31/03/2006 1:05:57 pm
Has the Dawn Begun Already...? When millions of people demonstrate in Paris against a slight de-regulation of the labour market, perhaps optimism about substantial reform is not the first sentiment that comes up. And indeed a common question when I speak about the social model as the problem and the need for reform, people ask how I can believe so strongly that reform will come. There are several resons for that; among them the examples of so many successful reformist countries in the world.

But as I glanced at the latest statistics from Eurostat, I noticed that the public expenditure decreased between 2003 and 2004 in 15 of the 25 EU countries. Since that is the core measure of the size of the state, it is a good development indeed. The size of the state, a main feature of the so-called social model, decreases and the space for individuals and companies to create wealth and jobs increases. But of course, whether the trend continues - rather important - is another matter...

Eurostat statistics - >