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A Van Zanten comic for the econmist magazine ESB. Theme: the ongoing discussions between member states of the European Union about budget, expenditures, debts, financial discipline, etc. My translatio: 1) VZ: Within th euro zone, countries have different opinions about making debts. We are among the strict countries, while… Voice: Grandpa! Grandpa! 2) Grandson: I need new shoes. Do you have some money for me? VZ: Okay… 3) Grandson: Thanks! I will send you a message (a tikkie) if it is more expensive. (A ‘tikkie’ is a payment request sent via whatsapp). 4) VZ: I think that future generations will bridge the differences of opinion in the EU.

Een Van Zanten-strip voor het economische tijdschrift ESB. Thema: de voortgaande discussies tussen de landen van de EU over begrotingen, uitgaven, schulden, financiële discipline, enz. enz.

A Van Zanten comic for the economist magazine ESB. You should know that ‘ESB’ stands for ‘Economic Statistic Reports’. Theme of this month was the problem of keeping national statistics and parametes (like Gross National Product) clean and pure in times where money moves around the world so quickly. My translation: 1) If you have a fixed spot in a magazine for economists and statisticians, you have to show some exemplary behavior. 2) I don’t transfer my money to bank accounts on Cyprus or the Channel Islands. I don’t do things like off-shoring, double Irishes or dutch sandwiches [several ways to avoid taxes]. 3) In this way, I contribute to the purity of our national statistics. 4) I can understand that you want to express your gratitude. Please contact the publisher for my bank account number.

Een Van Zanten-strip voor het tijdschrift ESB, ofwel Economisch Statistische Berichten. Thema van dit nummer was hoe nationale statistieken en economische cijfers zuiver kunnen blijven in deze tijden dat geld zo snel rond de wereld gaat.

A Van Zanten-comic for the economist magazine ESB. Theme of the issue is ‘Export, international trade and foreign investments in the Netherlands’, but I couldn’t avoid the corona crisis… My translation: 1) Research shows that over the decades, the dutch economy has become more and more dependent on foreign countries. 2) Back in the day, I would have said: good! Open borders, international cooperation, world peace. Alle Menschen werden Brüder. 3) Today, I think: shouldn’t we have taken care to have a national face mask industry?

Een Van Zanten-strip voor het economische tijdschrift ESB. Het thema was ‘Export, wederuitvoer en buitenlandse investeringen in Nederland’, maar ook dan is de corona-crisis niet te vermijden.

A Van Zanten comic for the economist magazine ESB. The unavoidable theme: corona crisis. My translation: 1) Since this corona crisis I follow all statistics and economic news. 2) I absorb every stat about the spread of the disease: the number of new hospitalizations, the reproduction rate R0, tipping points and flattening of curves. 3) Economics: I follow everything. Economic decrease, recession or even depression? Share prices, emergency funds, support packages… Market prices of face masks. 4) VZ: For the first time since 1916, this is an issue of ESB that I will read from cover to cover. Fish: Normally, he only reads his own cartoon.
The ‘since 1916’ is taken from the magazines logo that you can see below.

Een Van Zanten-strip voor het economische blad ESB (Economische Statistische Berichten), met het onvermijdelijke thema: coronacrisis. Hieronder zie je waar ik het ‘sinds 1916’ uit het laatste plaatje vandaan heb.

A Van Zanten comic for the economist magazine ESB – a second theme issue about development aid. My translation: 1) Africa, I hear so little good news about it. Hunger, poverty, debts, refugees, corruption… 2) Billions of development aid and debt relief, did it help? You hear some people say that continuing development aid makes no sense. 3) But does stopping development aid make sense?

Een Van Zanten-strip voor het economische tijdschrift ESB – een tweede nummer over ontwikkelingshulp.

A new Van Zanten comic for the economist magazine ESB, an issue about development aid. I liked to use a famous quotation from a poet of Willem Elsschot in this cartoon, in the last image. My translation: 1) VZ: Make poverty history once and for all! I keep saying this! 2) VZ: Poverty: is it any good? Did it ever bring us anything? Is it useful? No? Why do we still have it? 3) Woman: I am sorry, but I don’t have any change. 4) VZ: Between dreams and deeds, the path is blocked by laws and practical objections.
(This is my own translation of Elsschot’s famous line, in 2015 Paul Vincent and John Irons translated the same line from the poem ‘The Marriage’ as ‘as giving dreams their head / raises both practical and legal snags.‘)

Een nieuwe Van Zanten-strip voor het economische tijdschrift ESB, een nummer over ontwikkelingssamenwerking. Ik vond het leuk om een beroemde dichtregel uit het gedicht ‘Het Huwelijk’ van Willem Elsschot erin te gebruiken.