PoliticsatSurrey & Simon Usherwood (2014) “Two speeches on Europe, half an idea“, Politics at Surrey Blog, 27 Νοεμβρίου. It’s that time of year when people apparently decide they need to talk about ‘Europe’: this week we’ve seen two good examples of why this might not be such a good idea. The first, made by former British agriculture minister, Owen Paterson, to the eurosceptic lobby Business for Britain, came on Monday. …Read More
Η οπισθοχώρηση της ειρήνης στην Ευρώπη: Η εξωτερική πολιτική τής ΕΕ και ο ελληνικός παράγων
Μαλλιάς, Π. Α. (2014) “Η οπισθοχώρηση της ειρήνης στην Ευρώπη: Η εξωτερική πολιτική τής ΕΕ και ο ελληνικός παράγων“, Foreign Affairs Hellenic Edition, 25 Νοεμβρίου. Περίληψη: H Κοινοτική πολιτική, όπως τότε στα Βαλκάνια στην δεκαετία τού 1990, όπως και τώρα στην Ουκρανία, στις σχέσεις με την Ρωσία και σε όλη την διάρκεια των σημαντικών εξελίξεων και ανατροπών στην Μέση Ανατολή την τελευταία τετραετία, δεν προέχει, δεν υπερτερεί αλλά ακολουθεί …Read More
The Consequences of Imposing Negative Interest Rates
Tenebrarum, P. (2014) “The Consequences of Imposing Negative Interest Rates“, Acting Man Blog, 21 Νοεμβρίου. Negative Interest Rates and Capital Consumption Ever since the ECB has introduced negative interest rates on its deposit facility, people have been waiting for commercial banks to react. After all, they are effectively losing money as a result of this bizarre directive, on excess reserves the accumulation of which they can do very little …Read More
Why We Need Our Fiscal Policy Instrument Back
Wren-Lewis, S. (2014) “Why We Need Our Fiscal Policy Instrument Back, Social Europe Journal, 24 Νοεμβρίου. The latest Bank of England forecast has inflation returning to the 2% target by the end of 2017, which is in three years time. That is an unusually long time to be away from target. So what is the MPC proposing to do about this long lapse from target? Absolutely nothing. Tony Yates goes through all the detail, but …Read More
The Commission after the 2014 EP Elections
Wille, Α. (2014) “The Commission after the 2014 EP Elections“, Ideas on Europe – UACES Blog, 19 Νοεμβρίου. ‘This Time It’s Different’! This was the campaigning slogan for the official run-up ahead of the 2014 European Parliament (EP) elections. Voters were led to believe that these elections would be different. Not only would they be choosing the EP, but indirectly they also would select the next president of the …Read More
Why the views of middle class citizens help explain increased choice in European healthcare systems
Costa-i-Font, J. & Zigante, V. (2014) “Why the views of middle class citizens help explain increased choice in European healthcare systems“, LSE EUROPP, 21 Νοεμβρίου. Several countries across Europe have attempted to reform their health systems by allowing patients more choice over their healthcare provider. The typical rationale for this strategy is that by creating competition between providers, there will be an increased incentive to improve the efficiency and …Read More
Does EU regulation hinder or stimulate innovation?
Pelkmans, J. & Renda, A. (2014) “Does EU regulation hinder or stimulate innovation?“, Regulatory Policy, CEPS Special Reports, 19 Νοεμβρίου. One frequently hears the question posed in the title to this report, but there is little systematic analytical literature on the issue. Fragmented evidence or anecdotes dominate debates among EU regulatory decision-makers and in European business, insofar as there is a genuine debate at all. This CEPS Special Report …Read More
Was the ECB’s Comprehensive Assessment up to standard?
De Groen, W. P. (2014) “Was the ECB’s Comprehensive Assessment up to standard?“, Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), Policy Brief Νο. 325, 10 Νοεμβρίου. The Comprehensive Assessment conducted by the European Central Bank (ECB) represents a considerable step forward in enhancing transparency in euro-area banks’ balance sheets. The most notable progress since the previous European stress test has been the harmonisation of the definition of non-performing loans and …Read More
Opinion polling leaves little doubt Podemos could break into the mainstream of Spanish politics at next year’s general election
Kennedy, P. (2014) “Opinion polling leaves little doubt Podemos could break into the mainstream of Spanish politics at next year’s general election“, LSE EUROPP, 12 Νοεμβρίου. Recent opinion polls in Spain have indicated that the left-wing Podemos (‘We Can’) party, which was only formed in January of this year, could gain the largest share of the vote in Spain’s 2015 general election. Paul Kennedy assesses the challenge the party …Read More
Towards a New Industrial Policy for Europe
Dhéret, C. & Morosi, M. with Andrea Frontini, Annika Hedberg and Romain Pardo (2014) “Towards a New Industrial Policy for Europe“, EPC Issue Paper No. 78, 12 Νοεμβρίου. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Recent policy debates have confirmed that manufacturing forms a key pillar of the industrial sector and of our economy. However, European manufacturing has been in steady decline for decades. This trend, accelerated by the economic and financial crisis, is …Read More