general/economy

For the German economy, 2019 was a year to quickly forget. With economic growth of just 0.6 per cent, our eastern neighbours recorded their weakest growth since 2013. Why is this, what are the expectations for this year and what is the effect on the Netherlands?

Environmental measures like the Green Deal are necessary to achieve a sustainable society in the long run. But sometimes these schemes do not seem to parallel economic development. How do we get the Dutch economy green without plunging ourselves into recession?

The election results in the United Kingdom (UK) did not lie, on Thursday 12 December. Boris Johnson won handsomely and so Brexit is definitely going ahead. And whatever anyone thinks of it, for the economy, clarity is better than uncertainty.

Big data and Artificial Intelligence. These are topics discussed at many boardroom tables, perhaps also at your company's. Many credit management providers, including credit insurers, have already invested millions in these. Their ultimate goal: to save costs by streamlining risk assessment, debt collection and work processes more efficiently.

Donald Trump likes to pat himself on the back. Under his leadership, US unemployment is historically low and record after record is being broken (in a positive sense) on US stock markets. The country's economic expansion has lasted another 121 months, or more than a decade. It creates (even more) self-confidence in Trump, who even dared to start a trade war with China. After all, 'his' economy is strong enough. But in doing so, hasn't the eccentric president overplayed his hand?

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson would sort it out, this brexit. Definitely out of the European Union by 31 October, deal or no-deal. But the chaos in the UK is growing by the day, or perhaps even by the hour.

In practice, it appears that Dutch entrepreneurs are often not or not sufficiently aware of the consequences of a bankruptcy pauliana when delivering to Germany. The German trustee can reclaim already paid turnover under the so-called ' Insolvenzanfechtung '.

For years, the construction sector has contributed significantly to the growth of the Dutch economy. In 2018, the construction sector (building and machinery) even gave the main impetus to growth (source: CBS). At the same time, the number of construction bankruptcies is increasing, ABN AMRO Bank reports.

On 23 May, the Netherlands will vote for the European Parliament for the ninth time. So just before the elections, a little refresher course: Who can you vote for? Who does what in the European Union? How does it work?

The UK House of Commons has overwhelmingly agreed to postpone the Brexit date. However, it remains to be seen whether the EU will agree.