great-potential-for-philanthropy-in-belgium/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/great-potential-for-philanthropy-in-belgium/</guid>
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<title>An effective public sector</title>
<description><![CDATA[ In all OECD countries, public sector employment is decreasing, but not in Belgium. Given the challenges of ageing and budgetary consolidation, it would make more sense adding public service to the civil servants instead of adding civil servants to the public services. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 May 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/un-service-public-efficace/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/un-service-public-efficace/</guid>
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<title>No elegant exit from Euro-malaise</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos sketches the scenarios for the endgame in the euro-crisis. It will hurt and it will last a long time. In the meantime the political project of European unification is crumbling. Europa is bleeding on all fronts. It tries too much and therefore achieves too little. If it continues down this path, it risks drowning itself.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 May 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/no-elegant-exit-from-euro-malaise/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/no-elegant-exit-from-euro-malaise/</guid>
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<title>Black swan in the Middle-East</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Ivan Van de Cloot makes an economic analysis on the awakening in the Middle East and states these countries constitute the demographic antipode of Western Europe which is characterized by an ageing wealthy population which is afraid of changes as it has a lot to lose.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 28 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/black-swan-in-the-middle-east/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/black-swan-in-the-middle-east/</guid>
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<title>Belgian voluntarism is political illusionism</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos is astounded by the multi-year plan that Belgium has presented to the European Union. Voluntarism is really political illusionism that once more masks the seriousness and urgency of the situation for a tame public opinion.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/belgian-voluntarism-is-political-illusionism/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/belgian-voluntarism-is-political-illusionism/</guid>
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<title>Energy chaos in Belgium</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos regrets the energy chaos in Belgium. Governments fail to make real or sustainable choices and are addicted to the taxation Baxter of a mismanaged energy sector. Instead of policy we have conflicts of interests between politics and energy players.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/energy-chaos-in-belgium/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/energy-chaos-in-belgium/</guid>
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<title>Debt crisis as a vulcano with sporadic eruptions </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Ivan Van de Cloot hopes Belgium can square the circle of reducing debt while continuing to grow. Maybe our country can succeed doing this as our industry rides in the slipstream of the German success of exporting to Asian growth markets. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/debt-crisis-as-a-vulcano-with-sporadic-eruptions/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/debt-crisis-as-a-vulcano-with-sporadic-eruptions/</guid>
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<title>Democracy in times of economic turmoil</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Ivan Van de Cloot points out that democratically elected leader shouldn&#8217;t avoid necessary reforms. Key is to show that after difficult choices have been made, economic prosperity is again achievable. Gentle healers make stinking wounds. Experience has demonstrated that even drastic measures can be digested if one can present a positive perspective on the long term. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/democracy-in-times-of-economic-turmoil/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/democracy-in-times-of-economic-turmoil/</guid>
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<title>More equality is no panacea</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos offers some personal perspectives on the thesis that more equality automatically implies more societal wellbeing. Economic growth is critically needed and implies inequalities. Without growth there can be no social security that guarantees wellbeing into the future. Inequalities have downsides, but more equality is no free lunch.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/more-equality-is-no-panacea/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/more-equality-is-no-panacea/</guid>
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<title>Presentation: A modern and effective public sector</title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 13 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/amodernandeffectivepublicsector/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/amodernandeffectivepublicsector/</guid>
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<title>Not banker bonuses, but bank profits are the problem.</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos gives an alternative reading of the hysteria surrounding banker bonuses. The real issue is not the bonuses, but the profits that come from explicit or implicit state support. Governments should tackle this underlying disease, rather than focusing on the symptom.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/not-banker-bonuses-but-bank-profits-are-the-problem/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/not-banker-bonuses-but-bank-profits-are-the-problem/</guid>
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<title>Will Belgium become the Italy of the North?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos sees Italy as a possible future version of Belgium that will become reality if we maintain the politics of denial and impasse. The budget is the first major appointment. Will we go for genuine restoration, or just for cosmetics?]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/will-belgium-become-the-italy-of-the-north/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/will-belgium-become-the-italy-of-the-north/</guid>
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<title>A modern and effective public sector</title>
<description><![CDATA[ In all OECD countries, public sector employment is decreasing, but not in Belgium. Given the challenges of ageing and budgetary consolidation, it would make more sense adding public service to the civil servants instead of adding civil servants to the public services. Other major challenges such as global labour mobility, increasing democratic pressures and the digital revolution will ask a thorough mutation of the organization and production structures of public services in Belgium. In his analysis, Senior Fellow Jean Hindriks recommends 10 domains of reform, going from simplification, coordination and clarification to enhanced mobility and excellence. After Professor Hindriks&#8217; presentation, high-level civil servants will respond. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-modern-and-effective-public-sector/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-modern-and-effective-public-sector/</guid>
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<title>The right price per kWh?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Johan Albrecht puts forward that the distribution costs of electricity in Belgium are one third higher than in the rest of the Euro zone. They account for 37% of the electricity bill. Brussels leads the field and is 82% more expensive than the capitals of our neighboring countries. The importance of the distribution costs is underexposed in the debate on our country&#8217;s electricity prices. The author wants to put these high network costs at the very center of the debate, as the risks of these costs continuing to increase in the future is real because of a not carefully designed policy framework for renewable energy projects. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-right-price-per-kwh/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-right-price-per-kwh/</guid>
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<title>The Chinese economy on an unsustainable path </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Ivan Van de Cloot points out that China&#8217;s neomercantile policy is not sustainable. On the one hand this creates international tensions and on the other hand internal monetary policy risks losing traction. While America is spreading new money everywhere, until now Chinese central bankers succeeded in draining the surplus money but everybody realizes how delicate this exercise is. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-chinese-economy-on-an-unsustainable-path/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-chinese-economy-on-an-unsustainable-path/</guid>
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<title>The &#8220;Fries-revolution&#8221;: revolutionaries or reactionaries?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos is critical about the demands of the so-called &#8220;Fries-revolution&#8221;. Real revolution is about giving more, not about claiming more. One cannot fill a hole by digging other and deeper ones.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-fries-revolution-revolutionaries-or-reactionaries/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-fries-revolution-revolutionaries-or-reactionaries/</guid>
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<title>Bye-bye Globocop</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos tells us that we now experience the beginning of the end of the American period. The US cannot pay its imperial status any longer. That is a primer with worldwide implications and a new geopolitical reality follows for Belgium and Europe. Either we escape from our responsibilities or the new game will cost us blood and money.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/bye-bye-globocop/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/bye-bye-globocop/</guid>
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<title>The european economy in existential crisis</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Ivan Van De Cloot points out that three fundamental institutions of economic prosperity are at stake: market regulation institutions that prevent abusive market power, social institutions that legitimize the market are becoming unsustainable, and finally market stabilizing institutions like exchange rate mechanisms, budget and monetary rules that are under pressure because of the euro crisis. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/de-europese-economie-in-existentile-crisis/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/de-europese-economie-in-existentile-crisis/</guid>
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<title>The Japanese disaster is also an economic catastrophy</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Ivan Van de Cloot points out that origins of wealth are very complex and lie deeper than reconstructing physical, financial or even human capital. The silver lining for Japan is that the tsunami didn&#8217;t affect the deeper institutions although confidence and other forms of social capital are under pressure. The challenge for Japan is to make sure that there&#8217;s no permanent damage to its productive potential.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 17 Mar 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-japanese-disaster-is-also-an-economic-catastrophy/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-japanese-disaster-is-also-an-economic-catastrophy/</guid>
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<title>Presentation: Reflections on fiscal policy 2011 &#8211; 2015</title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Mar 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/reflections-on-fiscal-policy-2011/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/reflections-on-fiscal-policy-2011/</guid>
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<title>Presentation: Reforming Belgium&#8217;s fiscal system: from necessity to opportunity</title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Mar 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/presentation-reforming-belgiums-fiscal-system-from-necessity-to-opportunity/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/presentation-reforming-belgiums-fiscal-system-from-necessity-to-opportunity/</guid>
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<title>Reflections on fiscal policy 2011&#8211;2015</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The Itinera Institute has asked fiscal expert Axel Haelterman (KULeuven and Freshfields) to give his view on our country&#8217;s fiscal future. Haelterman identifies 5 important reform domains: fiscal simplification, fiscal investigations and procedures, a reallocation of the fiscal burden, exploring new fiscal horizons, and the regionalization of certain fiscal competences. With this report, the Itinera Institute merely wishes to provoke the debate. The opinions expressed are those of the author. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Mar 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/reflections-on-fiscal-policy-20112015/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/reflections-on-fiscal-policy-20112015/</guid>
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<title>Reforming Belgium&#8217;s fiscal system: from necessity to opportunity</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Most industrialized countries have problems with their public finances. Fiscal reforms have become a must. How does are fiscal system look like today and what are our options? What are the basic principles to respect when reforming a fiscal system? Senior Fellow Etienne de Callata&#255; tries to answer these questions through the concrete application of a consumption tax. The paper is a part of the Fast Forward series. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Mar 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/reforming-belgiums-fiscal-system-from-necessity-to-opportunity/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/reforming-belgiums-fiscal-system-from-necessity-to-opportunity/</guid>
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<title>Why gender quota are no solution</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos takes issue with gender quotas for company boards. Quality, not gender, must remain the touch stone. Quotas are cosmetic measures that do not address causes. Government must fight discrimination, not organize it. A society with equal opportunities is not one with equal results.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 07 Mar 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/why-gender-quota-are-no-solution/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/why-gender-quota-are-no-solution/</guid>
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<title>The cost of tax expenditures in Belgium</title>
<description><![CDATA[ In this HIVA report (KUL), the authors sum up the cost of tax expenditures in Belgium as a whole. They start with an overview of our tax system before analyzing in detail several highly visible policies such as the notional interests and the &#8216;title-services&#8217;. Hence, they run an international comparison of our present tax system. Their conclusions are breathtaking: tax expenditures cost enormously for the state&#8217;s budget and increase inequality between taxpayers. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-cost-of-tax-expenditures-in-belgium/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-cost-of-tax-expenditures-in-belgium/</guid>
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<title>A region must be empowered to enact what the rest of the world does</title>
<description><![CDATA[  In a federal state, it is not acceptable that a Region would be prevented from implementing a policy which is a general practice in peer countries. The rest of the World must inspire us in our policy choices. The principle of &#8216;benchmarking&#8217; should therefore be included in our institutional reforms next to the other key principles such as responsibility, solidarity and collaboration. One cannot impose to a region a federal policy which way too different from policies prevailing in Belgium&#8217;s peers. That tells us Etienne de Callata&#255;&#8217;s last paper.  ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-region-must-be-empowered-to-enact-what-the-rest-of-the-world-does/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-region-must-be-empowered-to-enact-what-the-rest-of-the-world-does/</guid>
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<title>Revolution in the making</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Ivan Van de Cloot makes an economic analysis on the awakening in the Middle East. The desire for political freedom becomes stronger as a population becomes more prosperous, but we witness that in our current age the mobilization of opposition that can make regimes tumble becomes easier.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Feb 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/revolution-in-the-making/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/revolution-in-the-making/</guid>
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<title>We need to break through the crisis of the Belgian consensus model</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos diagnoses the ongoing difficulties with the new inter-sectorial bargaining agreement. Our consensus model is failing. Politicians and social partners stare at each other and freeze our democracy into one big Stockholm Syndrome. In the absence of political leadership, only a collective awakening to urgency and necessity can force a breakthrough.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Feb 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/we-need-to-break-through-the-crisis-of-the-belgian-consensus-model/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/we-need-to-break-through-the-crisis-of-the-belgian-consensus-model/</guid>
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<title>Tax revenues and tax reforms in the EU</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The financial and economic crisis resulted in severe challenges for public finances in many EU Member States. Tax revenue, which had been boosted during the boom years by tax-rich growth and rising asset prices, plummeted as a consequence of the automatic stabilisers inherent in the tax system, a reversal of the revenue windfalls from asset prices and the discretionary measures taken in support of domestic demand. Against this background, this European Commission report analyses tax revenue developments and recent tax reforms in EU Member States. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 27 Jan 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/tax-revenues-and-tax-reforms-in-the-eu/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/tax-revenues-and-tax-reforms-in-the-eu/</guid>
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<title>The special financing law for dummies</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Given its crucial role in the ongoing governmental negotiations, The Special Financing Law (SFL) has been in the spotlights for over 4 months now. In fact, this is a good thing as politicians often find the law way too technical for a thorough public debate and, according to them, only specialists are able to have an opinion on the matter. We firmly disagree. That something would be too complex to explain, for those who believe in a democratic &#8211; and therefore informed &#8211; debate, is a dubious point. It is up to the experts to reduce complexity and explain the fundamental political choices to an enlarged public. In this paper we try to meet this need by explaining the SFL in a comprehensive and understandable way.  ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Jan 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-special-financing-law-for-dummies/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-special-financing-law-for-dummies/</guid>
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<title>The inter-sectorial agreement: a Belgian compromise too far</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos detects a typical Belgian compromise in the new inter-sectorial bargaining agreement. The glass is half-full and half-empty: the social partners have played their roles as curators but have failed in their responsibility of reformers. Especially the construction of a uniform protection for blue collar and white collar workers misses a historical opportunity for modernizing dismissal protection.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 21 Jan 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-inter-sectorial-agreement-a-belgian-compromise-too-far/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-inter-sectorial-agreement-a-belgian-compromise-too-far/</guid>
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<title>A step-by-step plan to regionalize the unemployment insurance</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos reacts to the quarrel about the possible regionalization of unemployment insurance with a concrete step-by-step plan. The existing regional competences in labour market policy can be strengthened, resulting in a better labour market for all. The combination of autonomy and solidarity can be achieved through an appropriate financing mechanism.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 18 Jan 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-step-by-step-plan-to-regionalize-the-unemployment-insurance/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-step-by-step-plan-to-regionalize-the-unemployment-insurance/</guid>
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<title>Conflict and stability</title>
<description><![CDATA[ In the US the shift of power to the Far East creates a lot of unease. Countries like Belgium should also reflect on the shifting power structures, says Ivan Van de Cloot.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 14 Jan 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/conflict-and-stability/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/conflict-and-stability/</guid>
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<title>Proposal: Finding the right budgetary path</title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 13 Jan 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/findingtheightbudgetarypath/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/findingtheightbudgetarypath/</guid>
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<title>Finding the right budgetary path</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Belgium not only has to cut its deficit but also needs budget surpluses to consolidate public debt. It&#8217;s important not to be blinded by cyclical improvements as they will be dwarfed by new costs due to ageing. An ad hoc austerity committee can start preparing by identifying savings which will be predominantly expenditure cuts given our high tax burden.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 12 Jan 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/finding-the-right-budgetary-path/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/finding-the-right-budgetary-path/</guid>
