Tito Boeri on immigration policy and the Left's defeat

Writing in the independent liberal blog La Voce, Tito Boeri looks into the reasons for the Left's thrashing in the European elections: "Put it down to the 26 million immigrants who have come to Europe in recent years. ... Recessions normally favour leftist parties. ... The current crisis, on the other hand, goes hand in hand with the strong electoral showings of right-wing and xenophobic movements across the continent and the crushing defeat for the very parties that had a hand in constructing the European welfare state. ... Instead of imitating their opponents, the Social Democrats should try to reform their social welfare programmes. ... That means tying eligibility for welfare to taxes and punishing abuse. ... Denmark and Sweden have taken the clearest steps in this direction. ... Can it be mere coincidence that the centre-left parties in both countries ... were the only ones not to suffer in the EU elections?"

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