The European Union And The Technology Shift

Description

This book explores the multiple challenges that the global technology shift is posing to the EU. From the vantage point of experts from economics, law, and political science, this book provides insights into the role that the EU is and ought to be playing in regulating global platform companies, addressing taxation in the digital economy, mitigating job displacements on the labour market, and tackling ethical concerns of artificial intelligence and the prospect of digital democracy. All chapters are based on up-to-date research findings and succinct assessment of ongoing debates. They conclude with policy recommendations for policy makers on European and national levels. Contents Notes on Contributors List of Figures Chapter 1: What Does the Technological Shift Have in Store for the EU? Opportunities and Pitfalls for European Societies Introduction Technological Development in Historical Perspective The EU and the Technological Shift During the 2010s What Resources Does the EU Possess for Handling the Technological Shift? Dimensions of the Technological Challenge Facing the EU Conclusions References Chapter 2: Technological Megashift and the EU: Threats, Vulnerabilities and Fragmented Responsibilities Megashift Technology Is Neither Good, Bad or Neutral Antagonism in the Fully Wired Digital Society Surveillance Society Vulnerabilities, Crashes and System Collapse Public-Private Technology and Accountability Holistic, Responsible and Non-deterministic Care in Outsourcing References Chapter 3: Technological Discontinuities and the Climate Transition in Europe: The Role of Policy in Two Traditions of Economic Thinking Introduction The Development of Wind and Solar Power in Denmark and Germany Technological Discontinuities and Industrial Transformation: Weaknesses in the EU Commission’s Analytical Perspective Technological Innovation Systems: An Alternative Analytical Perspective Lessons from the Two Partly Contradictory Ways of Economic Thinking A Demand for Carefully Designed, Directed, Coordinated and Adaptable Policies References Chapter 4: AI in the EU: Ethical Guidelines as a Governance Tool Introduction: Why Ethics Guidelines? From Area of Research to Regulatory Concept What Is It That Needs to Be Governed? What Does AI Governance Entail? Keeping Society-in-the-Loop Ethics Guidelines The EU and Trustworthy AI An Ecosystem of Trust? Risk and Transparency Levelled or Binary Risk-Approach? The Multifaceted Transparency Summing up: From Principles to Effective Implementation From Principle to Procedure The Need for a Multidisciplinary Approach Legal Adaptability in Times of Change References Chapter 5: How Does the EU Protect Competition in the Digital Platform Economy? Introduction The Digital Economy in Europe and Elsewhere General or Sector-Specific Competition Law Abuse of Dominance Institutional Problems with Competition Law Why Competition Law Does Not Suffice to Address the Problem of Accessing and Porting Data Conclusion References Chapter 6: Digitalisation, Productivity and Jobs: A European Perspective Introduction EU Initiatives Related to a Digitalisation-Driven Structural Transformation Digitalisation and Firms Digitalisation and Jobs Product Market, Financial Market and Regional Effects Lessons from Economics Regarding the EU’s Ongoing Digitalisation-Driven Structural Transformation EU-Wide Policy Coordination Is Essential for a Successful Digitalisation-Driven Structural Transformation The Technology Shift Requires an Improved Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in the EU References Chapter 7: Technological Shifts and the Social Partners: Is the European Semester Heading Towards a Social Europe? Introduction Technological Shifts and EU Governance Mechanisms What Is the European Semester? How Can Actors’ Role in the Process Be Understood? The Social Partners and the European Semester The European Semester and the Social Partners: Concluding Remarks Clear Guidelines for Participation in the European Semester References Chapter 8: Money for Nothin’: Digitalization and Fluid Tax Bases Introduction Digitalization Amplifies Economic Forces Intangible Knowledge Exceed Physical Capital Falling Wage Share of Labour Reduces the Pie That Can Be Taxed Pressures Within International Corporate Taxation The Challenge of Gig Jobs and Platform Services Erosion of Tax Bases Should be Taken More Seriously Policy Conclusions References Chapter 9: New Tax on Digital Services: A Step Towards Fairer Taxation in the EU’s Single Market? Introduction Underlying Reasons for the Proposed Special Tax on Digital Services in the EU What Does Fair Taxation of Digital Companies Within the EU Mean? EU Legislative Proposals for a New Tax on Digital Services National Initiatives of Individual Member States Comparison to Value Added Taxation of Digital Services From Corporate Taxation to an Indirect Tax on Digital Services: Implications for How the Single Market Functions Tax Reform Is Necessary: But Taxation Where Value Is Created Does Not Guarantee Fairness References Chapter 10: Digital Democracy and the European Union Introduction Democracy and the Internet: From Utopia to Dystopia The EU and Digital Democracy: 2000–2019 The European Citizens’ Consultations: Great Ambitions, Little Impact The European Citizens’ Initiative: More Powerful Than the EU Expected? Concluding Discussion References Index