Phase 1: Submit pitches

Open for everybody

Completed

Phase 2: Work out your pitch

The top 5

Completed

Phase 3: Feedback and publication

The winning pitch: How private equity is reshaping the economy of Europe

Completed

For a good reason: fuelled by extremely low interest rates, the private equity industry has been booming in recent years. Profit-seeking investors inject money in companies and are not afraid to implement drastic changes to increase short term productivity. 

Private equity is deeply woven into the fabric of the European economy and it is here to stay. It impacts our climate, the future of our economy, and social rights. As such, it should be scrutinised – thoroughly. And that’s exactly what we will do: it’s the winning pitch.

Other close finalists included two pitches concerning renewables: the ins and outs of the emissions trading system (Brussels’ way of taxing Europe’s biggest polluters) and the wind farm industry. Although interesting, it quickly became clear that both topics have been extensively tackled by other media, which left very little room for our collaboration to truly make its mark.

Another pitch was about the Fiware project, which was set up in Brussels as an inclusive IT-platform for local, regional and national governments and organisations to better work together in the digital sphere. The pitch alleged that the project has been deemed a financial failure and that its dealings deserved to be exposed. We wholly agree and our Politico colleagues even went so far as to hail it as ‘the ideal project for the Brussels bubble [..] if it had been pitched ten years ago’. Thus, we fail to see the topic's urgency at this point and have therefore not chosen it as the winner. 

Lastly, the lottery project had a very narrow scope, with most of the bigger European lotteries being active in either the Netherlands or in Belgium, leaving little room for our partners to join the collaboration.

You can read more about why we decided that private equity is Europe’s most obscure cash flow here.

Winning pitch

27 September 2022

European investors financing dirty private equity firms

European investors usually have quite strong Social & Environmental (S&E) policies of which companies (not) to invest in, but they also inve...

Votes
133
Contributions
5

Jury comment

Private equity is deeply woven into the fabric of the European economy and it is here to stay. It impacts our climate, the future of our economy, and social rights. As such, it should be scrutinised – thoroughly. And that’s exactly what we will do: it’s the winningpitch.

Search results

All pitches (67)

5 October 2022

Russian Collaborations at Netherland's premier Contemporary Art Museum

The Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam's current art exhibition by German artist Anne Imhof is a co-production with Garage Museum of Contemporary...

Votes
0
Contributions
1
30 September 2022

Cash Flow Accounting in Banks, practice study

A PhD thesis I defended eight years ago after a research from 2008-2014 concluded that a special accounting regulation would be needed for b...

Votes
0
Contributions
0
30 September 2022

Legal to sell but not to grow?

In the Netherlands, it is legal to sell cannabis in shops that are closely monitored by the authorities. There are regulations about how mu...

Votes
1
Contributions
0
29 September 2022

Equity Investment is Rigged: Consider meme stocks....

While the saga of "meme stocks" has captured the zeitgeist, one story remains under-amplified: market clearing firms (who hold the majority ...

Votes
1
Contributions
0
29 September 2022

Selling the State for Personal Profit

The Schröder Model: What prominent jobs, and particularly, what material or financial assets have former EU heads of government gotten after...

Votes
1
Contributions
0
27 September 2022

European investors financing dirty private equity firms

European investors usually have quite strong Social & Environmental (S&E) policies of which companies (not) to invest in, but they also inve...

Votes
133
Contributions
5
26 September 2022

Car manufacturing industry - How much subsidy is involved in building a European car?

The car manufacturing industry has a strong political influence in Europe, mainly driven by Germany's car lobby. This has led to weaker envi...

Votes
3
Contributions
0
25 September 2022

Company finance and results in real life

It is easy to handle your company finance accountancy in a way it seems you hardly have any profit. So hardly need to pay taxes. But in rea...

Votes
2
Contributions
0
24 September 2022

Dutch coffee shops fund organised crime

In The Netherlands, it's forbidden to grow cannabis plants. This means that coffee shops, while practicing a tolerated business - selling le...

Votes
70
Contributions
0
24 September 2022

Networks of laws company s and governals from top to detail

There is a piramide of institutions company s and governmentals that build a grid of power and obligations which make some group richer and ...

Votes
1
Contributions
0
24 September 2022

E-commerce and customs/VAT fraud

When European customers order product on non-European websites, these goods are delivered to the customers, but VAT and import duties are no...

Votes
0
Contributions
0
21 September 2022

What happened with all the economic growth?

The size of the Dutch economy almost has doubled since 1990. Yet the real disposable incomes of households pretty much are stalled since 197...

Votes
2
Contributions
0
20 September 2022

What happens to the annual 120 billion € proceeds from ETS auctions?