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<title>Finding the right budgetary path: presentation</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Belgium not only has to cut its deficit but also needs budget surpluses to consolidate public debt. It&#8217;s important not to be blinded by cyclical improvements as they will be dwarfed by new costs due to ageing. An ad hoc austerity committee can start preparing by identifying savings which will be predominantly expenditure cuts given our high tax burden.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 12 Jan 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/finding-the-right-budgetary-path-presentation/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/finding-the-right-budgetary-path-presentation/</guid>
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<title>Pessimism in the Old West</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Rising economies from the Far East are increasingly putting pressure on the Old West. However, there is no reason why progress in say China should go at the expense of our prosperity. Structural measures are the best remedy against pessimism. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 07 Jan 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/pessimism-in-the-old-west/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/pessimism-in-the-old-west/</guid>
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<title>The Baby-boom Generation needs to take up its responsibility now</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos reflects on the new year. The year in which the first Baby-boomers reach the legal retirement age must be the year when this generation takes up its responsibility. The intergenerational solidarity upon which our welfare state is built is becoming a Ponzi scheme on the back of the young generation.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 03 Jan 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-baby-boom-generation-needs-to-take-up-its-responsibility-now/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-baby-boom-generation-needs-to-take-up-its-responsibility-now/</guid>
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<title>Looking for 24 000 new homes per year.Does supply follow the yearly increase in demand for housing? </title>
<description><![CDATA[ The Belgian housing prices have increased by one third since 2005. Structural factors can partly explain this price explosion. The difference between the yearly increase in the demand for houses and the yearly increase in the supply of new houses is central to this analysis. We conclude that there&#8217;s a shortage of 20 to 24 000 new houses per year for total housing supply to evolve at the same pace as total housing demand. This relative undersupply results in upward price pressure and is a consequence of a considerable increase in external migration since 2004 and the stabilisation or even shrinkage of the new estate activity during that same period. Moreover, the high real estate prices do not have a positive impact on the supply of extra houses through renovation or reconversion activities. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Dec 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/lookingfor24000-new-homes-per-year-does-supply-follow-the-yearly-increase-in-demand-for-housing/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/lookingfor24000-new-homes-per-year-does-supply-follow-the-yearly-increase-in-demand-for-housing/</guid>
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<title>Another Copernican revolution</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Etienne de Callata&#255; scrutinizes the German reforms of the past couple of years that have improved the country&#8217;s socioeconomic performance. When comparing with Belgium he has serious doubts about the revolutionary nature of the measures discussed during the institutional negotiations. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Dec 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/another-copernican-revolution/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/another-copernican-revolution/</guid>
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<title>How the crisis is exposing our national character</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos sees in national crisis policies an expression of the national character, in several countries. In Belgium one makes due. That mentality was our strength in times of foreign rule. But it is a major weakness in times of domestic political crisis.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 Dec 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-the-crisis-is-exposing-our-national-character/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-the-crisis-is-exposing-our-national-character/</guid>
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<title>The time of boom and bust</title>
<description><![CDATA[ We are living through turbulent times which shed a new light on the foundations of our system. During the period of Bretton Woods the economy knew more stability which could be inspiring for the way forward.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 29 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-time-of-boom-and-bust/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-time-of-boom-and-bust/</guid>
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<title>The curtain falls on Ireland</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The Irish story once again shows that banks being too big to fail can be fatal for small open economies. They should rationally be more risk adverse towards risks of systemic banks.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-curtain-falls-on-ireland/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-curtain-falls-on-ireland/</guid>
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<title>Effects of the proposed regional income tax on the regions&#8217; receipts</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Fiscal autonomy is the political issue of the past couple of months. Negotiations between Flanders and French speaking Belgium have been tripped up by it several times. It is essential that the financial consequences of a new, modified finance law are correctly being represented. No political or societal debate can benefit from wrong representations of the consequences of certain choices. On the contrary, only an open debate that takes nobody for a fool can and will lead to an agreement. This is the purpose of this Leuvens Economisch Standpunt that uses a calculation model that differs from all computations presented so far as it takes into account the taxation burden for every Flemish, Walloon and Brussels family. This allows to truly representing the progressivity effects of the proposed reform. Macro computations cannot do this. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 17 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/effects-of-the-proposed-regional-income-tax-on-the-regions-receipts/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/effects-of-the-proposed-regional-income-tax-on-the-regions-receipts/</guid>
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<title>Do not expect too much of a very expected reform</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Belgium&#8217;s institutional organisation is a problem and the distribution of competences between the federal state and the regions needs to be clarified. Although Etienne de Callata&#255; pleads for a necessary reform he warns that this reform will not solve our country&#8217;s troubles overnight. Reforms in other domains are needed as well. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/do-not-expect-too-much-of-a-very-expected-reform/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/do-not-expect-too-much-of-a-very-expected-reform/</guid>
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<title>How the social negociations can go beyond the wage norm</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos vents frustration at the recurrent black-and-white debate on wage moderation in Belgium. We need a broader social compact and a new consensus on competitiveness and a better labour market. That can break the tunnel vision on the bi-annual wage norm.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-the-social-negociations-can-go-beyond-the-wage-norm/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-the-social-negociations-can-go-beyond-the-wage-norm/</guid>
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<title>Unavoidable austerity can also be useful</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos explains why austerity is necessary and inevitable in Europe and Belgium. But the essence is smart austerity through structural reforms that have been postponed for too long. Austerity will hurt in the short run but should benefit us for ever afterwards.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/unavoidable-austerity-can-also-be-useful/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/unavoidable-austerity-can-also-be-useful/</guid>
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<title>How to measure of the added value of the public authorities</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Ivan Van de Cloot looks at the way the added value of the public authorities is measured. The traditional approach consists in measuring the government output via de costs in de national accounts. But this implies that we develop other measuring tools in order to control the government effectiveness.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 28 Oct 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-to-measure-of-the-added-value-of-the-public-authorities/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-to-measure-of-the-added-value-of-the-public-authorities/</guid>
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<title>No evident solution to the monetary chaos</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos reflects on the monetary chaos. The globalization crisis has reached a turning point. Will the West tolerate that China rewrites the rules in its own interests, or will it rise to defend a fair globalization for all?]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 22 Oct 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-wage-norm-crisis-institutional/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-wage-norm-crisis-institutional/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Fiscal policy after the crisis in the EU Member States</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Since the crisis, public finances strongly lost balance all over Europe. Governments try to adopt the necessary policies and reforms for a budgetary strictness, without discouraging the economic revival. This report of the European commission studies the evolution of the revenues from taxes as well as the recent tax reforms in Europe. Considering the high tax pressure on the labour market, how can we modify the structure of our tax system to generate new incomes without slowing down the demand? Experiences of our neighbours help us judging which measures should be taken and which ones to avoid.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 14 Oct 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/fiscal-policy-after-the-crisis-in-the-eu-member-states/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/fiscal-policy-after-the-crisis-in-the-eu-member-states/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>A social Europe needs austerity</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos reflects on the unions&#8217; European demonstration against austerity. Lax budgetary policy prior to the crisis, the missed opportunity of the Lisbon strategy, and the haphazard preparation of ageing have made the toll of the crisis very heavy. Austerity is not an option: it is a duty. Its terms can and should be debated, but our social model cannot survive without reforms and sound budgets.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 01 Oct 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-social-europe-needs-austerity/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-social-europe-needs-austerity/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Avoiding a limited perspective in politics</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Ivan Van de Cloot insists on the importance of hearing all reasonable opinions in a societal debate.  A recent example is the reform of secondary education in Flanders. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Sep 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/avoiding-a-limited-perspective-in-politics/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/avoiding-a-limited-perspective-in-politics/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>The wage norm crisis is institutional</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos explains how unions and employers both have their share of the truth in the discussion for wage development over 2011-12. We need an institutional framework that allows for variation between sectors and companies. Failing that, no priority strategy can be chosen without a strong government.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Sep 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-wage-norm-crisis-is-institutional/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-wage-norm-crisis-is-institutional/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Where is the Chinese danger for our export economy?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos warns for increasing nationalism and protectionism in China. The rise of Chinese state capitalism can become a Trojan horse for the West. An assertive Western trade policy, built upon a trans-Atlantic understanding, is essential.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 23 Sep 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/where-is-the-chinese-danger-for-our-export-economy/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/where-is-the-chinese-danger-for-our-export-economy/</guid>
<enclosure url="http://www.itinerainstitute.org/upl/1/default/doc/Nota%2059uk_MDV.pdf" length="133738" type="application/pdf" />
</item>
<item>
<title>Stronger capital rules, enforcing them now</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The new rules that the international financial community agreed upon through the Basel committee last weekend include higher capital buffers. According to Ivan Van de Cloot these will make sure that the financial sector pays a part of the costs whenever taken risks go bad.  Both profits and losses should be privatised. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Sep 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/stronger-capital-rules-enforcing-them-now/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/stronger-capital-rules-enforcing-them-now/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Decline is the alternative for reform and austerity</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos criticizes the unions&#8217; demonstration against pension reform and austerity. Working longer is crucial to absorbing the enormous demographic shift, to keeping pensions affordable and decent and to balancing the solidarity between the generations. Obstinate resistance postpones the necessary until it becomes inevitable and very painful.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/decline-is-the-alternative-for-reform-and-austerity/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/decline-is-the-alternative-for-reform-and-austerity/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>The crisis is our collective failure</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos explains how the budgetary crisis is our collective failure: neglect prior to the crisis and self-interest after the crisis. The morality of our crisis tale is that we have the duty to pass on the economy in better health to the next generation. Austerity to improve and by improving is the key ingredient of successful fiscal consolidation.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-crisis-is-our-collective-failure/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-crisis-is-our-collective-failure/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Solutions for Brussels</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Within the framework of the governmental negotiations on Brussels, Ivan Van de Cloot analyses the budgetary situation of our capital as well as its capacity to reimburse its debt. In the light of the relative uncertainty of the reorganisation of our country he advances lines of thinking and solutions about the difficulties and challenges that a capital as ours has to deal with. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/solutions-for-brussels/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/solutions-for-brussels/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Towards a mature system of financing ?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Belgium&#8217;s political complexity too often hampers effective and efficient policymaking. Given the precarious budgetary situation of the federal state we need to thoroughly reconsider our country&#8217;s financial mechanisms. In his analysis, Ivan Van de Cloot insists on the importance of expense responsibility and on the fact that there are several ways to achieve that goal. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/towards-a-mature-system-of-financing-/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/towards-a-mature-system-of-financing-/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>A sound fiscal relation between the federal and the regional level </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Belgium&#8217;s political complexity too often hampers effective and efficient policymaking. Given the precarious budgetary situation of the federal state we need to thoroughly reconsider our country&#8217;s financial mechanisms. In his analysis, Ivan Van de Cloot insists on the importance of expense responsibility and on the fact that there are several ways to achieve that goal. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-sound-fiscal-relation-between-the-federal-and-the-regional-level/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-sound-fiscal-relation-between-the-federal-and-the-regional-level/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>The Great Recession&#8217;s real labor market legacy</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos offers perspectives on the differing labour market performances among countries during the Great Recession. The main cause is economics, not labour market policies. But the crisis has further deepened the rift between insiders and outsiders on the labour market, while the temptation for more political management of the labour market is continuing.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/xx/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/xx/</guid>
<enclosure url="http://www.itinerainstitute.org/upl/1/default/doc/Nota%2053_recession_MDV.pdf" length="156323" type="application/pdf" />
</item>
<item>
<title>Regionalize the use of unemployment benefits</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos makes three proposals to fortify the regional capacity for more job opportunities in Belgium: competence over control and sanctions, master of the suitable job description, and the use of unemployment benefits. In this way, one overcomes old dogmas while having the best of three worlds.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/regionalize-the-use-of-unemployment-benefits/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/regionalize-the-use-of-unemployment-benefits/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>More cushions to face a volatile food market</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Only two years after the food crisis of 2008, something is wrong again with our food production. According to Ivan Van de Cloot we have to look beyond our short-term self interest. Not only should we evaluate what a change of the European agricultural policy will do with farmers in the South, but we should also learn from recent experiences to develop a more sustainable agricultural production. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/more-cushions-to-face-a-volatile-food-market/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/more-cushions-to-face-a-volatile-food-market/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Football World Cup 2018: economic opportunity or own-goal?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Belgium &amp; the Netherlands are putting themselves forward to organize the 2018 World cup. According to Johan Albrecht and Ruben Laleman, the word cup could be a nice economic opportunity if a clever investment strategy is put in place.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/footballworldcup2018economicopportunityorowngoal/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/footballworldcup2018economicopportunityorowngoal/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Austerity measures and the need of political coordination (2)</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Even if we manage to save 22 billion Euros, that will not be enough to cushion the magnitude of our public debt and the increasing costs of ageing after 2015, says Ivan Van de Cloot. In order to face these two challenges, we will need more coordination of European policies. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Why the battle for democracy remains important</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos reflects on the international decline of democracy. He sees democracy discredited, both through impotence and unwillingness. But rich authoritarian regimes are dangerous. The West must continue to defend democracy and spread its ideals.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/why-the-battle-for-democracy-remains-important/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/why-the-battle-for-democracy-remains-important/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Total tax contribution</title>
<description><![CDATA[ With an average total tax rate of 52%, companies in Belgium continue to bear one of the heaviest overall tax burdens at an international level. In recent years, no significant reduction in the overall tax burden has taken place.  Instead, 20 additional taxes have been identified since 2007. These are the highlights of the second Total Tax Contribution report by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Federation of Enterprises in Belgium.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/total-tax-contribution/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/total-tax-contribution/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Empower civil servants</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Not available in this language]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/empower-civil-servants/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/empower-civil-servants/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Make the cost of government more transparent</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Not available in this language]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/clarifier-les-couts-dans-le-service-publique/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/clarifier-les-couts-dans-le-service-publique/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Make the public sector accountable</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Not available in this language]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/test/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/test/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Austerity measures and the need of political coordination </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Even if we manage to save 22 billion Euros, that won&#8217;t be enough to cushion the magnitude of our public debt and the increasing costs of ageing after 2015, says Ivan Van de Cloot. In order to face these two challenges, we&#8217;ll need more coordination of European policies. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/austerity-measures-and-the-need-of-political-coordination/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/austerity-measures-and-the-need-of-political-coordination/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>There is no alternative for austerity and reform</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos explains why the international economic context further complicates the Belgian scene. Slower growth and the risk of a double dip require level-headed policy. The state can do no more. Austerity and reform are inevitable. A stable and strong government is necessary.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/there-is-no-alternative-for-austerity-and-reform/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/there-is-no-alternative-for-austerity-and-reform/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Democracy needs economic growth</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Ivan Van de Cloot warns for the consequences of stagnating economic growth. In parts of the world where the economy is stationary, more resources are invested in the exploitation of others. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/democratie-needs-economic-growth/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/democratie-needs-economic-growth/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Make recruitment and appointments in the public sector more objective</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Not available in this language

