Most recent columns

Harry Geels: The paradox of the degrowth banker

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 08:32:57 +0200

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

Commercial banks rely heavily on lending for their profitability. Degrowth, on the other hand, calls into question the need for continuous economic growth. Can the world of degrowth really be reconciled with the banking system?

By Harry Geels

Harry Geels: Three advantages of owning your own home

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 16:07:43 +0200

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

By Harry Geels

In discussions about taxation, there is often talk of ‘windfalls’ from home ownership – in other words, price rises that come for free. This claim is incorrect, but homeowners do enjoy a number of significant tax and institutional advantages.

Harry Geels: Trump not a classic capitalist but an economic nationalist

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:01:57 +0200

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

By Harry Geels

Recent remarks by Trump (during his 4th of July speech) and Vance (in an interview with The Daily Wire) point more towards conservative-Christian, or even mercantilist, politics than towards liberal-capitalist views. Once again, it is clear that the traditional left-right framework is intellectually impoverished and unnecessarily polarising.

Harry Geels: DNB approves its own inequality policy

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:05:43 +0200

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

By Harry Geels

It is often claimed that monetary policy exacerbates inequality. According to recent research by DNB, this assertion is incorrect. However, there are some points to be made regarding DNB’s view.

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.