Unbelievable but true

When Austria came out of the last corona lockdown, the above offer ran in the local freebie paper. For my non German-speaking readers, please allow me to translate and provide background information. The advertisement is for a flat-pack furniture chain store – think IKEA in green and purple with even crappier furniture – that operates …

Chronic illness and healthcare availability

Last post I noted that many Austrians assume that public healthcare is a guaranteed public good. Today I will examine how this mentality endangers the continued functioning of the system. While I will only examine Austrian healthcare, Austria can serve a proxy for similar scenarios in other countries. Healthcare is financed in Austria primarily through …

The societal and economic cost of obesity

In 2010, the OECD issued a comprehensive report titled Fit Not Fat in which they noted that ‘before 1980, obesity rates were generally well below 10%. They have since doubled or tripled in many countries, and in almost half of the OECD, 50% or more of the population is overweight.’ The report outlined various approaches …

Obesity and public healthcare

One year ago Austria responded to the initial COVID-19 wave with tight restrictions. Being outside of your home was only permitted for essential work, to buy food, or to help others. Gatherings of more than five people were forbidden. These restrictions limited, and continue to limit, individuals’ agency – a common definition of harm. As …

Limitations of the harm principle

In previous posts I have argued in favor of consumer constraint as a viable measure for reducing GHG emissions. Further I have noted that in a liberal democracy for such policies to gain acceptance that proper narrative framing is crucial. Some limits and controls we will accept. Others we will not. The context of how …