]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/make-recruitment-and-appointments-in-the-public-sector-more-objective/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/make-recruitment-and-appointments-in-the-public-sector-more-objective/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Move to a single statute for civil servants</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Not available in this language]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/move-to-a-single-statute-for-civil-servants/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/move-to-a-single-statute-for-civil-servants/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Promote job satisfaction in the public sector</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Not available in this language]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/promote-job-satisfaction-in-the-public-sector/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/promote-job-satisfaction-in-the-public-sector/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Promote mobility in the public sector</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Not avaiable in this language]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/promote-mobility-in-the-public-sector/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/promote-mobility-in-the-public-sector/</guid>
</item>
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<title>Simplify management plans in public administration</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Not available in this language]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/de-overheid-moet-eenvoudigere-beheersplannen-nastreven-met-een-beperkt-aantal-duidelijke-en-strategische-doelstellingen/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/de-overheid-moet-eenvoudigere-beheersplannen-nastreven-met-een-beperkt-aantal-duidelijke-en-strategische-doelstellingen/</guid>
</item>
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<title>Specify the results of public administration</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Not available in this language]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/het-overheidsbeleid-moet-door-onafhankelijke-structuren-en-aan-de-hand-van-key-performance-indicators-beoordeeld-en-opgevolgd-worden/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/het-overheidsbeleid-moet-door-onafhankelijke-structuren-en-aan-de-hand-van-key-performance-indicators-beoordeeld-en-opgevolgd-worden/</guid>
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<title>Strive for excellence in the public sector</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Not available in this language]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/strive-for-excellence-in-the-public-sector/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/strive-for-excellence-in-the-public-sector/</guid>
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<title>Hit parade of the election promises: how to finance? </title>
<description><![CDATA[ In these election times the political parties seem to have forgotten the harsh economic reality. The programmes propose a series of expenses but say very little about how they should be financed. Jean Hindriks and Isabelle Martin wonder how parties will be able to keep their word given the budgetary and demographic challenges our economies face. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/hit-parade-of-the-election-promiseshowtofinance/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/hit-parade-of-the-election-promiseshowtofinance/</guid>
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<title>Austerity through reform in public governance and in healthcare</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos supports the austerity goals but stresses that austerity needs to be tied to clever and structural reform. Linear cost reduction is the easy way that will not necessarily yield effective public governance and efficient healthcare. Structural reform can turn the crisis into a great opportunity.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 07 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/austerity-through-reform-in-public-governance-and-in-healthcare/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/austerity-through-reform-in-public-governance-and-in-healthcare/</guid>
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<title>No endless negotiations in times of crisis</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The financial markets are still very nervous about government debts. Governments cannot seriously expect to print bonds endlessly and see their problems vanish into thin air. Our population cannot be sacrificed because of a lack of decisiveness in turbulent times. In fact, we cannot even afford long government negotiations and vagueness about our determination to solve the budgetary challenge, Ivan Van de Cloot says.  ]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 04 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/no-endless-negotiations-in-times-of-crisis/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/no-endless-negotiations-in-times-of-crisis/</guid>
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<title>Common-sense and realism have to stop the culture of promises</title>
<description><![CDATA[ One week before the elections savings are the subject of the day, at least in Flanders. The voters finally get the debate they deserve: what recovery policy do we need to realize a structural budgetary effort of 22 billion Euros? According to Marc De Vos, Ivan Van de Cloot and Brieuc Van Damme, the gap between the needed budgetary efforts and what is being promised in the election programmes is astonishingly deep however.  ]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 03 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/common-sense-and-realism-have-to-stop-the-culture-of-promises/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/common-sense-and-realism-have-to-stop-the-culture-of-promises/</guid>
</item>
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<title>Evaluation of tax evasion in Belgium</title>
<description><![CDATA[ In 2008, the fight against tax evasion gave rise to &#8364;4billions. However, according to many social partners, this fight is far from being won and has to be strengthened. In this period of budgetary crisis, extra revenues would be more than needed to restore the stability of our public finance and face the financing issue of ageing. By using two different evaluation methods, this DULBEA report highlights us on the scope of current tax evasion and convinces us to adjust our fight.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 27 May 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/tax-evasion-in-belgium-evaluation/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/tax-evasion-in-belgium-evaluation/</guid>
</item>
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<title>The figures of realism on budget and ageing</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos explains how Belgium faces a daunting budgetary challenge, with major austerity in the short-run and the need for budget surpluses in the medium term. At the same time, structural reforms in social security are inevitable and economic potential must improve, while state reform will crown it all. The following government will be on of blood, sweat, toil, and tears.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 21 May 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-figures-of-realism-on-budget-and-ageing/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-figures-of-realism-on-budget-and-ageing/</guid>
</item>
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<title>A stable euro requires more economic potential</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos argues that the real euro-crisis is not today&#8217;s fiscal profligacy, but tomorrow&#8217;s economic potential. The cardinal issue for the euro is whether its member states will be able to avoid a welfare state trap: will they be able to reform before such reform becomes mutilation that furthers decline, instead of reversing it. Political scapegoating needs to stop. Structural reforms to boost growth and competitiveness are essential.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 May 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-stable-euro-requires-more-economic-potential/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-stable-euro-requires-more-economic-potential/</guid>
<enclosure url="http://www.itinerainstitute.org/upl/1/en/doc/mdv_OpinionTemp_uk37.pdf" length="132019" type="application/pdf" />
</item>
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<title>A European response to the speculation twister</title>
<description><![CDATA[ If your house burns down because of imprudence, don&#8217;t worry, firemen will come. It is the insurance company you may have trouble with. By analogy, the EU can help the Greek and other economies, but cannot bail them out. We can blame the financial market&#8217;s speculative irrationality, but that doesn&#8217;t mean that a certain number of countries will not have to push for fundamental reforms in order to be creditworthy. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 11 May 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-european-response-to-the-speculation-twister/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-european-response-to-the-speculation-twister/</guid>
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<item>
<title>Belgium&#8217;s elections are too important to boycott.</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos reacts against the grassroots movement to boycott Belgium&#8217;s early elections in June. He shares must of its frustration but underscores the historical importance of the elections. We not only have a date with the political class on June 13, but also with the next generation.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 04 May 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/belgiums-elections-are-too-important-to-boycott/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/belgiums-elections-are-too-important-to-boycott/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>The cost of Belgium's political structure</title>
<description><![CDATA[ In a well managed company there is a clear strategy and the company&#8217;s structure is fashioned in order to reach that target. A political structure is more complex because there&#8217;s a lot of disagreement on the strategy to follow. It remains nevertheless crucial to manage the administration as efficiently as possible, which is absolutely not the case in Belgium today.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 04 May 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-cost-of-the-politic-structure/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-cost-of-the-politic-structure/</guid>
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<item>
<title>Towards a new vehicle industry in Flanders: reaction of Wilson De Pril, Agoria</title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/towards-a-new-vehicle-industry-in-flanders/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/towards-a-new-vehicle-industry-in-flanders/</guid>
<enclosure url="http://www.itinerainstitute.org/upl/1/default/doc/2010_Forum1%20veh%20ind.pdf" length="142810" type="application/pdf" />
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<item>
<title>China can also be Belgium&#8217;s locomotive</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos identifies three big trends in our post-crisis world. Slow growth, high unemployment and public debt are the West&#8217;s destiny. But the developing countries are a bright spot for us. China &amp; co are not only competitors, but increasingly also our potential customers.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/china-can-also-be-belgiums-locomotive/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/china-can-also-be-belgiums-locomotive/</guid>
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<item>
<title>What is the matter with Belgium?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos sketches Belgium&#8217;s regime crisis. He explains how the surreal and symbolic division over &#8220;BHV&#8221; has fundamental value, but that it is also only the precursor of internal divisions over very real policy reform issues.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/what-is-the-matter-with-belgium/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/what-is-the-matter-with-belgium/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Can we afford a political crisis?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Ivan Van de Cloot analyses the impact of a political crisis on the financial markets. It&#8217;s a good thing financial crises require extra risk premiums from countries with a credibility problem. This can discipline them to push for structural reforms so as to improve their long term solvability. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/can-we-afford-a-political-crisis/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/can-we-afford-a-political-crisis/</guid>
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<item>
<title>The future of public debt</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Since the start of the financial crisis, industrial country public debt levels have increased dramatically. And they are set to continue rising for the foreseeable future, the authors of this Bank of International Settlements publication warn us. Their projections of public debt ratios lead them to conclude that the path pursued by fiscal authorities in a number of industrial countries is unsustainable. Drastic measures are necessary to check the rapid growth of current and future liabilities of governments and reduce their adverse consequences for long-term growth and monetary stability.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-future-of-public-debt/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-future-of-public-debt/</guid>
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<item>
<title>A financing bill that offers breathing space and seeks accountability </title>
<description><![CDATA[ There&#8217;s a widespread consensus that financing ageing will be one of the biggest policy challenges for the years to come. This is not different for Belgium or its neighbours. In Belgium with its complex federal structure, however, a couple of extra dimensions have to be taken into account. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-financing-bill-that-offers-breathing-space-and-seeks-accountability/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-financing-bill-that-offers-breathing-space-and-seeks-accountability/</guid>
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<item>
<title>Interview with the new Senior Fellows</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The Itinera Institute attracted 3 new Senior Fellows, all specialists in their field. What made them take this step?Lieven Annemans, Dave Sinardet and Etienne de Callata&#255; explain.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/interview-with-the-new-senior-fellows/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/interview-with-the-new-senior-fellows/</guid>
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<item>
<title>The European Union needs more economic union</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos sees how the Eurocrisis is undermining the European Union. Europe still serves first and foremost its Member States, and not vice-versa. This is bad news for Europe, for the smaller Member States, and for Belgium in particular. The Eurocrisis is an opportunity for more economic union.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-european-union-needs-more-economic-union/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-european-union-needs-more-economic-union/</guid>
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<item>
<title>Comparison of Belgian Regions&#8217; and Communities&#8217; public expenditures</title>
<description><![CDATA[ To which extend do public expenditures differ between Regions and Communities in Belgium? Do they use it for the same goals? This CEPRE (FUNDP) report presents the structure of their respective public expenditures. By doing so, the authors can draw some conclusions about the implicit priorities behind these budgetary choices. With respect to Flanders, Wallonia would spend relatively more money in economic expansion and professional training while Flanders would invest relatively more in applied and scientific research.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 14 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/comparison-of-belgian-regions-and-communities-public-expenditures/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/comparison-of-belgian-regions-and-communities-public-expenditures/</guid>
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<item>
<title>Bridge or tunnel: don&#8217;t forget the taxpayer</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Often, public investments are not based upon economic arguments but turn out to be a real horse trading. Economists, on the other hand, always plead in favour of weighing social benefits against societal costs (including potential pernicious effects on health and environment). Public authorities oblige everybody to financially support their projects. It is only normal they should manage that money well.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/bridge-or-tunnel-taxpayer/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/bridge-or-tunnel-taxpayer/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Bank taxes are no substitute for financial reform.</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos warns for a &#8220;tobacco scenario&#8221; for the financial sector, with taxes as an alternative for financial reregulation. Taxing bank profits merely addresses a symptom, while leaving the underlying problem unaddressed.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/bank-taxes-are-no-substitute-for-financial-reform/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/bank-taxes-are-no-substitute-for-financial-reform/</guid>
<enclosure url="http://www.itinerainstitute.org/upl/1/en/doc/NOTA%2025%202010%20MDV.pdf" length="116655" type="application/pdf" />
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<item>
<title>Video: Budgettary recovery in bad times</title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/video-budgettary-recovery-in-bad-times/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/video-budgettary-recovery-in-bad-times/</guid>
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<item>
<title>Budget and labor reform are crucial for the pension debate</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos finds the current political proposals on pension reform too informal, too vague and not sufficiently penetrated with the gravity of the budgetary crisis.  The pension problem is foremost a budgetary problem, and working longer is not sufficient without a labour market reform.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/budget-and-labor-reform-are-crucial-for-the-pension-debate/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/budget-and-labor-reform-are-crucial-for-the-pension-debate/</guid>
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<item>
<title>The Oosterweel junction revisited </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Antwerp&#8217;s traffic jams, and even more so the suggested solutions, continue to mobilise media and public opinion. This LES paper (KUL) assesses the Oosterweel junction, a new tunnel under the river Scheldt, that aims to alleviate the congestion on the existing tunnels and on the Ring of Antwerp. The authors&#8217; model is used to compare alternatives with and without the new tunnel. The alternatives include different combinations of tolls and bans on trucks. The cost-benefit analysis concludes that the first priority is not to build new capacity but to remove the pricing distortions on the existing capacity. The alternatives that include a pricing reform are the only ones that generate a positive net benefit; almost all scenarios that include the new tunnel have a negative net benefit.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-oosterweel-junction-revisited/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-oosterweel-junction-revisited/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Choosing failure or success</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Why do we tackle crucial problems so insufficiently ? It is because they are too tricky or because we do not manage to acknowledge them or to adopt an action plan? Pure economic issues of unemployment, poverty, pension financing, competition en public debt are more complex than ecological issues but we still defer the moment when we will deal with them.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/choosing-failure-or-success/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/choosing-failure-or-success/</guid>
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<item>
<title>Economic growth is the most important policy priority</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos comments the pitiful socio-economic situation in Belgium. In the next years, each government will have three inevitable priorities: budgetary recovery through saving and taxation, economic recovery with more growth and jobs, and a fundamental social security reform, both in the organization and in the financing. Economic recovery is the most important, but it also requires a mentality shift from politicians and administrations. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/economic-growth-is-the-most-important-policy-priority/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/economic-growth-is-the-most-important-policy-priority/</guid>
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<item>
<title>The 10 commandments for a succesful Industrial Policy in Belgium</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Since we only think about it in times of crisis,Belgium fails in terms of industrial policy.
