Noncompete Clauses Should Be Banned
Companies don’t really need them. Workers pay the price.
Nick Ottens
Nick Ottens is a journalist, former political risk consultant and former research manager for XPRIZE, where he designed prize competitions to incentivize breakthrough innovation in agriculture, food and health care. He has reported from Amsterdam, Barcelona and New York for various Dutch- and English-language media, including the Atlantic Council, EUobserver, NRC, Trouw and World Politics Review.
Nick writes about the politics of France, the Netherlands, Spain and the United States in Atlantic Sentinel and Wynia’s Week. In his spare time, he edits the online magazines Never Was and Forgotten Trek.
He is a member of the Netherlands’ liberal party, VVD, and its Liberal Green network.
How Government Creates Shortages of Doctors
France, the Netherlands and the United States limited slots for medical students.
Top Stories of 2022
Joe Biden got things done. Farmers protested in the Netherlands. The Spanish right radicalized.
Dutch Plan for Organic Farming Underwhelms
The money is a drop in the bucket compared to overall farm subsidies.
Responding to American Protectionism Has Downsides for Europe
Joe Biden’s “buy American” policy is a threat, but matching protectionism with protectionism is worse.
Spanish Judges Block Senate Debate to Replace Them
Conservatives go out of their way to avoid a progressive court.
Italy Shows Goodwill to EU with Last-Minute Tax Changes
The right-wing government needs the EU to sign off on COVID-19 recovery funds.
Sánchez Cleans Up Mess Conservatives Made in Catalonia
The right used an antiquated sedition law to persecute Catalan separatists.
Europe’s Asylum Crisis, Explained
A deep dive into the numbers plus the policies of France, Italy and Netherlands.
Rent Control Keeps Failing. Countries Keep Trying
What do you call doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results?
Dutch Child Care Would Pay Price for Government’s Failure
Child benefits need an overhaul, but the government’s reforms would hurt child-care providers.
Europe Is Falling Behind in Cultivated Meat
Cell-based meat has been approved by the American FDA.
Is Ron DeSantis the Next Donald Trump?
The Florida governor has become a strong contender for his party’s presidential nomination.
Don’t Blame Polls for Bad Predictions
The polls were right. Pundits were wrong.
Midterms Could Have Gone Worse for Democrats
Joe Biden’s party isn’t popular, but Republicans are worse.