What the Economist hates about Europe in two sentences | 32 comments (32 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

The FT rates the Minister of economics of the EU. The criteria are as follows:

The economic rankings:

Test 1: Public sector balance as a percentage of gross domestic product, 2009 forecast, cyclically-adjusted. Ranked by size of surplus.

Test 2: Percentage point change in public sector balance since 2004.

Test 3: Overall tax burden as percentage of GDP, percentage point change 2002-2007

Test 4: Change in "tax wedge" or difference between labour costs to employer and net take home pay of employees, 2002-2007

Test 5: Percentage point change in overall tax rate on dividend income, 2003-2008

The political tests, based on voting by an eight-strong panel of economists and commentators, rank the ministers according to the following attributes: lucidity. (swiftness in realising the extent of the global banking crisis), leadership skills (including role played at a European level) and élan (effectiveness domestically).

So the best minister is the one that cut taxes a lot, and cut spending even more and then, with élan and swiftness, calls the crisis a big one. Sounds like a fun job!

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Mon Nov 17th, 2008 at 06:42:59 PM EST

Re: In a similar vein (4.00 / 3)

I'm surprised they don't have "willingness to take it up the ass from the wealthy benefactors of their party after tea and crumpets, like Saint Tony did," up there.

The Hun is always either at your throat or at your feet. Winston Churchill

by r------ on Mon Nov 17th, 2008 at 07:21:02 PM EST
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What the Economist hates about Europe in two sentences | 32 comments (32 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)