We urgently need to determine the conditions for government support.
The Itinera Institute established the 10 commandments for a succesful industrial policy.
]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/industrieel-beleid/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/industrieel-beleid/</guid>
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<item>
<title>State capitalism is the real enemy of fair free-trade</title>
<description><![CDATA[ A new study from the World Trade Organization reports no significant intensification of trade or investment restriction since September 2009. This is good news for anyone who values global prosperity, and that includes Belgium. But Marc De Vos warns us of a more fundamental threat: the rise of state capitalism right after the crisis. The trend to State-led economic development goes against the principles of free trade, the same principles that gave us more global welfare.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/state-capitalism-is-the-real-enemy-of-fair-free-trade/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/state-capitalism-is-the-real-enemy-of-fair-free-trade/</guid>
<enclosure url="http://www.itinerainstitute.org/upl/1/default/doc/NOTA%2020%20MDV.pdf" length="113907" type="application/pdf" />
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<item>
<title>Philanthropy, also in times of crisis </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Philanthropy could be considered as an economic activity that creates welfare: a donation of 500 Euros, for example, means that the act of giving is worth more to the donator than the given amount of 500. The receiver&#8217;s welfare will increase too, and therefore we could speak of a philanthropy multiplicator effect. Encouraging philanthropy by fiscal means can thus be seen as creating value added.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/philanthropy-also-in-times-of-crisis/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/philanthropy-also-in-times-of-crisis/</guid>
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<item>
<title>Administrative costs in Belgium </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Between 2006 and 2008, administrative costs have decreased by 23% to reach &#8364;5.92 billions. To what extend can these costs be an obstacle to companies&#8217; development and functioning in Belgium? Did the administrative simplification process have the expected impact? This Federal Plan Bureau report allows us to know how the self-employed and companies perceive all this.  ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/administrative-costs-in-belgium/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/administrative-costs-in-belgium/</guid>
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<title>Public Service Reform: Capable Communities</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Society has to address a range of complex problems which post-war institutions were not designed to fix: chronic health conditions related to lifestyle, ageing populations, climate change and anti-social behaviour. Citizens themselves, whether as individuals or communities, should therefore participate much more than they are currently in the delivery of public services, this IPPR-PWC paper advocates. The authors set out the case for community empowerment, before examining how this important agenda can move from the margins to the mainstream of the policy agenda.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/public-service-reform-capable-communities/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/public-service-reform-capable-communities/</guid>
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<item>
<title>Social security as a tool, not as a goal</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos reflects about the necessity of a welfare state reform. We can create a breathing space by realizing that social protection can do without social security.  Social protection has an economic future. Acting for this future also means acting for the future of social security. Social security can improve if we consider it as a tool and not as a goal on itself.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/social-security-as-a-tool-not-as-a-goal/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/social-security-as-a-tool-not-as-a-goal/</guid>
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<title>Consuming more or consuming less</title>
<description><![CDATA[ During the twentieth century, the global population increased by 6 billions (four times more) and the industrial production increased by a factor 40. Our energy consumption went up by a factor 16 and CO&#178; emissions by a factor 10. In this context, it is crucial to wonder if our current consumption pattern will endanger the living standards of future generations to come. The conclusion seems to be that it is not so much our consumption level that will endanger our well-being in the long run, but rather the composition of what we consume (e.g. polluting goods versus less polluting goods)]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/consuming-or-consuming-less/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/consuming-or-consuming-less/</guid>
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<item>
<title>When will Belgium let unwillingness and incapacity behind her?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos makes some New Year reflections about the state of Belgium. In his view, we had a lost decade with unwillingness and incapacity. First, change will come step by step. The federal elections pulse will then really be necessary to put an end to incapacity.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/when-will-belgium-let-unwillingness-and-incapacity-behind-her/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/when-will-belgium-let-unwillingness-and-incapacity-behind-her/</guid>
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<item>
<title>How to reform the Belgian tax system to enhance economic growth?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ According to this OECD report, a reform of the Belgian tax system could help our economy go out of the crisis and make it grow faster. The author suggests reducing labour taxes in order to boost labour demand and supply, and raising less distortive tax sources like consumption and owner-occupied housing taxes. As we need to encourage companies to maintain and develop their business in our country, the corporate income tax system has to be properly modernised.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-to-reform-the-belgian-tax-system-to-enhance-economic-growth/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-to-reform-the-belgian-tax-system-to-enhance-economic-growth/</guid>
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<title>Opel Antwerp marks the unbearable comeback of the economic nationalism</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos points out how Opel Antwerp&#8217;s destiny is both an economic and politic story. Politics has a big influence on multinationals&#8217; restructuring, but Belgium had to give up in front of big countries like the US and Germany. Europe needs to put an end to the politization phenomenon and to economic nationalism as soon as possible.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/opel-antwerp-marks-the-unbearable-comeback-of-the-economic-nationalism/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/opel-antwerp-marks-the-unbearable-comeback-of-the-economic-nationalism/</guid>
</item>
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<title>The Great Paradox of future capitalism</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos warns about the long run consequences of the anti-crisis policy on the economy and the economic growth. The real economy, more than the financial economy, risks to be drawn again in the afterpain of the Great Recession. The crisis is more important than the crisis self.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-great-paradox-of-future-capitalism/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-great-paradox-of-future-capitalism/</guid>
<enclosure url="http://www.itinerainstitute.org/upl/1/default/doc/NOTA%205%20MDV.pdf" length="111166" type="application/pdf" />
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<item>
<title>Another job scheme is not the best way to tackle unemployment</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos considers the new job scheme as a step in the good direction, but warns us about its perverse effects. The related budget should have been better spent via individual career guidance.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/another-job-scheme-is-not-the-best-way-to-tackle-unemployment/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/another-job-scheme-is-not-the-best-way-to-tackle-unemployment/</guid>
</item>
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<title>All hands on deck for a responsible budgetary policy</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The Itinera Institute already urged in September 2009 that the government had to adopt more ambitious budgetary objectives. The exhortation from the High Council of Finance to do so is a real opportunity for everyone who cares about the fight for the guaranty of the essence of our social model.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/all-hands-on-deck-for-a-responsible-budgetary-policy/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/all-hands-on-deck-for-a-responsible-budgetary-policy/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Impact of the financial crisis and the bail-outs on the public debt and public finances</title>
<description><![CDATA[ How did the financial crisis bring the public debt at a rate not reached since 1993? How were bail-outs to the financial sector financed? This report from the Belgian Court of Audit answers these questions and reviews the strategies related to the management of the public debt and the guarantees offered to financial institutions. Given all the uncertainty surrounding these guarantees and the insecurity of reimbursement of capital injections and public credits, Belgian public finances remain at risk.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/impact-of-the-financial-crisis-and-the-bail-outs-on-the-public-debt-and-public-finances/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/impact-of-the-financial-crisis-and-the-bail-outs-on-the-public-debt-and-public-finances/</guid>
</item>
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<title>The free market needs strong rules</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The financial crisis reminds us once again at the wisdom that the free market, just like a football game needs rules to be able to function in an efficient and competitive way. We come out of a period where the sophism which means that new financial instruments can reduce the risk, was at its best. The lessons of this financial catastrofe will only be learnt, if we go back to the old insight that in order to reduce the risk, the financial sector best has to keep itself to certain limits. This will only happen if we impose these limits from outside just like Adam Smith suggested more than two hundred years ago. We do not expect that the players of a football game define themselves the rules on a football field, do we?]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-free-market-needs-strong-rules/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-free-market-needs-strong-rules/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>How to avoid Europe paying the price</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The model for which the economic historian Nial Ferguson invented the term Chimerica still holds: China is financing America&#8217;s exuberant way of living.   If the necessary adjustments are made through an important dollar depreciation, Europe will pay the price. Policy makers should therefore realize old doctrines will not be able to help them any longer. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-to-avoid-europe-paying-the-price/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-to-avoid-europe-paying-the-price/</guid>
</item>
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<title>Tax shifting: from labour to energy</title>
<description><![CDATA[ In comparison with Scandinavian countries, Belgium taxes energy relatively less than labour. But what would happen if we implemented a tax shift aimed at increasing taxes on energy and decreasing employers&#8217; or employees&#8217; labour taxes proportionally? In this report, the Federal Planning Bureau makes some simulations to answer the question. Even if the effect on the GDP is expected to be neutral, such a measure generates what economists call a double dividend: employment increases on the one hand and energy consumption and CO2 emissions decrease on the other hand. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/tax-shifting-from-labour-to-energy/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/tax-shifting-from-labour-to-energy/</guid>
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<title>Analysis of the Belgian budget 2010-2011</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Because of the economic crisis, budgetary negotiations weren&#8217;t exactly a stroll in the park for our ministers. They had to take into account the budgetary impact of the economic crisis, e.g an important reduction of tax revenues and the increase of expenditures in unemployment benefits. In this report, the Belgian Court of Audit makes comments and observations about the last federal budget. We noticed, among other things, many new measures having been introduced, and a poorly fed Ageing Fund.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/analysis-of-the-belgian-budget-2010-2011/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/analysis-of-the-belgian-budget-2010-2011/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Modernizing the public service during the crisis!</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The public service versus the demographic impact, the war of talent and the digital revolution: which actions to undertake?]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/modernizing-the-public-service-during-the-crisis/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/modernizing-the-public-service-during-the-crisis/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Institutions and structural unemployment in times of crisis</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Unemployment in the OECD area is projected to rise by over 25 million from 2007 to 2010, by far the largest and the most rapid increase in the post-war period. But some countries&#8217; labour market have been hit harder than others during the Great Recession. According to this OECD working paper, institutions (such as Employment Protection Legislation, average replacement ratio and product market regulation) influence both the extent of the initial shock and the adjustment pattern in the aftermath of a downturn. Especially stringent institutional settings seem to magnify a crisis&#8217; effect on structural unemployment, the researchers say. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/institutions-and-structural-unemployment-in-times-of-crisis/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/institutions-and-structural-unemployment-in-times-of-crisis/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Let ideas flow  to counter conformist thinking</title>
<description><![CDATA[ In the wake of the financial crisis, many mainstream economic taboos are being questioned. The efficient market hypothesis is one of the ideas that has to cope with the most pressure. How could the theory that financial markets are efficient be so dominantly accepted among economists? Experimentation tells us that people only dare to question the majority&#8217;s opinion or the status quo when diverging views are being defended in the public debate. If not, there is a high risk of painful truths remaining untold. In other words: for a democracy to be effective, ideas need to flow. Concretely, breaking with the efficient market hypothesis means central banks will have to get their hands dirty in order to burst remaining bubbles. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/let-ideas-flow--to-counter-conformist-thinking/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/let-ideas-flow--to-counter-conformist-thinking/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>How to break network monopolies in the energy sector? </title>
<description><![CDATA[ The agreement on the three oldest atomic power stations between the nuclear electricity sector and the government risks shutting down the electricity market for a long time. If we want to give competition a chance in this key sector we need a completely new strategy. For that to happen, our government has to be convinced that balanced competition is crucial of our energy policy though. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-to-break-network-monopolies-in-the-energy-sector/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-to-break-network-monopolies-in-the-energy-sector/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Tax Credits to Prevent Layoffs and Stimulate Employment</title>
<description><![CDATA[ While there is much talk about the economy potentially being in recovery, it must be noted that we still have an extraordinarily high unemployment rate. This will continue for years to come unless we act decisively to confront the issue. In this CEPR analysis the authors suggest a job sharing tax credit as an effective temporary measure. The basic point is simple: job sharing would use tax money to pay firms to shorten the typical workweek or work year, while keeping pay constant. An idea worth scrutinizing for the troubled Belgian labour market.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/tax-credits-to-prevent-layoffs-and-stimulate-employment/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/tax-credits-to-prevent-layoffs-and-stimulate-employment/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>The state of the union is unsufficient!</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The Van Rompuy government did the absolute minimum where the budget is concerned.This is not enough. The government. misses long term vision and political courage to achieve structural reform. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-state-of-the-union-is-unsufficient/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-state-of-the-union-is-unsufficient/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>The &#8216;Oosterweelverbinding&#8217; and the missing alternative</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The planned Oosterweelverbinding has, as every massive infrastructure project, caused a lot of commotion. This KULeuven working paper doesn&#8217;t plead in favour of one of the two choices that completely dominate the debate today. In stead, the authors say the focus on both options narrows the debate down. Have all alternatives to improve Antwerp&#8217;s mobility been scrutinized? Is there any way to improve the existing infrastructure? If so, is a bridge or a tunnel still necessary? In other words, do the existing projects make sense or are there better alternatives? A study that could really shake up the debate a week before the plebiscite.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-oosterweelverbinding-and-the-missing-alternative/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-oosterweelverbinding-and-the-missing-alternative/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>The long run needs to be reconciled with the short run</title>
<description><![CDATA[ In the long run, we are all dead. This witticism from Keynes is known by almost everybody. Schumpeter, only interested in the long run, seems to be the antipode of Keynes. The question is to realize that the long run is more than a succession of short runs by surpassing it with a strategic vision.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-long-run-needs-to-be-reconciled-with-the-short-run/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-long-run-needs-to-be-reconciled-with-the-short-run/</guid>
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<item>
<title>10 actions to modernize our public services</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Ten concrete actions to modernize our public services and succeed in the demographic revival among civil servants.
