Economic Development
In the years following global financial crises and shocks, job creation and investment are crucial to the recovery of the global economy. The process of rebuilding is an example of economic development, whether enacted at the national, regional, local or individual level. This development will also involve policies related to unemployment, infrastructure, trade, foreign aid and harnessing emerging technologies to ensure that future workers are prepared for an increasingly digital world. IDRN aims to understand the ways that new technologies can be utilised to reduce economic inequalities; to investigate ways that countries can work collaboratively at the international level to increase opportunities; and to find new avenues for economic development, for this and future generations.
Beyond the democratic deficit: Possibility, reality and perception in today’s EU
European integration has absorbed many of the issues that plague international neoliberal structures, with the consequence that sovereignty is fluid, the single market is skewed and democracy is in crisis.
Metaverse: The next European policy challenge?
Contrary to widespread narrative, the metaverse is not a non-regulated technological environment. In the EU, the recently enhanced digital regulatory framework will provide a comprehensive set of rules to address possible challenges arising from the uptake of metaverses, spanning from competition and antitrust, to content moderation and cybersecurity.
Limits of My World: The politics of language
After the inclusion of ten Eastern European countries into the EU between 2004 and 2007, English replaced French as the lingua franca of the institutions in Brussels, with its importance to modern communication transcending the socio-economic levels of European society.
Caution or Innovation: The drivers of EU and UK AI policy
As artificial intelligence technologies advance, the EU and UK have diverged on their legal, business, and social approaches to regulating AI. With many AI companies conducting business in both markets, they must be meticulous to abide by the stringent laws of the EU while taking advantage of the UK’s innovation-first approach.
The Data Act and the pitfalls of data sharing regulation
Data sharing is becoming a crucial element of the data economy, which involves possibly all actors, with governments and businesses being increasingly called to implement efficient and smart usage of such a resource.
Inclusive Innovation: Encouraging Participation in Smart Urbanism
A Smart City approach that catalyses equality and inclusivity and diminishes the perpetuation of existing inequalities is a necessary step in preventing one of the major shortcomings of smart city planning: a lack of inclusion.
Sandu’s Moldova: Towards effective European integration?
Since her election to the position of Moldova’s president, Maia Sandu has not ceased from travelling across Europe to put an end to Moldova’s diplomatic isolation and to demonstrate Moldova’s willingness to develop towards European common values.
Do Androids Dream of Regulated Sheep: The EU AI Act
The digital transition, inevitably accelerated by the Covid-19 crisis, brought a number of policy challenges to the EU especially in relation to emerging technologies in the European market, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the forefront.
Wandering for Work: Trends towards flexible working and digital nomadism
Digital nomadism is becoming more prevalent than we may think. Several states in the EU have taken steps to make it a reality, and more tangibly than a hypothesised traveller on the beach.
Public and Private Spill-overs: Reducing the technological divides in Europe
To encourage technological advancement and uptake, the less developed EU nations will have to pursue strategies that stimulate both private and public research and development whilst simultaneously reinforcing the effect of technological spill-overs.
The EU-Russia Relationship: Understanding the Russian perspective
Russia and the European Union’s relationship continues to be tested since the relational breakdown in 2008 and 2014. Yet, Russia must not be written off as the EU has the opportunity to revive the dialogue with Moscow in recognising the deep historical and cultural ties between Europe and Russia.
Europe’s Clandestine Economy: The Financial Impact of Human Trafficking
Human trafficking in all of its forms significantly hinders both human and economic development. As Europe faces the Covid-19 pandemic, human traffickers may become less of a priority for government officials, creating a more dangerous situation for those who are trafficked.
A Continent of Opportunities: The EU’s Comprehensive Strategy with Africa
To encourage greater economic integration, the European and African Unions must move on from unilateral aid programmes and find mutually beneficial policies relating to trade, immigration and sustainability.
Big Tech in the EU: Competition and Regulatory Harmony
The regulatory sentiment around Big Tech in the EU has changed in recent years, paving the way for a Digital Markets Act (DMA). However, the EU must find a compromise between effective Big Tech regulation and preservation of competition dynamics in the Single Market.
Overcoming Binary Borders: How teleworking could evolve labour migration
The consolidation of telework as a mainstream practice has been one of the most evident consequences of the Covid-19 outbreak. If applied to non-EU citizens wishing to work for European companies, it could foster inclusive social innovation practices that have long been needed in the field of labour policy.
Covid-19 and Digital Inequalities
The Covid-19 pandemic provides the EU and the Member States with an opportunity to improve digital services and reduce digital inequalities. The importance of widespread digital access has never been more apparent and European political and business leaders must act accordingly.
Digital 4.0: The chance to reunite Europe
Emerging markets such as digital 4.0 offer new opportunities for Europe’s economy to bounce back from recession and also help meet future environmental targets. IDRN explores why Digital 4.0 can be the answer to Europe’s economic puzzle.
Teaching and Technology: Lessons learnt from the global learner survey
The greater utilisation of technology in education, whether to supplement or substitute physical learning in schools and universities, offers great opportunities to make valuable education more accessible to a wider audience.
How Smart Specialisation Strategies can impact the EU economy after Covid-19
Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) can help rebuild regional economies around innovation, particularly by addressing and prioritising the markets’ demand side.
Covid-19 and Gender: Differences in the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic in Europe
To find long-term solutions to the further gender-discriminations caused by the pandemic, policymakers should incorporate the gender perspective in all dimensions of policy responses.
Next Generation EU: The Union United
In only two months, the bloc’s leaders have agreed upon a recovery package. With the deal nearly done, now only needing to pass through the European and national parliaments, it is prudent to look at the main points of emphasis and identify the winners and losers of Next Generation EU.
Universal Basic Income: A panacea or impossible dream?
In times of crisis, seemingly impossible ideas suddenly become possible, although the viability of universal basic income in the German-dominated, neoliberal EU remains highly unlikely.
The Effect of Covid-19 on Tourism
Whilst Covid-19 seems to have plunged the world into a global recession, not all sectors have been affected equally. IDRN explores the effect of Covid-19 on tourism.
The State of the Union: How striving for a Hamiltonian ideal could divide Europe
The European Commission’s €750bn ‘Next Generation EU’ project has the potential to support Europe’s health sector and advance the EU’s environmental policy and industrial sovereignty. IDRN examines why it is vital that this package does not become Europe’s ‘Hamiltonian moment’.