Opinion

European policymakers, economists, and politicians are in desperate need of a reality check—an awakening that brings them back down to earth and forces them to finally make effective, objective, and intelligent decisions. Something that has been missing for years.

Some analysts are talking about the end of dollar dominance. They primarily point to the erosion of international trust among trade partners and the high debt levels of the United States. A weakening appears to be on the horizon, they write.

The US dollar has experienced a spectacular decline in recent months. Investors call it a correction, analysts see a turning point, and pessimists even predict the end of dollar hegemony. But let’s pause for a moment. While the dollar is indeed falling rapidly, it is far from collapsing.

Economists have a knack for elevating seemingly simple assumptions into so-called science—even though economics isn’t really a science at all. Nevertheless, endless books are written about a single abstract interest rate number.

At the heart of financial research lies a seemingly simple question: what is the risk-return profile of stocks and corporate bonds? New research based on the Belgian stock market from 1850 to 1913 shows that the answer changes fundamentally when illiquidity is taken into account.

The U.S. dollar is taking a beating. I’m not just referring to its exchange rate, but also to the growing doubts being raised about the role the greenback plays on the global stage as the de facto world currency.

Some periodic reports and studies are more informative and enjoyable than others. As far as I’m concerned, you can skip the obligatory and meaningless outlooks for the coming calendar year. I prefer to look at what investors are actually doing, rather than the usual December round-up, much of which is already outdated before the new year even begins.

Moody’s, the last of the major credit rating agencies to do so, has stripped the United States of its triple-A status. Old news, then? I wouldn’t go that far, given the timing of the decision. While not much may appear to be happening on the surface, policymakers, central banks, and politicians are working overtime behind the scenes.

Is Europe’s defense push justified? Han de Jong questions rising military budgets and the EU’s long-awaited market reform response.

Last Friday, it finally happened: Moody’s—the last credit rating agency still holding on to a shred of faith in Uncle Sam—downgraded the United States from AAA to Aa1. America is now officially among the ranks of “almost-but-not-quite-perfect” countries. It’s a bit like a high school student going from a 10 to a 9.5—still excellent, but mom and dad are disappointed nonetheless.