]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/10-actions-to-modernize-our-public-services/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/10-actions-to-modernize-our-public-services/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Budgetary recovery in bad times</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Even before the crisis, we knew that the next generations would have to pay for the financing of our pensions and health care. But on top of this big challenge, we are facing a deep crisis today. Many call for a so-called &#8220;deficit-spending&#8221;. Because it seems unacceptable to charge the next generation for this also, we propose a number of alternative tracks.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/budgetary-recovery-in-bad-times/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/budgetary-recovery-in-bad-times/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Taxation trends in the European Union</title>
<description><![CDATA[ How high are taxes in Europe? Are tax levels increasing or decreasing? How is the tax burden shared between labour, capital and consumption? How does Belgium compare with the other Member States? This Eurostat report analyses these and other questions. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/taxation-trends-in-the-european-union/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/taxation-trends-in-the-european-union/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>A first attempt to measure the quality of public finances in the EU</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The quality of public finances (QPF) has always been a subject of concern. Indeed, which country would not want to improve it knowing that it can help delivering public services efficiently and effectively and creating conditions conductive to economic growth? In this paper, the European Commission has developed a multi-dimensional concept evaluating the strengths and weaknesses in twelve areas of public finances linked to economic growth. This is thus an interesting way for Belgium to evaluate its QPF over the years, to compare itself with other European countries and, why not, to learn something from them.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-first-attempt-to-measure-the-quality-of-public-finances-in-the-eu/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-first-attempt-to-measure-the-quality-of-public-finances-in-the-eu/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>A VAT reduction in the horeca sector: at which price?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The cost of a VAT reduction in the horeca sector could be higher than expected and the creation of new jobs disappointing. Our budgetary situation is critical and we can not take such a decision thoughtlessly. Let us have a look at what the French experience can teach us first.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-vat-reduction-in-the-horeca-sector-at-which-price/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-vat-reduction-in-the-horeca-sector-at-which-price/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>A crisis tax for banks?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Banks have to contribute to the budgetary deficit that was partly due to the financial crisis. If we find a correct way to make the banks pay for the risk they impose on society, then our financial system could benefit from it.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-crisis-tax-for-banks/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-crisis-tax-for-banks/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>The challenges for the Belgian voucher payment system for services </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Vouchers have increasingly become a common mode of payment for personal services in Belgium, with a 53% increase in use during the period 2006-2007. They take part in policy to finance the demand for services and bring undeclared labor in the official labor market. But are vouchers an effective means for those goals? This article from the European Trade Union Institute investigates the drivers for the development of personal services and evaluates the payment method with vouchers. The author compares the Belgian and French systems and determines the challenges that lie ahead for both systems concerning the cost, and the quality of employment.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-challenges-for-the-belgian-voucher-payment-system-for-services/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-challenges-for-the-belgian-voucher-payment-system-for-services/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Video column: More emphasis on a better financing model in Belgium!</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The financing model of federal Belgium is untenable. At the one hand more regional autonomy in corporate tax is desirable. At the other hand there is a need for more empowerment in the regional expense of federal grants. This is possible through a system of bonus/malus based on objective performance indicators.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/videocolumn-more-emphasis-on-a-better-financing-model-in-belgium/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/videocolumn-more-emphasis-on-a-better-financing-model-in-belgium/</guid>
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<title>The financial crisis requires more international politics</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos shares the collective rage with respect to the outrageous bonuses in investment banks. But he points out the political responsibility. In times of crisis, political choices reinforced the position of big investment banks. Not only is the casino still open, on top of that, the same players are still at the gaming tables with more opportunities to play than before and more chances to win. Without any international consensus over new rules of the game, we may slide off to &#8220;business as usual&#8221;.  ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-financial-crisis-requires-more-international-politics/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-financial-crisis-requires-more-international-politics/</guid>
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<title>To promote financial stability wisely</title>
<description><![CDATA[ In the United States, they have to decide who will become the new governor of the Federal Reserve.  Instead of focusing on the mental state of an individual and his attitude towards inflation, it would be better to build in structural mechanisms.  So for example is stated in the contract of the central banker of New-Zealand, that he can be dismissed from the moment the control on inflation is lost. The issue of inflation-linked bonds by the public authorities could also be an efficient instrument. These are state bonds with interest payments depending on the inflation rate evolution.  This demonstrates that public authorities are not going to choose the &#171; nuclear &#187; option to diminish their debt position by creating inflation.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/to-promote-financial-stability-wisely/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/to-promote-financial-stability-wisely/</guid>
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<title>Video Column: Administration should encourage entrepreneurship, not dampen it</title>
<description><![CDATA[ For several years now there have been attempts to measure de administrative burden for entrepreneurs. The results are very disappointing and so far there is little or no proof that these charges are going down.
This is a pity, especially because measures to alleviate administrative burden won't cost government a cent.
]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/video-column-administration-should-encourage-entrepreneurship-not-dampen-it/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/video-column-administration-should-encourage-entrepreneurship-not-dampen-it/</guid>
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<title>The situation of our public finances</title>
<description><![CDATA[ More than ever the financial situation of our kingdom is in the spotlight. At the beginning of the decennium everything seemed fine, with balanced budgets and even the Silver fund. Today, we know better. We&#8217;re not talking about budget surpluses anymore, but about containing budget deficits. Yet, everybody knows what&#8217;s coming to us, and there&#8217;s no such thing as a magic spell to change it. In this article, Koen Algoed from the think-tank VIVES draws the situation of our public finances, and discusses a couple of efficient and fair measures to readjust the situation. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-situation-of-our-public-finances/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-situation-of-our-public-finances/</guid>
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<title>The government&#8217;s role in the financial crisis</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The financial crisis has necessitated intervention from the governments and questions the stability of the financial sector. This OECD report concentrates on reforms in the financial sector and the principles for the exit strategy of the emergency measures of the government. Guidelines for reforms are proposed which aim at bringing a balance between risk and the search for return in banking. The reasons why the exit strategy must be coordinated with the reforms in the financial sector are also explained. Interesting guidelines therefore for steering the Belgian policy.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-governments-role-in-the-financial-crisis/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-governments-role-in-the-financial-crisis/</guid>
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<title>Budget deficits</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Among al the regional agreements, the Flemish one sadly stands alone when it comes to numerically clarifying the way politicians are going to manage public money. Imposing the improvement of the annual productivity of all public services and having public servants deciding by themselves how to reach these objectives definitely is a practice to recommend. And it goes without saying that this method has already been successfully tested abroad. The Itinera axes for modern and better public authorities are already a first step towards a culture of evaluation, which enables public performance to be improved by objectively evaluating the impact, the quality and the efficiency of public actions and to inform citizens about quality and results. Results, more than necessities, should determine budget allocations. .]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/budget-deficits/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/budget-deficits/</guid>
</item>
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<title>Budgetary perspectives of Wallonia: 2009-2019</title>
<description><![CDATA[ In full negotiations for Wallonia&#8217;s political program to come, the CERPE (FUNDP) publishes a new report on Wallonia&#8217;s budgetary perspectives for 2009-2019. It revises the 2009 initial budget set by the Plan Bureau, by using the revised inflation and growth expectations. Thanks to these new figures we&#8217;re able to evaluate the weight of regional revenues and expenditures in the total regional budget. Given the gloomy economical circumstances, to which extend will politicians be able to realize their electoral promises?]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/budgetary-perspectives-of-wallonia/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/budgetary-perspectives-of-wallonia/</guid>
</item>
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<title>Does Flanders need additional stimulus measures?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ On-the-job training is seen as an important driving force for a knowledge-based economy with a dynamic labor market. Should the government stimulate investments in on-the-job training? And is there need for new stimulus measures in Flanders? This report of the &#8216;Steunpunt Werk en Sociale Economie&#8217; explains the motives for government intervention and the different implementation possibilities. The author provides pros and cons for new stimulus measures in Flanders and draws conclusions which can direct the debate on government policy.  ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/does-flanders-need-additional-stimulus-measures/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/does-flanders-need-additional-stimulus-measures/</guid>
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<title>Who controls public contracts?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ According to a survey from Transparency International Belgium, a majority of the candidates for the last regional elections consider that subsidies and public contracts in Belgium are still being attributed with a lack of transparency. 30.4% of the Brussels candidates, 35.5% of the Walloon candidates and 59.9% of the Flemish candidates have doubts about the public contracts procedure and its ability to guarantee transparency and equal treatment among competitors.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/who-controls-public-contracts/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/who-controls-public-contracts/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Deficit spending can not push away political reforms</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos sends out a warning about the Flemish budgetary laxity. Flanders can not exorcise the crisis with regional deficits. The new government has to prioritize competitiveness, innovation, education, entrepreneurship and exports.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/deficit-spending-can-not-push-away-political-reforms/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/deficit-spending-can-not-push-away-political-reforms/</guid>
</item>
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<title>Multi-level regulatory governance</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The quality of regulation is essential to improve economic and social welfare. The improvement of the economic actors&#8217; certitude and the elimination of unnecessary costs and burdens on businesses and citizens are properly at stake. However, a high quality regulation at a certain level of government can be compromised if national and sub-national regulatory governance systems adopt poor regulatory practices and do not cooperate. In this publication from the OECD, the authors analyze the functioning of multi-level regulatory governance in some OECD countries and give some recommendations to improve it.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/multi-level-regulatory-governance/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/multi-level-regulatory-governance/</guid>
</item>
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<title>What policies for the Flemish car industry?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Because the car industry is a very cyclical business it was hit very hard by the financial and economic crisis. Everywhere in the world politicians did everything in their power to protect &#8216;their&#8217; brands and &#8216;their&#8217; factories. Through extra credit lines, car scrapping schemes, government guaranties etc. it is indeed possible to temporarily save jobs in the short term in the car industry (which only represents 2% of total employment in Belgium). Jo Van Biesebroeck (KULeuven) wonders whether there aren&#8217;t better ways to spend taxpayers&#8217; money. The author is puzzled by the motives to throw money in the auto industry and suggests measures for a better long run industrial policy.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/what-policies-for-the-flemish-car-industry/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/what-policies-for-the-flemish-car-industry/</guid>
</item>
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<title>Towards a better federal financing</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Some say that more autonomy given to the regions could positively impact the quality and efficiency of public services. This could lead to an improved responsibility that would prevent the regions from overspending. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/towards-a-better-federal-financing/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/towards-a-better-federal-financing/</guid>
</item>
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<title>Complexity and control: how do they work in public-private partnerships (PPPs)?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are an interesting tool to increase investments and thereby supporting economic growth. PPPs are more than a concept; they are a reality in Belgium. That&#8217;s why, the Flemish government currently sponsors a five-year research project to study PPPs practices and their performance at the Regional and local level. Central are the questions to what extend governments can manage and control PPPs, and the way on which multi-actor, technical and political complexities can influence on this public control? In the growing literature around PPPs, this paper from the Public Management Institute (KULeuven) tends, through case studies, to answer these questions and to determine how the performance of PPPs can be affected.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/complexity-and-control-how-do-they-work-in-public-private-partnerships/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/complexity-and-control-how-do-they-work-in-public-private-partnerships/</guid>
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<title>The Day After: what are the regional policy priorities for 2009-2014</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The regional elections of 2009 should be a turning point. Due to the economic crisis, the budgetary crisis and the institutional crisis, Belgian&#8217;s regions are faced with new responsibilities.
Now that the votes are counted, the multitude of electoral promises can make way for the reality of negotiations. The Itinera Institute determined 7 regional policy priorities and formulated concrete proposals.
]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-day-after-what-are-the-regional-policy-priorities-for-2009-2014/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-day-after-what-are-the-regional-policy-priorities-for-2009-2014/</guid>
</item>
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<title>The day after: what are the regional policy priorities for 2009-2014? </title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-day-after/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-day-after/</guid>
</item>
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<title>Presentation: the day after: what are the regional policy priorities 2009-2014?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The regional elections of 2009 should be a turning point. Due to the economic crisis, the budgetary crisis and the institutional crisis, Belgian&#8217;s regions are faced with new responsibilities.
