The article explores the surprising productivity of the European Union (EU) in passing legislation despite its complex and diverse governing structure. It contrasts the EU's legislative output with that of the U.S. Congress, highl...
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Pieter Garicano is the author of Silicon Continent, a Substack publication that features essays about Europe, innovation, and growth. The site has thousands of subscribers.
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The article critiques the selection process of the European Commission Presidents, particularly focusing on Ursula von der Leyen's leadership. It highlights her poor record as Germany's Defense Minister and argues that the EU's st...
The blog post discusses the implications of the 2025 EU-US trade agreement, highlighting it as a surrender rather than a beneficial deal for Europe. Key points include the acceptance of high tariffs on exports, vague terms in the ...
Sweden's high number of unicorns results from a strong ecosystem of investable startups, supported by angel investors and favorable tax incentives, rather than a mere lack of venture capital.
The podcast explores the macroeconomic effects of AI, emphasizing productivity gains, junior employment challenges, and Europe's regulatory hurdles in adapting to AI advancements.
The article discusses the concept of 'narrative entanglement' in climate policy, highlighting how politicians often present climate actions as beneficial without acknowledging the economic trade-offs involved. It analyzes speeches...
The manifesto by Luis Garicano, Bengt Holmström, and Nicolas Petit outlines a vision for revitalizing Europe's economy by focusing on innovation and economic prosperity. It discusses Europe's post-war recovery, the decline in grow...
Jean Pisani-Ferry, awarded the Legion d’honneur, reflects on the failure of the economic reforms he helped design for Macron's presidency. The reforms aimed to modernize France through supply-side changes and significant investmen...
The blog post discusses the challenges posed by the EU's AI Act, highlighting its potential to hinder innovation in artificial intelligence, particularly in education. It critiques the act's high-risk categorization of AI tools, w...
6.4R without G
2025-08-28 • productivity interest rates europe fiscal policy ai
The article discusses the potential impact of generative AI on productivity growth and interest rates in advanced economies, particularly Europe. It highlights a paper by macroeconomists that examines the long-run real interest ra...
The article discusses the implications of AI on traditional training models in professional services, particularly highlighting the 'AI-Becker problem.' As AI technology advances, it eliminates entry-level positions that historica...
6.4The smart second mover
2025-07-09 • technology economics regulation europe ai
The post discusses Europe's approach to artificial intelligence (AI) in the context of competition with the US and China. It argues against the costly pursuit of developing foundational AI models and instead advocates for a 'smart...
The blog post discusses the implications of the pandemic on Europe's financial landscape, particularly the issuance of Eurobonds and the need for a common fiscal framework. It highlights the historical context of Eurobonds, the ch...
The article discusses the potential of AI to drive economic growth in Europe, predicting a GDP increase of over 20% if AI automates 30% of tasks. However, it highlights three constraints: Baumol's cost disease, entrenched resistan...
The proposed 28th regime for European companies is criticized for failing to unify regulations and support startup growth, risking further fragmentation in the market.
Trump's approach to international relations necessitates a stronger European response, including targeting American tech companies and pivoting towards China for leverage.
The Dutch government's offshore wind energy plans may lead to high electricity prices and economic challenges, despite efforts to support younger generations over older ones.
The proposed changes to Europe's combustion engine ban are criticized for inefficiency and protectionism, while emphasizing the need for a more balanced approach to emissions reduction.
The article argues that the high costs of nuclear power in Europe are primarily due to regulatory policies and lengthy project timelines, rather than inherent inefficiencies of nuclear technology. It contrasts the slow, expensive ...
Choosing careers that involve complex, messy tasks is crucial as AI increasingly automates simpler jobs, necessitating deep knowledge and adaptability.
The blog post discusses the ongoing housing shortage in Europe, focusing on the stalled Pankower Tor development in Berlin due to environmental regulations protecting natterjack toads. The author highlights the conflict between en...
The blog post discusses the implications of industrialization and automation on European economies, drawing on Henry Adams' memoirs. It highlights how wealth leads to increased leisure time and travel to Europe, a trend seen histo...
The text discusses the hidden costs of modern monetary policy, focusing on the actions of central banks since the 2008 financial crisis. It explores the impact of quantitative easing, the creation of new money, and the support off...
The text discusses the concentration of data centers in Europe and the impact on the AI industry. It highlights the uneven distribution of resources, the lack of clustering, and the inability to distribute the benefits from concen...