Itinera Institute - Press releases

Ivan Van de Cloot joins Itinera Institute as Chief Economist

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0100

Ivan Van de Cloot, the famous economist who comments regularly on the socioeconomic developments of Belgium, in the press and in diverse publications, has joined the Itinera Institute as chief economist.

Repensons nos pensions

Fri, 30 May 2008 12:00:00 +0100

This Press release is only available in French and Dutch.

How healthy is the Belgian healthcare system?

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:00:00 +0100

This Press release is only available in French and Dutch.

'My car, my fiscal contribution'

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 12:00:00 +0100

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.

Climate relativism

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100

The future climate change seems the ultimate international theme today. This is the result of a succesful but selective communication strategy. Selectivity however comes at a price. The popular climate story neglects for example the end of the era of cheap fossile energy. A radical change of our energy system - an energy transition - is unavoidable. This transition can generate economic growth and ecological benefits if the government creates a stimulating environment for entrepreneurship in the field of intelligent energy technologies.

Richer but less equal? Is the recent rise in revenue inequalities a statistical construction?

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:00:00 +0100

Revenues inequalities are rising in Belgium. This finding is frequently coupled to globalization and the evolution through a knowledge economy in popular media. Is everything said or are there alternative explanations possible?

The report “Richer but less equal. Is the recent raise in revenue inequalities a statistical construction?” concludes that the rise in revenues inequalities seems mainly due to a strong social and fiscal dynamic. Given that the number of fiscal declaration continues rising in Belgium, revenues inequalities based on the Gini coefficient will continue rising without taking into account the classical corrections such as activation programs, bigger benefits or more fiscal progressiveness.

Are the Belgian universities threatened?

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 12:00:00 +0100

The start of the academic year was characterized by the publication of many universities ranking across the world underlying the weak position of Belgian universities. What is the real meaning of these rankings? Jean Hindriks and the Itinera Institute comment on the existing rankings and give perspectives in favour of an investment policy into Belgian universities.

Healthcare and mobility: two priorities for the next federal government

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 12:00:00 +0100

From Job Security to Employment Security on the Belgian labour Market.

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 12:00:00 +0100

Is Denmark the European Employment Champion?

Thu, 07 Dec 2006 12:00:00 +0100

With an official unemployment rate of 4.2%, Denmark apparently performs better than European growth champion Ireland. The low Danish unemployment figure is an essential part of the hyped 'Scandinavian Model'. When we however consider the number of participants in labour market programs as well as people in early retirement schemes, the real unemployment or inactivity in Denmark increases to 15%het ‘Scandinavische model’.

The Ranking of Local Government in Flanders and Wallonia

Fri, 22 Sep 2006 12:00:00 +0100

Belgium is on the eve of local elections. A citizen’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.

Supreme Belgium?

Fri, 04 Aug 2006 12:00:00 +0100

Belgian public opinion has recently been bombarded with victory declarations on the Belgian economy and employment. Marc De Vos and Jean Hindriks explain that the current growth figures appear to be more cyclical than structural. They offer little guarantee for the future and therefore cannot be an alibi to postpone necessary structural reforms. Read press release in French or Dutch.

The National Lottery As a Redistribution Mechanism: Who Are the Real Winners?

Thu, 01 Jun 2006 12:00:00 +0100

The Belgian government seeks to reform the National Lottery to ensure that “more people win more”. This charm offensive is associated with the socalled social image of the Lotto. However, in reality the impact of a national lottery is far from social. This Nota examines the adverse and antisocial effects of national lotteries and gambling.

Competitiveness: the Ultimate Economic Theme for 2006?

Fri, 19 May 2006 12:00:00 +0100

The competitiveness of the Belgian economy seems to be endangered. To safeguard our international competitiveness, the social partners want to elaborate control mechanisms securing that the evolution of the Belgian wage cost resembles the trends in our neighboring countries. This particular wage cost policy will probably not impact the Belgian unemployment rate of 12.3% because our fiscal system continues to price labor out of the market, and this observation also holds for labor that is not exposed to international competition. Our future welfare level will be determined by the successful integration in our economy of economically non-active groups and of the evolution of labor productivity. Therefore we need fundamental reforms. The focus on industrial wages in our neighboring countries risks crowding out concerns for essential reforms.

Launch of the Itinera Institute

Mon, 13 Mar 2006 12:00:00 +0100

The 13th of March 2006 will see the official launch of the Itinera Institute.

The Itinera Institute is a truly independent, professional and non-partisan think-tank that seeks to identify roads to policy reform that ensure sustained economic growth and social protection in this part of the world.