Now that the votes are counted, the multitude of electoral promises can make way for the reality of negotiations. The Itinera Institute determined 7 regional policy priorities and formulated concrete proposals.

]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/ppt/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/ppt/</guid>
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<item>
<title>Executive summary :the day after: what are the regional policy priorities for 2009-2014?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The regional elections of 2009 should be a turning point. Due to the economic crisis, the budgetary crisis and the institutional crisis, Belgian&#8217;s regions are faced with new responsibilities.
Now that the votes are counted, the multitude of electoral promises can make way for the reality of negotiations. The Itinera Institute determined 7 regional policy priorities and formulated concrete proposals.
]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/executive-summary-the-day-after-what-are-the-regional-policy-priorities-for-2009-2014/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/executive-summary-the-day-after-what-are-the-regional-policy-priorities-for-2009-2014/</guid>
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<item>
<title>GM and Opel undermine the real economy fundamentals</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos points out heavy perverse effects from GM&#8217;s nationalization and Opel&#8217;s government support: politization of the auto industry, unfair competition and a slide towards more economic nationalism. The rescued companies&#8217; future is still very uncertain. The rare tax revenues are not well used. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/gm-and-opel-undermine-the-real-economy-fundamentals/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/gm-and-opel-undermine-the-real-economy-fundamentals/</guid>
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<item>
<title>Service cheques: a different evaluation</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Established since 2004, the service cheques system has been, among other things, associated with job creation (87 152 jobs created according to a 2007 estimation from the Belgian Court of Audit). In this edition of &#8220;Regards Economiques&#8221;, however, economists from the University of Louvain investigate job and service organization quality for the different types of providers. They also question the financial viability of such a system depending on a double state intervention (VAT exemption and tax reduction for the users). And, what would the impact of service cheques&#8217; price increase be?]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/service-cheques-a-different-evaluation/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/service-cheques-a-different-evaluation/</guid>
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<item>
<title>International lessons from structural change and public service performance? </title>
<description><![CDATA[ What lessons can we draw from international experiences of structural change in the public sector and their effect on public services performance? Well, according to this article from the Public Management Institute (KULeuven) not many: systematic evaluations of structural change programmes tend to be either absent or inconclusive. One thing is sure though: structural change can never be just structural change. The reasons for the restructuring have to be explained. The change has to be planned, preferably with a high degree of participation from those who are to be its &#8216;victims&#8217;. The staff has to be re-trained. The process needs to be monitored over time. And so on. Is that the reason why some of the key elements of our Copernicus reform have faded over time? ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/international-lessons-from-structural-change-and-public-service-performance/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/international-lessons-from-structural-change-and-public-service-performance/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Labour in Belgium ; without any reform, there is no reason to celebrate (not even on May 1)</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Also Belgium celebrates Labor Day on May 1.  However, during the rest of the year work is being far from celebrated in our complex welfare state.  A heavy tax system, a rough regulation, and all kind of inactivity traps discourage the supply of labor.  With the crisis, the invoice related to our heavily upset labor market goes up, but fundamental reforms are still out of the question. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/labour-in-belgium-without-any-reform-there-is-no-reason-to-celebrate-not-even-on-may-1/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/labour-in-belgium-without-any-reform-there-is-no-reason-to-celebrate-not-even-on-may-1/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Public employment in an international perspective</title>
<description><![CDATA[ How many people are employed in the Belgian public sector? How much does this cost to our government? Does Belgium manage its public sector differently than other OECD countries do? In this report, the Plan Bureau gives us a concrete answer to all these questions, with interesting figures. It allows us to have a better idea of what the public sector represents in terms of jobs and costs in Belgium and other OECD countries. Even if the public employment rate in Belgium is higher than average compared to similar countries, this is not the case for the ratio between gross remuneration per civil servant and gross remuneration per worker in general. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/public-employment-in-an-international-perspective/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/public-employment-in-an-international-perspective/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Increase the motivation of the civil servant through clear objectives</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Supporting the satisfaction and motivation of our civil servants supposes their work is given clear objectives which they can commit themselves to. Civil servants need to have a clear idea of what is expected from them and understand that their work is meaningful. The leap forward of the apparatus of government is the desire to work for a cause.  ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-motivation-of-the-civil-servant/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-motivation-of-the-civil-servant/</guid>
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<item>
<title>Put a non budgetary cap on healthcare expenses</title>
<description><![CDATA[ We should put a cap on healthcare expenses. The debate on healthcare reforms should be much wider than on setting the optimal expense level. A growing healthcare sector will create tremendous economic opportunities, Brieuc Van Damme and Ivan Van de Cloot argue. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/put-a-non-budgetary-cap-on-healthcare-expenses/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/put-a-non-budgetary-cap-on-healthcare-expenses/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Budgetary obsession is destined to fail in this century of the health economy</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos recognizes that the growth rates of public expenditures for healthcare are untenable. But he also stresses that no budgetary policy will be able to cover the needs of this century of the health economy with public means alone. We have to address the organisation of healthcare itself.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/budgetary-obsession-is-destined-to-fail-in-this-century-of-the-health-economy/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/budgetary-obsession-is-destined-to-fail-in-this-century-of-the-health-economy/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Bismarckian Welfare State</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Compared to Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian socio-economic models, our Bismarckian-type welfare regime is in fact not as bad as we might have thought. This report from IZA shows that countries with such welfare systems can be as successful in terms of employment and poverty reduction. The authors analyze employment rate evolution between 1997 and 2007 as a measure for judging the sustainability of the Bismarckian welfare state and the success of social and economic policy reforms. In some countries like Belgium however, we should put extra effort into the employment rate of older workers.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/bismarckian-welfare-state/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/bismarckian-welfare-state/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Video Column: double dividend</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Jean Hindriks explains how we can profit twice from budgetary measures.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/video-colum-double-dividend/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/video-colum-double-dividend/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>A different type of competition for public services</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Since the crisis, the European Commission&#8217;s competition policy has been swimming upstream. In this context the question of the postal service sector&#8217;s approaching liberalisation lies upon its ability to maintain its universal service vocation, given the profitability pressure of a competitive market. The question is pertinent and invites us to think about different forms of competition that would be in favour of, and not against, universal community service.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-different-type-of-competition-for-public-services/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-different-type-of-competition-for-public-services/</guid>
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<item>
<title>The macroeconomic impact of fiscal policy</title>
<description><![CDATA[ How should governments tackle the recession? Fiscal policy modifications through fiscal incentives, tax cuts etc. is often one of the options put forward first. This ECB working paper investigates the macroeconomic effects of fiscal policy. It is found that government spending shock, in general, only have a small effect on GDP and lead to important &#8220;crowding-out&#8221; effects &#8211; or reductions in private consumption and investment that occur because of an increase in government spending. Fiscal policy is thus far from being a panacea and shouldn&#8217;t stop us from reforming in other important economic areas. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-macroeconomic-impact-of-fiscal-policy/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-macroeconomic-impact-of-fiscal-policy/</guid>
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<item>
<title>Video Column: how to tackle the deficit</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Ivan Van de Cloot lists the measures the government should take to tackle the deficit]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/deficit/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/deficit/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Our financial sustainability</title>
<description><![CDATA[ With all the stimulus plans, loan guaranties and capital injections, our long term financial sustainability is more than ever at the heart of the societal debate. In this working paper from the Plan Bureau, two budgetary policy scenarios are presented in the light of an ageing society. On top of the perspectives of these policy scenarios not being very encouraging, we learn that they do not even take into account the current economic crisis. It&#8217;s about time this lost decade comes to an end&#8230;. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/our-financial-sustainability/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/our-financial-sustainability/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Performance indicators serving public interests </title>
<description><![CDATA[ The question is not to know whether the State is too large or too small, but whether it works properly.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/performance-indicators-serving-public-interests/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/performance-indicators-serving-public-interests/</guid>
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<item>
<title>Economic revival thanks to a slimmer government?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Economic confidence can be best restored when tax reductions are financed by structural reductions in government expenditures and not by higher budget deficits.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/economic-revival-thanks-to-a-slimmer-government/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/economic-revival-thanks-to-a-slimmer-government/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Synopsis Newyear memo</title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/synopsis-ny-memo/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/synopsis-ny-memo/</guid>
<enclosure url="http://www.itinerainstitute.org/upl/1/default/doc/Microsoft%20Word%20-%20synopsis%20NY%20memo.pdf" length="117277" type="application/pdf" />
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<title>New Years memo : Presentation</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The Itinera Institute presents it's NEW YEAR's MEMO 2009, our vision of the policy priorities for the Van Rompuy I Government.We stress the importance of the current legislation, and formulate a list of recommendations for bold, proactive policy choises.
]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/new-year-memo--presentation/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/new-year-memo--presentation/</guid>
<enclosure url="http://www.itinerainstitute.org/upl/1/en/doc/Microsoft%20PowerPoint%20-%20handouts%20-%20NY%20Memo%202009.pdf" length="1666338" type="application/pdf" />
</item>
<item>
<title>New Years Memo 2009</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The Itinera Institute presents it's NEW YEARS MEMO 2009, our vision of the policy priorities for the Van Rompuy I Government. We stress the importance of the current legislation, and formulate a list of recommendations for bold, proactive policy choises.
]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/new-years-memo-2009/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/new-years-memo-2009/</guid>
<enclosure url="http://www.itinerainstitute.org/upl/1/en/doc/Nieuwjaarsmemo%20FR.pdf" length="1997542" type="application/pdf" />
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<item>
<title>Video: New Years Memo</title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/video-new-years-memo/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/video-new-years-memo/</guid>
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<item>
<title>E-government</title>
<description><![CDATA[ As one of our recent studies has shown, Belgium&#8217;s public sector has to become more efficient. Several experiences abroad have shown that e-government can really improve public service performance. This OECD report shows how Belgium&#8217;s governments are gradually realizing the potential of ICT. In terms of online availability of public services for businesses, we can say that Belgium ranks among the leaders in the EU. Internet access for the population should be improved though.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/e-government/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/e-government/</guid>
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<title>Coinciding elections constitute the opportunity of the governmental crisis</title>
<description><![CDATA[ For Marc De Vos, the crisis of the government Leterme is the crisis of the politician Leterme, but it also symptomatic for the malaise in the Belgian political culture. He argues in favour of coinciding federal and regional elections after an interim federal government. This would force political parties to coordinate their federal and regional agendas.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/coinciding-elections-constitute-the-opportunity-of-the-governmental-crisis/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/coinciding-elections-constitute-the-opportunity-of-the-governmental-crisis/</guid>
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<title>No economic recovery plan without recovery plan for ageing !</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos stresses the need for efficiency and budget limits in the race for economic recovery plans. The government should not announce a recovery plan without clear prior budgetary goals. Every recovery plan for the economy should be tied to a subsequent recovery plan to compensate for the delay in budgetary preparation for ageing.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/no-economic-recovery-plan-without-recovery-plan-for-ageing/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/no-economic-recovery-plan-without-recovery-plan-for-ageing/</guid>
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<title>Why social partners and government fail with the centralized wage bargaining</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos points out that the new central bargaining agreement does not achieve its purpose of guaranteeing competitiveness. The government moreover encourages more than it corrects. The system of negotiated wage moderation fails.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/why-social-partners-and-government-fail-with-the-centralized-wage-bargaining/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/why-social-partners-and-government-fail-with-the-centralized-wage-bargaining/</guid>
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<title>From bubble to correction</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The gravity of the forthcoming economic crisis is starting to get through. A month ago one was accused of doom-mongering if one considered an economic recession possible. Today, one is considered na&#239;ve if one doesn&#8217;t. The truth however is that there has never been more uncertainty about the future.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/from-bubble-to-correction/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/from-bubble-to-correction/</guid>
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<title>More public investments ? BANANA !</title>
<description><![CDATA[ How realistic is it to accelerate large investment projects in response to the economic recession?]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/more-public-investments-banana/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/more-public-investments-banana/</guid>
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<title>An appropriate answer to the banking crisis in Belgium</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The financial crisis we&#8217;re going through urges us to fundamentally rethink our financial system. We often pretend to be entirely dependent of foreign solutions for our problems. In this nota, it is shown we can actually control for a few things ourselves. It is as important to pay attention to short term problems, like protecting our economy from the financial meltdown, as to make sure such a catastrophe will never happen again.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/an-appropriate-answer-to-the-banking-crisis-in-belgium/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/an-appropriate-answer-to-the-banking-crisis-in-belgium/</guid>
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<title>Belgium&#8217;s recovery plan must focus on policy reform</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos explains that the European recovery plan does not turn back the clock of economic history. He underscores that Belgium has little room for a Keynesian stimulus. The priority for Belgian policy is policy reform that saves money or at least does not cost money.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/belgiums-recovery-plan-must-focus-on-policy-reform/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/belgiums-recovery-plan-must-focus-on-policy-reform/</guid>
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<title>Bank control by the public authorities</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Eventhough it&#8217;s important to be preoccupied by stability, it&#8217;s absolutely not desirable that the public authorities are permanently present within our financial institutions.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/bank-control-by-the-public-authorities/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/bank-control-by-the-public-authorities/</guid>
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<title>Privatization and changes in the wage structure</title>
<description><![CDATA[ With the financial crisis and the government&#8217;s subsequent increased role in the economy, the question whether to privatize firms or not is certainly as relevant now as it was under Thatcher. The first to be affected by those kinds of decisions are the workers of the considered firms. This IZA publication for example found that wage and wage growth distributions widened significantly after privatization. The central questions really remain however who the winners and the losers are and why?]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/privatization-and-changes-in-the-wage-structure/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/privatization-and-changes-in-the-wage-structure/</guid>
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<title>State under pressure</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The evolution of the financial crisis and the attempts to end it announced the return of the State. This ideological shift should not impede us from detecting its challenges though: the State is put under a lot of pressure and our public service needs a global organizational modification.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/state-under-pressure/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/state-under-pressure/</guid>
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<title>Succeeding in reforming the state</title>
<description><![CDATA[ State reforms abroad teach us an important lesson: their success depends on the focus that is being put on the role and mission of a public service to achieve internal as well as external adhesion. But one should also give state reforms the necessary time and means to involve society as a whole.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/succeeding-in-reforming-the-state/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/succeeding-in-reforming-the-state/</guid>