A few years ago, a CO2 emission allowance cost €5/tonne. Now the price has risen to >80 €/tonne. In the EU, 1500000000 allowances are aucti...

Votes
81
Contributions
5
19 September 2022

Adtech industry and realtime bidding

Some of the most obscure money flows in the world are created by the online adtech industry through a process called realtime bidding (RTB)....

Votes
4
Contributions
0
18 September 2022

Why is the Bosnian war still continuing?

In 1995, the Dayton Agreements were supposed to end the Bosnian War. Yet, this never truly happened. Currently, the country is largely divid...

Votes
1
Contributions
0
18 September 2022

Pharmaceutical industry

All the COVID19 subsidies en support. I think it's about millions or trillions of euros.

Votes
5
Contributions
0
17 September 2022

Foreign financing of political parties

Which countries (outside Europe) buy influence in which political parties and/or buy or provide support for political parties through advert...

Votes
5
Contributions
0
17 September 2022

Consultancy companies whom are also joining WEF and DAVOS

Globally large consultancy companies whom are also present or organize events like WEF and DAVOS are always the only consultancy suppliers o...

Votes
6
Contributions
0
15 September 2022

government + lottery subsidies for 'ngo's'

Lots of ngo's, like Natuur & Milieu, Vluchtelingenwerk, Urgenda, Oxfam, get hundreds of millions of subsidies every year to do their work. T...

Votes
115
Contributions
1
14 September 2022

Is fighting inflation ECBs first priority?

The ECB states that fighting inflation is their first priority. However, analysis of their policies suggests that protecting economic downtu...

Votes
6
Contributions
0
14 September 2022

Are there more postcodeloterijen?

In the Netherlands there is an enormous political influence of the postcodeloterij, and that seems internationally, What is their influence ...

Votes
3
Contributions
0
14 September 2022

Delabeling income and capital to avoid tax

EU is very bureaucratic and legal focussed. Rich people who should contribute to the society hide their money in order to avoid tax payments...

Votes
15
Contributions
0
13 September 2022

Inconsequential results of Slovenia's secret language research

Researchers into the Slovenian language e.g. @ZrcSazu preen themselves while actual teaching time amounts to 0.021828473545247 seconds of in...

Votes
1
Contributions
1
13 September 2022

The bribe/lobby kitty of oil and gas companies

It is known that oil and gas companies the world over are bribing governments and civil servants in order to get what they want. A couple of...

Votes
3
Contributions
0
13 September 2022

How extreme political party's are fundend

It is important to know were political party's get their money from. There is a mondial system or orginasation (Russia, USA (Steve Banon, ca...

Votes
12
Contributions
0
13 September 2022

EU subsidies destroy small organizations

Only the big parties use it and too much money goes to so-called financial control. It takes a lot of knowledge, time and money to write an ...

Votes
6
Contributions
0
13 September 2022

Why did we spend billions making FIWARE?

Under Nelie Kroes the European commission had the initiative for the EU to have a software stack that startups and established companies cou...

Votes
71
Contributions
0
13 September 2022

Frontex or Backtax

Frontex is financed with EU money but we know very little about this security organisation. Why do we know so little about this organization...

Votes
3
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

Subsidies for Agriculture

I think the agriculture sector is one of the most expensive volume of money at the European Union. I think itwould bronchiëctasieën better t...

Votes
22
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

Why science isn't trusted; Universities' donors, trust funds and intellectual theft

Universities in Europe are giant money making machines. Heavily subsidized, they ask students to pay higher and higher fees while underpayin...

Votes
8
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

European subsidies for fossil fuel producers

Fossile-fuel producers receive 9,5 million euros per minute of Government subsidies. This was concluded by the International Monetair Fund...

Votes
16
Contributions
2
12 September 2022

Agricultural subsidies

They subsidize the largest farmers most who are responsible for largest environmental damage and refuse to change because of this money. Mos...

Votes
14
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

Influence buying by tech giants

Tech giants spend a lot of money on political lobbies to buy influence for legislation about, for example, Self Sovereign Identities based o...

Votes
4
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

Agricultural subsidies to European farmers

The most Money goes to the farmers in Europe. No level playing field and too diverse in Europe

Votes
4
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

Surveillaince, digital identity and digital money

Who profits from increasing surveillance, digital identity and digital money in the E.U.?

Votes
17
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

Quantitative easing is de grootste waarderoof en systemisch

De bron van geld. Geldcreatie als pomp voor nood is een gesloten systeem dat nader bekeken de grootste aanjager van welvaartsongelijkheid is...

