Richard Mason

Richard Mason is a freelance journalist based in the Czech Republic.

Articles

Economics

The Czechs show us why the Nanny State is such a bad idea

Prague is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful gems Europe has to offer. From its fairytale spires to its buzzing nightlife, it’s no surprise the city consistently ranks as one of the most visited worldwide. Having moved here earlier this month, however, I’ve quickly learned that the true beauty of the Czech Republic isn’t found […]

Policy

Legalising prostitution is the best way to stop trafficking and violence

Let’s be frank: the oldest profession in the world isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Humans have been selling sex pretty much since we began grasping the concept of value, and examples of the trade have been found wherever there is evidence of civilisation. Indeed, the sex trade has managed to survive a long history of […]

Economics

There are two Dutch cannabis markets – we can learn from both of them

If I were to ask you to name things to do with Amsterdam, cannabis and coffee shops would probably rank pretty high on the list. After all, thousands of tourists flock to the Netherlands each year to take advantage of the ‘legal’ weed. Notice the inverted commas around the word legal; despite the stereotypes, the […]