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<title>The civil servant and the unemployed</title>
<description><![CDATA[ When jobs in the private sector are not competitive anymore, public employment is an easy option to make sure people have a job. This is the Scandinavian model. But a better solution is to subsidize employment, as service coupons in Belgium are successfully doing by creating 65.000 jobs.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-civil-servant-and-the-unemployed/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-civil-servant-and-the-unemployed/</guid>
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<title>Effect of tax reduction on job vacancy and unemployment</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The unemployment rate in Belgium remains relatively high with respect to other European countries. However, some job vacancies are still open. This nota realized by the KUL analyses the possibility of reducing fiscal pressure in order to solve these two issues. It also makes a comparison between Belgium and Denmark by examining the influence some factors like education and transfers may have on the unemployment rate.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/effect-of-tax-reduction-on-job-vacancy-and-unemployment/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/effect-of-tax-reduction-on-job-vacancy-and-unemployment/</guid>
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<title>Fiscal reform: impact on the consumption of Belgian households</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The objective of the fiscal reform introduced in 2002 by the government Verhofstadt II was to reduce Belgian households&#8217; taxes in order to stimulate Belgium&#8217;s macroeconomic activity. But has this fiscal policy yielded the expected results? This study from Regards Economiques of October 2008 analyses to which extend Belgian households&#8217; consumption was influenced by this reform.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/fiscal-reform-impact-on-the-consumption-of-belgian-households/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/fiscal-reform-impact-on-the-consumption-of-belgian-households/</guid>
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<title>Beyond Copernicus: From Confusion to Consensus?: a Roadmap for an better Government-PRESENTATION </title>
<description><![CDATA[ The 2000 Copernicus reform has faded away before flourishing. Belgium has the highest public spending and public employment in the OECD and still the relative quality and quantity of public services remain disappointing.  With so many challenges ahead such as globalisation, population aging, the race for talents, the digital revolution, it is urgent to send a wake-up call for a government that is steering and not rowing. Jean Hindriks makes the diagnosis and suggests several &#8220;quick wins&#8221;.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/beyond-copernicus-from-confusion-to-consensus-a-roadmap-for-an-better-government-presentation/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/beyond-copernicus-from-confusion-to-consensus-a-roadmap-for-an-better-government-presentation/</guid>
<enclosure url="http://www.itinerainstitute.org/upl/1/default/doc/Microsoft%20PowerPoint%20-%2020081029A-%20Efficiency%20presentation%20Final%20[Compatibility%20Mode].pdf" length="1774358" type="application/pdf" />
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<title>Beyond Copernicus: From Confusion to Consensus?: a roadmap for an better Government - MEMENTO</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The 2000 Copernicus reform has faded away before flourishing. Belgium has the highest public spending and public employment in the OECD and still the relative quality and quantity of public services remain disappointing.  With so many challenges ahead such as globalisation, population aging, the race for talents, the digital revolution, it is urgent to send a wake-up call for a government that is steering and not rowing. Jean Hindriks makes the diagnosis and suggests several &#8220;quick wins&#8221;.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/beyondcopernicusfromconfusiontoconsensusaroadmapforanbettergovernmentmemento/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/beyondcopernicusfromconfusiontoconsensusaroadmapforanbettergovernmentmemento/</guid>
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<item>
<title>Beyond Copernicus: From Confusion to Consensus?: a roadmap for an better Government</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The 2000 Copernicus reform has faded away before flourishing. Belgium has the highest public spending and public employment in the OECD and still the relative quality and quantity of public services remain disappointing.  With so many challenges ahead such as globalisation, population aging, the race for talents, the digital revolution, it is urgent to send a wake-up call for a government that is steering and not rowing. Jean Hindriks makes the diagnosis and suggests several &#8220;quick wins&#8221;.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/beyond-copernicus-from-confusion-to-consensus-a-roadmap-for-an-better-government/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/beyond-copernicus-from-confusion-to-consensus-a-roadmap-for-an-better-government/</guid>
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<title>Marx, Darwin or Marx..?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ With the financial crisis, capitalism is under attack and in need of solutions. Johan Albrecht wonders whether Marx or Darwin could help.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/marx-darwin-or-marx/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/marx-darwin-or-marx/</guid>
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<title>Is free higher education really democratic?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ At first sight, free higher education is a good thing. Nonetheless, this article from the Institut Montaigne reminds us that this is contrary to the initial concept of democratisation. Higher education is indeed being financed by taxes from all to benefit largely the better off that are going to college without having any difficulties paying for it. This article makes several suggestions to make individual efforts in financing higher education more efficient and equitable.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/is-free-higher-education-really-democratic/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/is-free-higher-education-really-democratic/</guid>
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<title>Our castle complex</title>
<description><![CDATA[ We need a serious reflexion on how to handle the most important moment of the parliamentary year, which is the vote of the budget. Our budget draughtsmen suffer from the typically Belgian &#8220;castle complex&#8221;. In stead of preparing the measures thoroughly, to communicate them to all the interested parties and experts, they lock themselves up in a castle until everybody is so tired they accept about anything.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/our-castle-complex/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/our-castle-complex/</guid>
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<title>What are the effects of a flat tax?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ This IZA paper studies the effect of flat tax (referring to a tax with a single rate) reforms in Western Europe on income distribution and work incentives. The simulation of the authors shows that a revenue neutral flat tax with existing basic allowances improves labor supply incentives, but results in higher inequality. It also shows that under some conditions flat taxes may increase both equity and efficiency, but Belgium does not qualify for such statement.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/what-are-the-effects-of-a-flat-tax/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/what-are-the-effects-of-a-flat-tax/</guid>
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<title>The State of the Union is lamentable</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos parodies the annual Belgian &#8220;State of the Union&#8221; and declares it to be lamentable. The federal budget is shocking.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-state-of-the-union-is-lamentable/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-state-of-the-union-is-lamentable/</guid>
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<title>Confidence makes the economy running</title>
<description><![CDATA[ For markets to be efficient you need trust &#8211; morality can take care of that. We found this range of thought already with Adam Smith.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/confidence-makes-the-economy-running/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/confidence-makes-the-economy-running/</guid>
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<title>Main street after the meltdown</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The financial crisis in bringing havoc but the real economy can sustain as long as competitiveness remains pivotal for policymakers.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/main-street-after-the-meltdown/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/main-street-after-the-meltdown/</guid>
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<title>Confidence and the credit market</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The banking channel, which allows with a limited initial quantity of money to carry the economy at a higher level through the lever of credit, requires, almost by definition that, in period of distrust, - as recently on the inter-bank market - it is the central bank which supplies liquid assets.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/confidence-and-the-credit-market/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/confidence-and-the-credit-market/</guid>
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<title>The financial capitalism subject to scathing criticism</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Banks will have to go back to a human level, what has not been the case for a long time with the modern American banking model. It is also going to affect the wages in the banking sector. Another lesson that we have to draw is that the complete faith in very sophisticated models contains enormous risks. It also brings to light the reasons for which the &quot;nice&quot; Belgian banks are affected by the crisis.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-financial-capitalism-subject-to-scathing-criticism/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-financial-capitalism-subject-to-scathing-criticism/</guid>
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<title>Towards a new financial capitalism</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos explains that the credit crisis is not only a case of market failure, but also of regulatory failure. Crisis management is necessary, but a new and better regulatory framework needs to be developed quickly. Government must play its role as regulator, stabilizer, currency holder, and lender of last resort. But government cannot replace the market itself.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/towards-a-new-financial-capitalism/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/towards-a-new-financial-capitalism/</guid>
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<title>Slender, obese or unconstrained? An analysis of public employment in Belgium between 2001 and 2007</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Public employment did grow by 11.75% in Belgium while the growth of total employment was 6.1%. In Flanders, public employment is bigger than inFlanders How sustainable is this evolution?']]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/slender-obese-or-unconstrained-an-analysi-of-public-employment-in-belgium-between-2001-and-2007/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/slender-obese-or-unconstrained-an-analysi-of-public-employment-in-belgium-between-2001-and-2007/</guid>
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<title>How do outsourcing and taxation affect employment and welfare?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ This Iza paper analyses how international outsourcing and labour taxation affect wage formation, employment and welfare. It shows that higher productivity and lower outsourcing costs increase wage dispersion between skilled and unskilled workers. Increasing wage tax progression increases the labour demand for unskilled workers, but decreases their welfare. On the contrary, it increases the welfare of skilled workers and the profit of firms. These results suggest that there may be a trade-off between employment and welfare for the unskilled workers. Reducing personal income tax rates for low-income workers, on the other hand, could positively affect both.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-do-outsourcing-and-taxation-affect-employment-and-welfare/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-do-outsourcing-and-taxation-affect-employment-and-welfare/</guid>
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<title>What performances for public expenditures in Belgium?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ This Working Paper of the Belgian National Bank assesses the relative efficiency of Belgian general government in the field of health care, education and public order and safety. Several drawbacks indicate that results must be interpreted cautiously, but these drawbacks aside, several interesting results appear. The analysis reveals for example that Belgium is relatively efficient in the field of health care. It shows that, as a whole, the Belgian education system is more expensive but also produces better results than the European average. However significant community differences exist: an analysis based on a limited set of indicators reveals that the French-speaking education sector is very inefficient while the Flemish Community&#8217;s efficiency is markedly better. As far as public order and safety are concerned, the paper concludes that, major improvements could and should be made, either to improve service or cut costs.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/what-performances-for-public-expenditures-in-belgium/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/what-performances-for-public-expenditures-in-belgium/</guid>
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<title>How consumption taxes can influence income distribution?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ This OECD article highlights that consumption taxes increase the difference between the highest and the lowest incomes. There are, however, important differences between countries. Surprisingly enough, it appears that Belgium is one of the countries where increasing consumption taxes would favour the rich the least. However, a more recent study of the Catholic University Leuven has shown that a decrease in direct taxes (on income or wealth for instance) and an increase in indirect taxes (like the VAT) would significantly raise inequality.  ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-consumption-taxes-can-influence-income-distribution/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-consumption-taxes-can-influence-income-distribution/</guid>
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<title>Public investments and the economy</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Often, public investments are not based upon economic arguments but turn out to be a real horse trading. Economists, on the other hand, always plead in favour of weighing social benefits against societal costs (including potential pernicious effects on health and environment). Public authorities oblige everybody to financially support their projects. It is only normal they should manage that money well.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/public-investments-and-the-economy/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/public-investments-and-the-economy/</guid>
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<title>SMEs and the tax system: What so different about them?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ This article discusses some key tax policy issues relating to SMEs. It argues that most common claims on the role of SMEs do not provide a solid basis for a different treatment of SMEs as compared to larger taxpayers. However, he recognizes the existence of fixed costs related to tax compliance and administration, and emphasises the need for simple tax procedures in order to reduce them.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/smes-and-the-tax-system-what-so-different-about-them/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/smes-and-the-tax-system-what-so-different-about-them/</guid>
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<title>No more trade-off between government size and output volatility</title>
<description><![CDATA[ This Bruegel Working Paper sheds light on the fact that the negative relationship between government size and output volatility was strong prior to 1990 but vanished afterwards. According to the results of the authors, a one percentage point increase in the size of government is now unlikely to yield a reduction in output volatility exceeding 0.1 percentage point, once public expenditures reaches around 40% of GDP. They conclude that the impact of a marginal change in the size of government is bound to be very small for most countries in the euro area. Looking at government expenditure as a stabilizing force in the economy seems less relevant today.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/no-more-trade-off-between-government-size-and-output-volatility/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/no-more-trade-off-between-government-size-and-output-volatility/</guid>
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<title>The Price of Political Crisis: Economic Adjustment and Political Transformation in Belgium and the Netherlands</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Political crisis is no longer 'news' in Belgium or the Netherlands.  Less well understood is the toll that this controversy is taking on patterns of economic policymaking. Belgium and the Netherlands used to rely on consensus to stabilize welfare state institutions and to underwrite national competitiveness.  This is no longer possible in times of political crisis. As a result, both countries are less flexible and more vulnerable than ever since the end of the second world war.  Worse, they may never recover the ability to foster economic consensus.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-price-of-political-crisis-economic-adjustment-and-political-transformation-in-belgium-and-the-netherlands/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-price-of-political-crisis-economic-adjustment-and-political-transformation-in-belgium-and-the-netherlands/</guid>
<enclosure url="http://www.itinerainstitute.org/upl/1/default/doc/Nota%2024_political%20crisis%20Erik%20Jones%20FVH01_ENG.pdf" length="476469" type="application/pdf" />
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<title>Fashion Awards</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Jean Hindriks and Brieuc Van Damme are critical towards Knack&#8217;s and Le Vif&#8217;s ranking of the best communes and note important methodological failures. They shed light that income is by far the most important variable in the study and defend Itinera&#8217;s communes ranking, based on good governance.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/fashionawards/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/fashionawards/</guid>
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<title>High taxation creates gender gap on the labour market</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Policies and institutions do play a role in explaining differences in working hours among employed individuals across OECD countries. According to this OECD working paper, high taxation on second earners has a significant disincentive effect on the intensive margin of labour supply and is one of the main causes of the gender gap on the labour market. A matter of concern is that all the factors that are seen to suppress working time in the OECD are cumulatively present in Belgium. In the context of an ageing population, it is high time to lift the barriers to a longer working time.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/high-taxation-creates-gender-gap-on-the-labour-market/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/high-taxation-creates-gender-gap-on-the-labour-market/</guid>
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<title>Why budget deficits matter</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Rising costs for health care and ageing will cause government spending to rise substantially. But why is that a problem? This paper from the Congressional Budget Office estimates the long run budget deficits and their direct economic impact: crowding out of productive capital investments and the unsustainable interest snowball effect. Of course, this would negatively affect real GNP per person. And alternatively financing budget deficits by raising taxes has pernicious effects on the nation's wealth too. The issue facing policymakers is thus not whether to address rising deficits, but when and how to address them.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 02 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/why-budget-deficits-matter/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/why-budget-deficits-matter/</guid>
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<title>Belgium is budgetary transparent but still lacks fiscal policy coordination</title>
<description><![CDATA[ According to this IMF report, Belgium in many areas meets, and in some exceeds, the requirements of the IMF fiscal transparency code. However, it underlines that there is room for improvement in several fields. Amongst them: The quality and openness of budget processes, the amount of information available to the public on some specific topics and the coordination of the internal audit process. The most striking remark concerns the institutional arrangements for fiscal policy coordination. The report claims that this latter could be strengthened by reinforcing and expanding the role of the High Council of Finance. It also suggests converting the budgetary agreements between the federal government, regions, and communities into published agreements which would specify the targeted balance for each partner and identify the measures needed to achieve this target.
