CNE Monatsmagazin Digest
February 2005

English Summary

The Odd Couple: On the occasion of Any Rand's 100th birthday and Murray Rothbard's 10th obit, Hardy Bouillon looks back at the two most important libertarians of the last century. Rand is still known as the greatest female hero of capitalism, while Murray Rothbard will be remembered as the founder of property-rights anarchism and a landmark in Austrian Economics, Bouillon resumes.

Die Hard: Michael Eilfort, president of the Berlin "Stiftung Marktwirtschaft" criticizes Chancellor Schroeder for his attempt to weaken the stability pact. "This will seriously damage the European and German economy", writes Eilfort. "Stiftung Marktwirtschaft" (foundation for a free market economy) develops market orientated policy concepts in order to influence politics and the public opinion. Eilfort directs the foundation since May 2004.

The War of the Roses: The clandestine EU-US trade war was "at stake" during a US-EU Multi-stakeholder consultation, conducted by the Centre for the New Europe and the Business Council for International Understanding Brussels. Conclusions: The overall strategic priority for the EU should be to improve its economic competitiveness, so that it increases its share of world economic growth, increases its attractiveness for investment, and curbs the brain drain.

The Sting: Paul Newman and Robert Redford once showed what a bluff package is. Fiat money is such a bluff package too. That is the message of a new book by Roland Baader, reviewed by Hardy Bouillon. Paper money issued by the state mocks wealth that does not exist. It provides misleading signals and leads to malinvestments. The terminal stop will be a crash, warns Baader.

Friday Night Fever: The 2005 CNE Capitalist Ball will be held on the evening of 18 February in central Brussels. A major invitation-only event, this year's guests come from the worlds of politics, journalism, business and academia. Invited guests will enjoy a Champagne reception, a four course dinner, the annual CNE awards ceremony and dancing to a 22-piece swing band.

Rebel Without a Cause: 300 years ago, Dutch doctor Bernard Mandeville has published his famous Fable of the Bees as The Grumbling Hive. Down to the present day, the guardians of public morals get het up by his verses. They deny doggedly that much good is done without intention. But Mandeville was right: there was no reason for the bee-hive to cause a rebellion. Leave the market unhampered, and he will do more good than do-gooders can.

Click here to view the full Monatsmagazin in German.

Dr. Hardy Bouillon is Head of Academic Affairs at the Centre for the New Europe.