Beyond ethical concerns, there are two arguments frequently employed to contend against “too much” redistribution of income. The first argument is that redistribution distorts incentives and thus carries a severe loss in efficiency. For example, when a government levies taxes on incomes, people have incentives to make a lower effort (since they will not be able to receive the entire product of their work).

The second argument is that monetary income (consumption) is a poor proxy for actual welfare. Consider the following example: an undergraduate student in economics can pursue a career in finance with a high profile of future incomes, or he can pursue an (equally effort-demanding) academic career, with noticeably lower incomes. Usually the decision is not easy, what might indicate that, in spite of the differences in incomes, the well-being under both activities is pretty much the same. The parity in well being is partially explained by the consumption of some goods and services (in a wide sense) “purchased” by a cut in salary (e.g. time flexibility, lack of stress, taste for that particular job, etc.). Since the consumption of those (costly) goods and services is not measured in the surveys, a comparison of the incomes (or even the expenditures) of individuals in both situations would be simply erroneous.  Read More…

By Jeroen Mimpen & Anita Vink, Jonge Democraten, The Netherlands

Lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals (LGBTs) are an oppressed minority in many societies, who face cultural, social, political and legal barriers to fully expressing themselves. One of the main liberal challenges for the 21st century is to fight homophobia and promote equal rights for all sexual orientations. This article elaborates on the current state of affairs in a number of countries and contemplates on the possibilities to address LGBT rights from an international perspective. Should we adhere to idealism or pragmatism, or can we combine both? And what means are most effective in addressing this issue? These and other questions are explored below.

The liberal position
From a liberal point of view, it is a shame that LGBT rights are still an issue in the world, since everyone has the right to be treated equally, as long as a person does not damage the general welfare or the wellbeing of others. Moreover, liberals have a strong belief in the right of every person to express and develop their identities to the fullest. The conviction of many authorities and governments that they can decide how the personal life of their citizens should be shaped, is an intolerable concept for any liberal thinker. Read more..

Hannah Asomaning

Even though there are some cardinal differences between liberalism and socialism, there is not much difference in the two systems in developing countries, Mr Kwesi Jonah, a Political Scientist at the University of Ghana said in an interview on Joy FM, a radio station in Ghana.

He stressed that there is not much difference between liberal and social democrats in the African political setting since developing countries are not entirely independent in deciding the approaches to their economies.

Mr Jonah explained that economic programmes in developing countries are handed down from Bretton Woods’ institutions, and this makes it extremely difficult for political ideologies to triumph, thereby eroding the impact of political ideology of governments in developing countries within their peculiar environmental circumstances.  Read more…

An essay by Inge Snip

Through history one can see that students started many major changes in history. Not only the French Revolution should be mentioned, but also the revolution-waves around 1848. Especially the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 in china cannot be forgotten in this perspective. Even in the last few years, it were the students who were able to change politics: The Rose Revolution, The Orange revolution and the Tulip revolution are major examples. Looking at it in a historical perspective: the youth is the future. Read more.

Originally Posted at The Libel. 

If a sociologist had proposed ten years ago to write a book about globalization, nowadays – it would’ve been a dull of apprehension!!! What is actually globalization???
By globalization, we usually mean the process whereby societies, communities and individuals are increasingly interconnected around the world. Social processes in one part of the world impact on those in other parts.
Globalization can be equated with the collapse of so-called communism and the establishment of free markets on a truly international scale. Establishment of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the extent the European Union (EU) indicates the growth of new markets – the expansion of a world economy. Read more.

Why this of all issues to discuss here, you ask? There’s so many more that demand comment, like the upcoming stance the Supreme Court will be taking with regard to extra-judicial killings, the deathwatch on the Liberal Party of the Philippines and my thesis that the Republic will soon face its last “wake-up call”, albeit this time without any Guardians because all of those sworn to defend the Philippines have either gone abroad, gone corporate, or gone call center. Or gotten so horribly disillusioned that slitting one’s throat might be a much better option. Read more.

Originally Posted at The Libel.

By K.J. John

What is responsible citizenship within the context of an emerging new world order, defined more by media and virtual realities than by the real world of material and earthly realities? But, first some context definitions from the title of the book Asian Cyberactivism: Freedom of Expression and Media Censorship.

First, what is Asia? Where is Asia in our civilisational past? Who is Asia today? What is the role of Asia in the Global Village of the future? More

Originally posted at fnfasia.org

by: Rachel Ann Bersemera

Many Western experts on Democracy and Liberalism often claim that Asia has a short history with the liberal Ideology. Asian liberals in general however would counter that contrary to this observation, Asia has a long and rich history of liberal-democratic movement.

Of course, this may not be the kind that highlights individualism or the type that emphasizes the right to self-realization of the individual over collective or familial aspirations, but it is liberalism in the many eyes of Asians nonetheless. More

By Marlowe C. Selecios Our predominantly conservative society undeniably looks with suspicious eyes on the Filipino liberal. Driven by his unusual zeal for individual liberty and social equality, the liberal is typecast as an activist, rarely appreciated and often misunderstood. The liberal’s excesses are frequently magnified and highlighted, while his virtues, which are aplenty, understated. His pronounced impatience with the status quo is seen as rebelliousness. His self-confidence is mistaken for arrogance. More

One reason that governments impose taxes is to finance the services that citizens demand. This study examines how governments can extract tax revenues in the least costly and economically damaging manner. There are, of course, other policy considerations in determining tax policy. Indeed equity (often referred to as fairness) and simplicity are critical policy factors. That acknowledged, this study focuses on economic efficiency, which is frequently ignored in public policy discussions about tax policy. The reason to focus on economic efficiency is because not all taxes are created equal; the economic costs of different taxes are different. Some taxes impose greater costs on society than others. The key for societies is to rely more on the less costly taxes and less on the more costly taxes. More

Originally Posted at Fraser Institute