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Harry Geels: Views of financial economists are missing from the inequality debate

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 09:57:07 +0200

_{This column was originally written in Dutch. This is an English translation.}

By Harry Geels

The public debate on inequality and taxation is heavily dominated by a macroeconomic way of thinking, whilst insights from financial economics are conspicuously absent. Among other things, the ‘risk premium’ is conspicuously absent from the debate.

DeVere Group: Burnham is maxing out Britain’s credit card

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 11:57:27 +0200

Tax rises and increased government borrowing now look almost inevitable under Andy Burnham, warns Nigel Green, CEO of deVere Group, one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory organizations.

Harry Geels: The Homeownership Windfall: Myth or Reality?

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 08:21:12 +0200

_{This column was originally written in Dutch. This is an English translation.}

By Harry Geels

The core problem in these debates about additional taxes—whether inheritance taxes or windfall taxes—is that they often fail to present an accurate picture of the actual profit made on a house. This is a significant omission. When those gains are calculated in full, they often turn out to be considerably smaller than is commonly suggested.

Harry Geels: Inheritance tax is a tax on future prosperity

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 10:16:45 +0200

_{This column was originally written in Dutch. This is an English translation.}

By Harry Geels

Supporters of higher inheritance taxes argue that an inheritance represents a form of new income for the beneficiary and should therefore be taxed heavily, just like earned income. Opponents point out that the assets have often already been taxed before and refer to this as double taxation. However, there is a third, less frequently heard perspective: that of classical economics.

DeVere Group: Burnham’s tax comments alarm investors

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 08:45:57 +0200

Andy Burnham’s comment on Friday that there is “room” for tax changes will alarm investors already worried about Britain's fiscal trajectory, warns the CEO of one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory and asset management organizations.

DGBC en Platform Woonopgave: Regels schrappen zonder systeemvisie is symptoombestrijding

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 12:42:15 +0200

Op woensdag 1 juli vindt het commissiedebat Bouwregelgeving plaats waarin wordt gesproken over het vereenvoudigen en schrappen van regels om daarmee de woningbouw te versnellen.

DeVere Group: Will Britain pay the price for Burnham’s war on wealth?

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 12:21:46 +0200

Andy Burnham, the favourite to succeed Keir Starmer as prime minister, has long argued that Britain places too much of the tax burden on work and too little on wealth. This significant shift has 'considerable consequences for households, businesses, investors and the economy,' warns the CEO of one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory organisations.

DeVere Group: Burnham victory risks Truss-style bond market backlash

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 09:53:26 +0200

Andy Burnham’s win in Makerfield, paving the way for him to potentially challenge Keir Starmer and become UK Prime Minister, could trigger a Liz Truss-style spooking of UK bond markets and accelerate a mass exodus of wealth from Britain, warns the CEO of global financial advisory giant deVere Group.

EIB Group: EU Finance Ministers back strategy for a more secure Europe

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 12:21:58 +0200

The Board of Governors of the European Investment Bank (EIB), comprised of European Union Finance Ministers, endorsed the Bank’s strategy to deliver on shared policy priorities, with increased financing and risk appetite, deploying its full potential to mobilise investments for energy autonomy, technological leadership and security and defence.

Harry Geels: Piketty’s five fallacies

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:16:52 +0200

_{This column was originally written in Dutch. This is an English translation.}

By Harry Geels

In his recent report, Thomas Piketty once again sets out an ambitious worldview. Climate change, inequality and economic structure are brought together in a single, overarching project. However, his solutions contain five systematic fallacies.

DeVere: Next Labour leader could trigger massive wealth exodus

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 09:01:07 +0200

Britain risks accelerating the “largest millionaire exodus in the developed world” if the next Labour leader pursues wealth taxes and exit taxes to plug mounting holes in the public finances, warns the CEO of global financial advisory giant deVere Group.

Harry Geels: Greece, from debt crisis to market darling

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 12:24:04 +0200

_{This column was originally written in Dutch. This is an English translation.}

By Harry Geels

The country that, a decade ago, was synonymous with mismanagement, debt restructuring and political chaos is once again being embraced by investors. There are broadly four reasons to take a more positive view of Greece. Taken together, they provide an excellent case study for both economists and investors.

