In a nutshell: Past and future of the holiday industry

The Story Spending time away from home I like the idea. For a week from today, I will be a tiny part of a steadily growing branch - the tourism industry (I will go on holiday to Switzerland). Tell me more. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) estimates that there were just 25 million international tourist … Continue reading In a nutshell: Past and future of the holiday industry →

🌾 What is the best indicator to measure wealth?

Harvest in the Taubertal, in the south of Germany (I took this photo on 31 July 2021) In the picture above, there are no people to be seen. But there are some nonetheless. One person runs the harvester that is transporting the grain (already freed from the ears) onto a tractor-trailer where a second person … Continue reading 🌾 What is the best indicator to measure wealth? →

🚊 What does the future of rail transport look like (in Germany)?

A regional train at the central station in Karlsruhe, Germany (I took this photo on July 17, 2021). I love to take train rides. Right now, I am on an ICE 4 from Berlin to my hometown Tauberbischofsheim. The ride is fast, comfortable and I am able to work (even wifi works). I am not the only … Continue reading 🚊 What does the future of rail transport look like (in Germany)? →

Why are our cities (usually) flooded with cars?

Because we don’t treat parking lots as private goods.

How can we fight climate change successfully?

LINK Phenomenon: Gap between desire and reality What do people think is the most pressing challenge? Unsurprisingly it is climate change. Sixty-seven per cent say so, according to the ‘world in 2030 Survey’ report by UNESCO. Given this fact, how are we doing in fighting climate change? Again the answer is hardly surprising: We are doing … Continue reading How can we fight climate change successfully? →

How can we improve our online shopping experience?

You’d better not click that button. Usually, a lot of media coverage is about the disadvantages of the digital revolution, such as privacy issues, monopolistic tendencies or (non-)taxation of international service providers. The coverage is for a good reason. This blog is also focusing on the downsides. As well as on the upsides. A key … Continue reading How can we improve our online shopping experience? →

Why a wealth tax is likely to come but isn’t likely to pay off

Which of the following countries is the poorest in terms of mean wealth per adult? Australia, Singapore, Austria,Switzerland, Germany It's Germany. It is number 21 in the global ranking - Switzerland (1), Australia (4), Singapore (8), Austria 14). That is interesting as Germany is often called economically one of the most powerful nations. But that is true as well. The same … Continue reading Why a wealth tax is likely to come but isn’t likely to pay off →

What would you do as head of AstraZeneca?

Germany launched its mass Covid-19 vaccination programme on December 27. More than a month later, nothing much has happened. Over-80s were supposed to be inoculated first, along with care home residents, but tens of thousands of eligible Germans have yet to get the shot. This mess is the same across much of the EU due … Continue reading What would you do as head of AstraZeneca? →

What does the all-time high of the DAX mean during the pandemic?

This morning I listened to the radio where somebody expressed a - I believe - common opinion. The opinion referred to an (at first sight) apparent correlation. On the one hand, the so-called DAX index (a blue-chip stock market index consisting of the 30 major German companies trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange) is trading … Continue reading What does the all-time high of the DAX mean during the pandemic? →

Das Dilemma der Wissenschaft

Wissenschaftler müssen im Umgang mit der breiten Öffentlichkeit mit einem - vermutlich häufig frustrierenden - Dilemma leben. Wissenschaft gibt uns Sicherheit. Sie kann den Weltenlauf erklären, die Zukunft in Teilen vorhersagen, Krankheiten heilen. Sie hat die Religion als Gewissheitenbringer gegen die Unsicherheiten des Lebens abgelöst. Gleichzeit lebt die Wissenschaft von der Falsifizierung. Die Widerlegung ist … Continue reading Das Dilemma der Wissenschaft →