Votes
11
Contributions
1
12 September 2022

Environmental crime through so called recycling companies

Our environment is polluted by all sorts of waste. The Environmental business is booming, but knowledge and control is limited. This provide...

Votes
13
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

Ukraina

To who does go money after crossing the border. Who has pockets more and more fat.

Votes
3
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

Where does my rent go?

House prices and rent keeps going up, but where does all this money go? Who stands at the top of the housing market food chain? Over the pas...

Votes
6
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

Research into obscure 'React-EU' subsidies

Through the 'React-EU', money is quickly provided to the regions of the European States hardest hit by the Corona crisis to stimulate a gree...

Votes
6
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

Hiding money through relatives

Since 2019, Switzerland has made it more difficult for foreigners to hide money in Swiss bank accounts. But this doesn't apply to Swiss citi...

Votes
2
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

Fines and Subsidies

Subsidies are paid to companies and individuals while there are still debts that cannot be collected. There should be a central current acco...

Votes
3
Contributions
1
12 September 2022

The international road of drugs related money transfers

Within the EU the drugs consumption is supposed to be gigantic. The Billions of Euro's involded come back with investments in legal property...

Votes
10
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

Subsidies as sophisticated corruption system

Subsidies tend to divert to political friends and (personal) networks. Where is the difference between corruption and the routing of subsidi...

Votes
8
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

Who profits from the energy transition?

Nothing is what it seems! Cashflows from windenergy knowingly and willingly dupe and harm local residents and animals 's health. Stop their ...

Votes
194
Contributions
67
12 September 2022

Energy resources in the future

Will nucleair energy help us to get rid of poetin

Votes
2
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

Money that buys political leverage.

Small in comparative value yet its leverage results in the huge figures that harm our societies. No banking and pharmaceutical millions, no ...

Votes
10
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

Turkey. The conduit port to evil regimes

Turkey funnels a lot of prohibited trade to countries like Russia and Iran

Votes
2
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

Panama Papers 2.0: “The Reckoning”

Follow up on the Panama Papers, per country.

Votes
12
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

Who profits most from exorbitant energy prices?

Consumers in Europe suffer from exploding energy bills but who benefit the most (which governments, companies etc)? Bringing transparancy im...

Votes
31
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

Eu-union investments

Like any business, the EU does not leave its income parked in a bank, so where do they invest? In which industries? Which countries? Etc?

Votes
2
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

The questionable advertising revenue from Google

Advertisements referring to dubious help desks that make their money from paid referrals.

Votes
2
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

EVERYONE should pay taxes NO EXCEPTIONS

15% income tax for each euro earned in a year over €30.000 (minimum income). Income is both income from labor or investments for people and...

Votes
16
Contributions
1
12 September 2022

How much money does agriculture consume through subsidies?

The world agriculture market is not a market because it’s heavily controlled. Yet the agriculture industry is a mystery of local, national a...

Votes
28
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

Sociale Innovation misused without the ondernemingsraden influence

The idea of social innovation is to improve production processes etc. in companies by using ideas of the working force, as 75% of innovation...

Votes
3
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

Subsidies for fossil fuel

Billions and billions of EU-money. It's the case for the EU-climate plan, It's also the case for the EU-subsidies given to the fossil fuel i...

Votes
19
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

Investigation into OLAF's cases.

Categorize the volume of these frauds and describe who is benefiting the most from the present (long and hard) procedures and what needs to ...

Votes
1
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

Myanmar's Miltary Wealth Stash is where

I want to know where in Europe the Military Junta in Myanmar hide their wealth

Votes
1
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

Export of medicines but profit in Bahama's

Check the money flow from big Pharma companies who import materials, produce a medicine and sell to a customer through Triangulation. result...

Votes
3
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

EU is participator of killings in DRC

All the killing fields in DRC leading to mining plots are financed by EU mining companies and companies that import Coltan eand Cobald etc f...

Votes
0
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

What happened last 30 years with our pensionmoney?

To track & trace the largest speculations. To follow the investments and their profits, especially abroad. Were the buildings abroad, in wh...

Votes
65
Contributions
3
12 September 2022

Orban's and Poland corruption leaders use EU

Goverments are anti EU, but get big money from EU. Fraude ?

Votes
13
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

ANSWER (no brainer): CAP (Common Agricultural Policy).

Destroying the price for farmers in developing countries.

Votes
6
Contributions
0
12 September 2022

Where does all the Common Agricultural Policy money go?

The CAP has been around for ages, and it's a HUGE part of the EU's budget ("only" 37% in 2017). Given its age and the vague and conflicting ...

Votes
70
Contributions
1