IVBN: Sustainability, between ambition and reality

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 10:01:15 +0200

Making homes more sustainable is widely supported, but in practice progress is not picking up fast enough. The ambitions are high, but implementation is complex. This tension affects investment, affordability and the pace of the energy transition in the Netherlands.

By Judith Norbart, Director, IVBN

Rick van der Ploeg: Climate transition still being undermined by misguided incentives

Wed, 20 May 2026 10:01:33 +0200

^{This article was originally written in Dutch. This is an English translation.}

Rick van der Ploeg, an economist and professor at the University of Oxford, argues that there are still many blind spots in global climate policy. In conversation with Financial Investigator, he explains why the true costs of CO₂ are many times higher than politics and the market suggest, and why, without strong incentives and social compensation, the transition risks stalling.

By Harry Geels

DeVere Group: Burnham return rattles gilt markets

Fri, 15 May 2026 09:26:52 +0200

Gilt markets will treat Andy Burnham’s return to Westminster as a 'major escalation of political and fiscal risk', warns Nigel Green, the CEO of deVere Group

DeVere Group: Gilts pricing-in Starmer departure

Wed, 13 May 2026 09:24:28 +0200

Gilt markets appear to be pricing in the exit of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, warns the CEO of one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory organisations.

Charles Bean: Donald Trump is playing a dangerous game

Wed, 13 May 2026 06:03:52 +0200

^{This interview was originally written in Dutch. This is an English translation.}

US President Donald Trump is playing a dangerous game with his attempt to drive down interest rates. The dollar’s reputation as a global reserve currency is at stake. No one knows exactly how this will turn out, but there is good reason for concern.

By Joost van Mierlo

DeVere Group: Starmer drama to put pressure on gilts and the pound

Fri, 08 May 2026 13:06:21 +0200

Labour MPs are increasingly likely to move against Keir Starmer after a devastating set of election results, potentially opening the door to a leadership battle that could, ultimately, deliver both a new Prime Minister and Chancellor.

DeVere Group: Starmer turmoil puts gilt markets on edge as polls open

Thu, 07 May 2026 12:17:15 +0200

UK bonds, or gilts, are trading stable – for now – but the market is one ugly set of results for Labour in Thursday’s local elections across England, Wales and Scotland away from another potentially brutal sell-off, warns the CEO of a global financial advisory giant.

Joeri de Wilde: A flexible global economy, but for whom?

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:12:09 +0200

_{This column was originally written in Dutch. This is an English translation.}

By Joeri de Wilde, Senior Economist at Triodos Investment Management

In the most likely scenarios, the war against Iran will amount to little more than a bump in the road for the global economy. But whilst growth appears to remain steady, this new crisis is causing further erosion beneath the surface.

IVBN: Reactie op Kamerbrief Eerste Resultaten Taskforce Versnelling Woningbouw

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:07:17 +0200

Judith Norbart-ten Hoor, Directeur van IVBN, reageert op de onlangs verschenen :

Bas Jacobs: Our tax system needs to be improved

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:48:04 +0200

_{This interview was originally written in Dutch. This is an English translation.}

The Dutch tax system is no longer adequate. There is a jumble of allowances, labour yields too little, and capital gains tax is a mess. Financial Investigator spoke with Prof. Bas Jacobs of VU University Amsterdam about how things could be improved. A hint: a universal basic income is not the way forward.

By Harry Geels

Harry Geels: How do we dismantle the polarisation industry?

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:24:32 +0200

_{This column was originally written in Dutch. This is an English translation.}

By Harry Geels

Polarisation is often seen as an ideological problem. But for some, it is also a business model that thrives on a lack of personal depth.

PGIM: A new chapter for Hungary

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:25:15 +0200

Centre-right pro-European opposition party Tisza won a landslide majority in the new Hungarian parliament ending the 16-year rule of Fidesz under Viktor Orban representing a new chapter for the country and its economy.

Carmignac: Tisza-overwinning duidelijk keerpunt voor Hongarije

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 11:52:00 +0200

Door Apolline Menut, Econoom bij Carmignac

De verkiezing in Hongarije heeft op korte termijn slechts beperkte betekenis voor de Europese groeivooruitzichten, maar is van veel groter belang voor het vermogen van Europa om te handelen.