By: Rainer Zitelmann

Dr Rainer Zitelmann is a German historian, sociologist and author. His latest book is "The Origins of Poverty and Wealth" https://origins-poverty-wealth.com/

All 66 Articles

Vietnam defeated America, can it beat China too?

February 27, 2025

'Escape from China' is the watchword in Vietnam for businesses offering an alternative to Beijing's communist encroachment, says Rainer Zitelmann.
A seismic election won’t deliver the change Germany needs

February 24, 2025

Friedrich Merz has emerged victorious in a general election which saw dramatic changes in German politics – but given that his party is responsible for many of the country’s problems, a radical about turn looks unlikely, says Rainer Zitelmann Friedrich Merz’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU) emerged victorious in Germany’s general election, securing 28.6 per [...]
What happened when Latin America’s most free economy elected a socialist?

February 20, 2025

Chile was the most capitalist country in Latin America and had prospered as a result. But since the election of socialist Gabriel Boric in 2021, all that has changed, says Rainer Zitelmann My trip around the world took me to Chile twice, in May 2022 and November 2023. After you’ve been to countries like Colombia, [...]
How Sweden left socialism behind

February 13, 2025

The myth of socialist Sweden persists but in fact it has left many of the policies of the 70s and 80s behind and become one of the most market-oriented societies in the world, says Rainer Zitelmann For decades, the production and sale of alcohol was heavily regulated by the state in Sweden. When it came [...]
How Albania went from Europe’s socialist poorhouse to a narco-state

February 6, 2025

Albania was once a socialist backwater with just 1,265 cars in the whole country. And though living standards have improved considerably since that time, it’s failure to transform into a true market economy has handed power to drug lords and driven the brightest and best to emigrate, says Rainer Zitelmann I was in Tirana, the [...]
Lessons in liberty from Argentina and the Milei revolution

January 30, 2025

Javier Milei is turning his country around, but just like Britain in the 1970s, things in Argentina had to deteriorate dramatically before capitalist reformers like him and Thatcher stood a chance, says Rainer Zitelmann During my visits to Argentina in 2022, 2023 and 2024, I had the opportunity to witness first-hand the movement that propelled [...]
What does the world really think about freedom?

January 22, 2025

On a round-the-world trip, Rainer Zitelmann conducted the most extensive ever survey of global attitudes to capitalism and the market economy. Over the coming weeks he’ll be sharing his insights with City AM Many people dream of travelling the world. Well, from April 2022 to December 2023, I went on a round-the-world trip that took [...]
How German politics went kaput

November 12, 2024

After the collapse of its shaky ‘traffic light’ coalition, Germany is once again the sick man of Europe, says Rainer Zitelmann German chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has sacked his finance minister Christian Lindner (FDP) and delivered an aggressive speech personally insulting Lindner. This is a drastic shift in tone for the otherwise calm chancellor, who [...]
Back in the GDR? East Germans fear a return to socialism

September 16, 2024

As half of East Germans say recent negative developments in their country remind them of the post-war era of socialism, Germany has become the sick man of Europe, warns Rainer Zitelmann The German government has been increasingly intervening in the economy. Many Germans have been outraged by government mandates dictating which heating systems they are [...]
The Power of Capitalism: The myth of Swedish socialism

May 10, 2024

Sweden has long had a reputation as a successful 'socialist democracy' - but it's market reforms that have powered growth

Fractile lands $220m as ministers hail ‘vote of confidence’ in UK AI

Ryder Cup captain Donald did not broker Rahm peace deal

Team behind BuzzBallz launch new shots – available in London off-licences now

By: Rainer Zitelmann

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