Kreilinger, V. (2014) “The relationship between national parliaments and the European Parliament remains contested in the area of economic governance“, LSE EUROPP, 26 Σεπτεμβρίου.   The Fiscal Compact, which was signed by 25 of the EU’s member states in 2012, created an inter-parliamentary conference to enable national parliaments to discuss major issues of economic and financial governance. The third meeting of this ‘Inter-parliamentary Conference for Economic and Financial Governance’ will …Read More

Darvas, Z. (2014) “The European Investment Bank should invest more, not less – EIB played some counter-cyclical role during the crisis, but now plans to reduce investments“, Bruegel Think Tank, 24 Σεπτεμβρίου.   There is a growing recognition among policymakers, not least thanks to the Jackson Hole speech of ECB President Mario Draghi, that Europe faces the problem of demand shortage, in addition to various structural problems which can be …Read More

Mitchell, B. (2014) “Yet another solution for the Eurozone“, Bill Mitchell Blog: Modern Monetary Theory… Macroeconomic Reality, 25 Σεπτεμβρίου.   The basis of a fiat currency, which is issued under monopoly conditions by the government and has no intrinsic value (unlike say gold or silver currencies) is that it is the only unit that the non-government sector can use to relinquish its tax and related obligations to the government. That …Read More

Katan, Μ. (2014) “Moldova in Integration Vectors“, European Dialogue, 27 Δεκεμβρίου 2013.   In Moldova, began an active struggle for change integration vector with the EU’s customs union. Ruling alliance , which intends to August next year sign an association agreement and the creation of a free economic zone with the EU , attacking from three sides: from the east – Transnistria, in the south – Gagauz autonomy , in …Read More

Cuperus, R. (2014) “The secret mission of Frans Timmermans“, Policy Network, 17 Σεπτεμβρίου.   Frans Timmermans is now Juncker’s number two in the new European Commission. Formally in charge of ‘Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights,’ his more difficult undertaking will likely be the informal task of keeping the UK in the EU Last year, the Kings’s Speech (Speech from the Throne, …Read More

Darvas, Z. & Wolff, B. G. (2014) “So far apart and yet so close: Should the ECB care about inflation differentials?“, Bruegel Institute, 22 Σεπτεμβρίου.   Inflation rates can differ across regions of monetary unions. We show that in the euro area, the US, Canada, Japan and Australia, inflation rates have been substantially and persistently different in different regions. Differences were particularly substantial in the euro area. Inflation differences can …Read More

Johnston, A. & Regan, A. (2014) “The absence of national adjustment tools is the reason why Eurozone countries continue to struggle“, LSE EUROPP, 22 Σεπτεμβρίου.   The Eurozone continues to experience low growth, while unemployment remains a substantial problem in several European states. Alison Johnston and Aidan Regan write that despite these issues, the European policy response has remained broadly similar since the crisis: reducing public spending and imposing structural …Read More

Merler, S. (2014) “T.L.T.R.O. is Too Low to Resuscitate Optimism – the take up of liquidity under the ECB’s new TLTRO programme was well below expectations yesterday“, Bruegel Institute, 19 Σεπτεμβρίου.   Yesterday the ECB held the first auction of liquidity under its new TLTRO programme. The take up was well below expectations, raising questions about the actual ability of the ECB to regain control of its balance sheet. It’s …Read More