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 65 Articles

In defence of capitalism: How free markets can help us go green

March 15, 2023

For more than 20 years, researchers at Yale University have been publishing the Environmental Performance Index (EPI), which ranks countries according to their environmental health and ecosystem vitality. A comparison can be made between the EPI and the Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom, which has been measuring economic freedom around the globe since 1995. [...]
UK must turn around the ship of state towards economic freedom

March 12, 2023

Dr Rainer Zitelmann is a historian and sociologist. In this guest essay, he argues the UK is slipping down the list of free countries in a new global index Last year, the UK received its worst rating in the Index of Economic Freedom since 1995, when the index was first calculated. This year’s rating is [...]
In Defence of Capitalism: How free markets are lifting people out of poverty

March 8, 2023

In the second of an eight part series, the historian and sociologist Dr Rainer Zitelmann writes for City A.M. in defence of capitalism, arguing that freer markets are usually the answer to society’s problems, not the cause. Each week he will ‘myth-bust’ the common complaints about capitalism – and this week, it’s that capitalism is responsible [...]
In Defence of Capitalism: Why free markets can keep driving billions out of hunger and poverty

March 1, 2023

In the first of an eight part series, the historian and sociologist Dr Rainer Zitelmann writes for City A.M. in defence of capitalism, arguing that freer markets are usually the answer to society’s problems, not the cause. Each week he will ‘myth-bust’ the common complaints about capitalism – and this week, it’s that capitalism is [...]
The EU’s plans for a ‘social sustainability’ taxonomy are a dangerous intervention

February 16, 2022

A few weeks ago, there were heated discussions in the European Union about the so-called “taxonomy,” which will give the EU Commission and European authorities the power to determine which investments are good (i.e. green and sustainable) and which are not. The classifications issued in Brussels would then steer investors’ money in the “right” direction. [...]
No, not that German election: An anti-capitalist referendum on rent prices

September 29, 2021

Entrepreneurs can breathe a sigh of relief and stay in Germany without having to worry about emigrating. At least for now. A government made up of Germany’s three biggest left-wing parties was narrowly averted in Sunday’s elections. Narrowly is the operative word, because the Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens and Die Linke (the former communist [...]
Analysis: Last German state election could provide clues to Bundestag poll itself

June 8, 2021

What does the last state election before Germany’s Bundestag poll tell us about the future of the country’s politics – and the EU? German historian and sociologist Rainer Zitelmann takes a look. On Sunday, elections were held in Saxony-Anhalt – one of the five former East German states. The election had long been the subject [...]
Capitalism is the solution, not the problem, when we look at climate change

June 5, 2021

One of the most frequently raised arguments against capitalism is that it is the primary driver of environmental pollution and climate change. But if we compare Yale University’s ranking of countries with the highest environmental performance with the Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom, a very different correlation emerges. Read more: In the lead up [...]
The Green Party candidate to succeed Angela Merkel as Chancellor could control a fiercely left-wing German Government

April 20, 2021

For the first time in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Green Party has nominated a candidate in the race to be Chancellor and succeed Angela Merkel. This morning, the party announced 40-year-old Annalena Baerbock to stand in the September 27 election. After Merkel’s Christian Democrats, the Greens are polling in second [...]
Review: How socialism became the failed idea that never dies

March 6, 2021

German writer and economist Rainer Zettleman looks at a new book on the enduring – and illogical – appeal of socialism Why have socialist ideas once again developed such a strong appeal, even though every single socialist experiment over the past 100 years has failed? British economist Kristian Niemietz provides an answer in his book Socialism: The Failed Idea That Never Dies. He cites over two dozen socialist [...]

Judge throws out Richard Desmond’s billion-pound lottery case

Manchester City: Sheikh Mansour faces calls for ban from English football over UAE links to genocide

I’m a hotel expert. Here’s why I hate in-room technology

By: Rainer Zitelmann

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