The Bitcoin White Paper was published by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008; the first Bitcoin block got mined in 2009. Since the Bitcoin protocol is open source, anyone could take the protocol, fork it (modify the code), and start their own version of P2P money. Many so-called altcoins emerged and tried to be a better, faster or more anonymous than Bitcoin. Soon the code was not only altered to create better cryptocurrencies, but some projects also tried to alter the idea of blockchain beyond the use case of P2P money.  

OECD (13.02.2019) Many OECD countries need to urgently scale-up and upgrade their adult learning systems to help people adapt to the future world of work, according to a new OECD report. Getting Skills Right: Future-Ready Adult Learning Systems says that new technologies, globalisation and population ageing are changing the quantity and quality of jobs as well as the skills they require. Providing better skilling and re-skilling opportunities to workers affected by these changes is essential to make sure the future works for all.

BusinessMirror (14.02.2019) The Philippines needs to spend an average of 3.48 to 5.58 percent of its GDP to fill its social protection gaps up to 2030, according to estimates by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). In a report, titled “Asia’s Fiscal Challenge: Financing the Social Protection Agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs],” the ADB said addressing the fiscal challenges in providing social protection is key to achieving Agenda 2030.

EurActiv (12.02.2019) The future landscape of work in Europe will undoubtedly include a significant increase in robotics technologies – and this could bring major benefits if the right policies are in place to ensure people have the best skills to thrive in Europe’s new world of work.

Le Monde (13.02.2019) Selon les derniers chiffres de l’Insee, la proportion de salariés embauchés en contrat court s’est stabilisée depuis les années 2010 après avoir été multipliée par quatre.

EurActiv (12.02.2019) Finland is the first country to complete a nation-wide experiment on universal basic income. With the first results in, Finnish finance minister Petteri Orpo told EURACTIV.com that the largest parties in his country don’t support the idea anymore

OECD (January 2019) This review assesses Chile's public health system, highlights areas of strength and weakness, and makes a number of recommendations for improvement. The review examines Chile's public health system architecture, and how well policies are responding to significant population health challenges including high rates of overweight and obesity, and relatively high smoking rates. In particular, the review assesses Chile's policies designed to tackle obesity and improve healthy diets.

Financial Times (08.02.2019) There was good news from Brazil this week when a draft emerged of the government’s plans to overhaul the country’s deficit-ridden pensions system. The reform, under new president Jair Bolsonaro, would be a big step in setting the country back on the path to growth after its crushing recession of 2015-2016, raising hopes of investors who have seen several attempts to get the changes through congress fail over the past quarter of a century.

EurActiv (08.02.2019) Selon une enquête Domplus-BVA pour La Tribune de janvier 2019, sur 1 000 jeunes actifs de moins de 35 ans interrogés sur leur rapport au travail, 80 % placent leur carrière professionnelle au centre de leurs préoccupations

oecd (28.01.2019) The notion that social protection is “universal” rests on two elements, namely that “everyone” is “covered.”