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A lot of (not all) European regulation is at it's core about trade. Things this author feels are "obstructions to trade" are to enable trade of the things we va
by trashb 11mo ago
A lot of (not all) European regulation is at it's core about trade.
Things this author feels are "obstructions to trade" are to enable trade of the things we value. For example Europe might regulate what fish species you can sell if you call a fish "Anchovy". Additionally some regulation applies minimal standards, for example regulation of the angle of what's visible in the rear view mirror of a car. On top of that some regulation is to guarantee certain standard of living between member countries. The countries themselves are separate governing states therefore they still have some agency on the standards they set on top of the European regulation. This all is required for equal trade between countries while not merging altogether.
On top of that not all regulation is about economics, sometimes we favor safety, standard of living or social safety nets above short term profit. Those factors will in the long run lead to more prosperity for the citizens.
No system is ideal and there are definitely problems within Europe however I feel like this article is written from a very pro USA perspective. At points it almost reads like a thread to the European government or pro-USA propaganda. I think the authors proposes a solution that will lead to a "race to the bottom" within European trade similar to how the current economic system is dysfunctional in the USA.
- drcongo 11mo agoAbsolutely agree. When you buy olive oil in Europe you get oil made from olives.
- mothballed 11mo agoDomestically produced USA olive oil is actually olive oil. If you buy olive oil in Europe you get olive oil. If you buy olive oil from Europe you may get olive oil, you might get something else. This is because European olive oil trade has large component of European (largely Italian) gangsters involved in the olive oil export trade.
- trashb 11mo agoYou seem to state that USA regulates production of a product where EU regulates what product and how a product is sold. As a consumer myself would prefer regulation on what is sold, laws only work within your borders so the USA can't regulate EU production but can regulate import from Europe and vice versa. > (largely Italian) gangsters Seems to imply criminal/illegal activity, that is everywhere and not really important to the statement. If it's just that you are not expecting to be sold a fake while it is legal, maybe the law needs updating.
- mothballed 11mo agoEuropeans are in the same predicament as Americans, except since EU domestic olive oil is superior to American domestic oil, there is simply little to no demand to buy olive oil in EU from outside the EU. Therefore you don't have a largescale problem of importing fake olive oil, not because your laws are superior, but because your domestic natural resources and skillsets don't economically demand such risky import.
- logicchains 11mo ago>sometimes we favor safety, standard of living or social safety nets above short term profit. Did you read the whole article? The current European standard of living is built on debt and unsustainable without an increased rate of growth (to outgrow the debt). And it potentially poses an existential threat, because if Europe's GDP and industrial capacity relative to its neighbours continues to fall, it faces the risk of invasion by e.g. Russia.
- spwa4 11mo agoYou want increased growth? Governments currently are forced to limit their spending to 103% of their budget. This will, essentially by definition, being (much) less than inflation, reduce money in circulation. Increase that to, oh, say 105%, and it'll turn around fast. And debt, which is more or less the single leftover untaxed source of income for the EU's rich, will lose value far faster. This will then immediately make it much harder for the EU's countries to lend, which will therefore immediately achieve exactly what conservatives claim they want.