]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 23 May 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/belgium-is-budgetary-transparent-but-still-lacks-fiscal-policy-coordination/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/belgium-is-budgetary-transparent-but-still-lacks-fiscal-policy-coordination/</guid>
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<title>The importance of being in a healthy fiscal position</title>
<description><![CDATA[ This IMF paper shows that, on average, small states have larger governments and public debt. The authors stress that there are structural factors which may explain this, like limited economies of scale. The IMF emphasizes however that low debt and a healthy fiscal position gives policymakers the flexibility to react effectively to shocks. They find that states with smaller governments and lower public debt tend to grow faster and are less vulnerable. Belgium has one of the largest governments in the EU and the third highest public debt. In the context of population ageing, this highly suggests the need for strong fiscal adjustments.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 23 May 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-importance-of-being-in-a-healthy-fiscal-position/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-importance-of-being-in-a-healthy-fiscal-position/</guid>
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<title>How to respond to short and middle-term economic weakness?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Slowing economic growth inspires policy makers to look for formulas to turn the tide. This CBO study examines the potential of fiscal policy in the US context and recommends selection based upon three main criteria: cost-effectiveness, timeliness, and certainty of effects. Undoubtedly, this American lesson can also be instructive for other countries.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-to-respond-to-short-term-economic-weakness/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-to-respond-to-short-term-economic-weakness/</guid>
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<title>How to respond to short-term economic weakness?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Slowing economic growth inspires policy makers to look for formulas to turn the tide. This CBO study examines the potential of fiscal policy in the US context and recommends selection based upon three main criteria: cost-effectiveness, timeliness, and certainty of effects. Undoubtedly, this American lesson can also be instructive for other countries.
]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 13 Feb 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/howtorespondtoshorttermeconomicweakness/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/howtorespondtoshorttermeconomicweakness/</guid>
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<title>The UK is no longer mid-Atlantic</title>
<description><![CDATA[ In 1997 the UK had a tax burden some 7.6% lower than that of the eurozone, the strongest pension system in Europe, and a far less complex and distortionary tax and benefits system than it has today. There is still a popular misconception that the country still enjoys these advantages, that Britain is still the mid-Atlantic economy with tax and spending burdens part-way between the US and Continental Europe. This is however no longer the case: the UK is instead tending towards being a fully fledged member of the continental European club, with a share of government outlays in its GDP that by now exceeds the German figure. This paper examines areas where Germany&#8217;s arrangements appear superior to Britain&#8217;s. It suggests that Belgium should rather look for inspiration in Germany than in the UK. 
]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 13 Feb 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-uk-is-no-longer-mid-atlantic/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-uk-is-no-longer-mid-atlantic/</guid>
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<title>Taxes shift incomes</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Between 1985 and today, the average corporate tax rate in Europe fell from nearly 50% to nearly 30%. This evolution came along with rising corporate tax-to-GDP ratios (from about 2% to about 3%). In this paper, de Mooij en Nicod&#232;me explore to what extent income shifting from the personal to the corporate tax base can explain these diverging developments. The authors demonstrate that the revenue effects of lower corporate tax rates partly show up in lower personal tax revenues rather than lower corporate tax revenues. Simulations suggest that between 12% and 21% of corporate tax revenue can be attributed to income shifting.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/taxes-shift-income/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/taxes-shift-income/</guid>
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<title>'My car, my fiscal contribution'</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Not only visitors of the European Motor Show in Brussels but also the Belgian fisc is fond of cars. At the occasion of this two-yearly mass for car lovers, critics point towards unnecessarily powerful engines, the SUV-hype or the 'green propaganda' of the car industry. As a symbol of consumer society, cars are indeed important vehicles of fiscal solidarity. This explains why a radical reform of automobile taxation based upon use instead of power is not on the agenda.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 25 Jan 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/my-car-my-fiscal-contribution/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/my-car-my-fiscal-contribution/</guid>
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<title>Taxes in Belgium: too many and too complex</title>
<description><![CDATA[ On the occasion of the launch of the edition 2008 of the Trends Top 100.000, Trends analyses the Belgian Economy in collaboration with VKW Metena. Together, the 30.000 biggest Belgian companies pay 8.3 billion euros on corporate taxes, i.e. 2.45 billion more in comparison with companies in other countries of the Eurozone. The study stresses the Laffer effect of a reduction of the corporate tax rate and gives survey results that indicate increasing fiscal complexity. Finally it discusses fundamental macro-economic questions for 2008, such as the subprime crisis, Chinese growth and the inflation issue.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/taxes-in-belgium-too-many-and-too-complex/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/taxes-in-belgium-too-many-and-too-complex/</guid>
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<title>Getting the rich to pay taxes in France: abolish the French wealth tax</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The symbolic importance of the French ISF (Solidarity Tax on Wealth) far outweighs its tiny (0.5%) share of the compulsory contributions paid in France. Economic analysis moreover shows that it costs the State at least twice as much as it brings in.  In this paper of the Montaigne Institute, it is shown that the ISF is responsible for a substantial volume of capital outflow, has a significant adverse impact on the potential for economic growth and, in reality, makes only a very small contribution to the redistribution of wealth and the reduction of inequality. Recommended reading for Belgian advocates that plead for a wealth tax in Belgium.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 06 Dec 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/getting-the-rich-to-pay-taxes-in-france-abolish-the-french-wealth-tax/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/getting-the-rich-to-pay-taxes-in-france-abolish-the-french-wealth-tax/</guid>
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<title>Belgium is missing the Lisbon train.</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The Federal Planning bureau is ringing the emergency bell. If Belgium does not undertake additional efforts, we will miss all the Lisbon strategy objectives from 2010. Improvement of public finances, diminution of the fiscal and social contribution pressure on labor, increases in the activity rate and shrinkage of greenhouse gas emissions require new reforms. These reforms are also necessary to improve the functioning of the labor market. The Planning Bureau notices that the diminution of the social contribution improves employment but only partially compensates for the fiscal loss of the government.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/belgium-is-missing-the-lisbon-train/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/belgium-is-missing-the-lisbon-train/</guid>
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<title>Final Call for Belgium?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos gives a critical and constructive appraisal of the ongoing Belgian political crisis for international readers. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/final-call-for-belgium/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/final-call-for-belgium/</guid>
<enclosure url="http://www.itinerainstitute.org/upl/1/en/doc/Nota%2019%20-%202007%20final%20call%20for%20belgium.pdf" length="294342" type="application/pdf" />
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<title>Tax revenue trends and challenges in the European Union</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The impact of ageing, globalization and the desire to shift taxes away from labour poses significant challenges for European governments. This paper by economists of the European Commission reviews the most recent taxation trends in the EU and discusses several tax policy issues in the light of the main challenges.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/tax-revenue-trends-and-challenges-in-the-european-union/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/tax-revenue-trends-and-challenges-in-the-european-union/</guid>
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<title>Moesen and De Witte plead for an explicit limit for public expenditures.</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The Belgian public sector is oversized by some 3 to 4% of BDP. Moesen and De Witte defend an explicit growth constraint for future public expenditures.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jul 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/explicit-growth-constraint-for-public-expenditures/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/explicit-growth-constraint-for-public-expenditures/</guid>
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<title>Performance, incitation et gestion publique en France</title>
<description><![CDATA[ France has recently adopted a major reform of its public administration through the LOLF (Lois Organiques sur les Lois de Finances). This reform aims to improve efficiency of public expenditures and activities. The report of the Conseil d&#8217;Analyse Economique bridges the gap between performance evaluation methods and incentive methods.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 Jun 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/performance-incitation-et-gestion-publique-en-france/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/performance-incitation-et-gestion-publique-en-france/</guid>
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<title>Climate Change: Caps vs. Taxes</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Economists at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research defend a fiscal greening as the most cost-effective &#8216;no regrets&#8217; option for US climate policy. Revenues from energy taxes offer an attractive potential to lower existing taxes on labor and corporate profits. In contrast, the European system for CO2-emissions trading is strongly criticized.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jun 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/climate-change-caps-vs-taxes/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/climate-change-caps-vs-taxes/</guid>
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<title>Le principe de responsabilit&#233; dans la gestion publique</title>
<description><![CDATA[ This article explains how to solve in practice the crisis of public governance in Belgium. Beyond the mere respect of the rules, the article singles out the key issue of the performance of public services and  thus necessarily the inevitable issue of accountability in public management. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jun 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/le-principe-de-responsabilite-dans-la-gestion-publique/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/le-principe-de-responsabilite-dans-la-gestion-publique/</guid>
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<title>How Oversized Is Government in the Netherlands?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Johan Albrecht assesses the quick transformation of public administrations in the Netherlands under Balkenende and concludes that Darwin&#8217;s law is very relevant for institutional processes.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 12 Apr 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-oversized-is-government-in-the-netherlands/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-oversized-is-government-in-the-netherlands/</guid>
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<title>Innovations in Government: International Perspectives on Civil Service Reform</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Long-term societal trends are changing the context of government in the 21st century. Civil services must adapt themselves, but how? This IPPR study gives international examples of innovations in government. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun, 01 Apr 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/innovations-government-international-perspectives-civil-service-reform/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/innovations-government-international-perspectives-civil-service-reform/</guid>
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<item>
<title>The Sale of Government Buildings and the Lack of Policy Evaluation</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Johan Albrecht explains how the annual sale of government buildings illustrates once more the lack of policy evaluation in the Belgian political culture.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 09 Jan 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-sale-of-government-buildings-and-the-lack-of-policy-evaluation/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-sale-of-government-buildings-and-the-lack-of-policy-evaluation/</guid>
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<title>The Need for Policy Evaluation</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Jean Hindriks reveals the frivolousness of public policy evaluation in our country. Nowadays such research is too often carried out by established supporters of the adopted policy. He pleads for an independent and rigorous evaluation of public policy, following the Anglos-Saxon and Nordic example.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Nov 2006 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-need-for-policy-evaluation/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-need-for-policy-evaluation/</guid>
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<item>
<title>How to Win the War on Poverty: An Analysis of State Poverty Trends</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Government is sometimes perceived as a modern-day Robin Hood, reducing poverty through spending while making everyone pay their fair share through taxation. Matthew Ladner from the Goldwater Institute empirically evaluates the effectiveness of state government as &#8220;Robin Hood&#8221;. He concludes that the best antipoverty programme is a four-letter word: jobs.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Nov 2006 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-win-war-poverty-an-analysis-state-poverty-trends/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-win-war-poverty-an-analysis-state-poverty-trends/</guid>
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<title>Paying Taxes. The Global Picture</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Taxes are essential to finance public goods and services. There are however good and bad ways to collect them. The World Bank and PWC compare tax regimes and their economic impact. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun, 01 Oct 2006 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/paying-taxes-global-picture/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/paying-taxes-global-picture/</guid>
</item>
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<title>The Ranking of Local Government in Flanders and Wallonia</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Belgium is on the eve of local elections. A citizen&#8217;s vote is often influenced by subjective factors whilst not being influenced by all objective factors. Moreover, at local level it is often difficult for the electorate to compare the performances of different cities or towns. The Itinera Institute offers a ranking which compares the performances of cities and towns through a string of objective parameters.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Sep 2006 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-ranking-of-local-government-in-flanders-and-wallonia/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-ranking-of-local-government-in-flanders-and-wallonia/</guid>
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<title>The &#8220;Flat Tax(es)&#8221;: Principles and Evidence (WP/06/218)</title>
<description><![CDATA[ A growing body of research advocates some form of flat tax as a method to ensure economic growth and state revenue. A number of developing countries have moved towards a flat tax regime. In a highly controversial study, the IMF critically reviews international flat tax experiences and doubts whether the tax will remain as popular as it was in recent years. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 01 Sep 2006 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-flat-taxes-principles-evidence/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-flat-taxes-principles-evidence/</guid>
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<title>The National Lottery as a Redistribution Mechanism: Who Are the Real Winners?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The Belgian government seeks to reform the National Lottery to ensure that &#8220;more people win more&#8221;. This charm offensive is associated with the so-called social image of the Lotto. However, in reality the impact of a national lottery is far from social. This paper examines the adverse and antisocial effects of national lotteries and gambling.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 May 2006 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-national-lottery-as-a-redistribution-mechanism-who-are-the-real-winners/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-national-lottery-as-a-redistribution-mechanism-who-are-the-real-winners/</guid>
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