Corrado Macchiarelli, (2018), “Tackling the free rider problem in the EMU does not have to be a zero-sum game: Italy’s budget deficit case”, LSE EUROPP blog, 20 Νοεμβρίου The biggest weakness in the bloc is now politics and the current approach to the Italian crisis is not going to help the popularity of either the EU or the single currency. As many have underlined, democratic expectations cannot be set at …Read More

Silvia Merler, (2018), “The Brexit withdrawal agreement”, Bruegel, 19 Νοεμβρίου On November 14th the UK government cabinet approved the draft text of the withdrawal agreement, the deal reached between EU and UK negotiators. The decision was followed the next day by the resignations of several members of Parliament. We review the first reactions in the blogosphere. Martin Wolf writes that Theresa May’s terrible Brexit deal has united the UK in horror. …Read More

Ibsen, M. F. (2018), “The Populist Conjuncture: Legitimation Crisis in the Age of Globalized Capitalism”, Political Studies, 0032321718810311, 7 Νοεμβρίου This article argues that the theory of legitimation crisis developed by Offe and Habermas offers an instructive theoretical framework for explaining the current surge of populism across the West. The article argues that this populist resurgence is indicative of a profound legitimation crisis of the Western welfare state, which ultimately …Read More

Tito Boeri, Prachi Mishra, Chris Papageorgiou and Antonio Spilimbergo, (2018), “Populism and Civil Society”, IMF, Working Paper No. 18/245, 16 Νοεμβρίου Populists claim to be the only legitimate representative of the people. Does it mean that there is no space for civil society? The issue is important because since Tocqueville (1835), associations and civil society have been recognized as a key factor in a healthy liberal democracy. We ask two …Read More

Kate Allen, (2018), “Italy stand-off raises concern of contagion”, Financial Times, 19 Νοεμβρίου What threat do Italy’s bond market woes pose to the yields on other eurozone nations’ debt? Yields on Italian bonds have been ratcheting up since a populist Eurosceptic coalition took power in May. The government’s recent agreement of an aggressive budget plan for 2019 has provided a further upward momentum, leading to a fresh sell-off of Italian debt …Read More

Ashoka Mody, (2018), “The eurozone is having an identity crisis and Italy will bear the brunt”, Prospect magazine, 16 Νοεμβρίου The eurozone is trapped in an identity crisis. Long-held claims that the euro catalyses trade within the eurozone have been discredited (here and here), leaving no tangible benefits to celebrate. In contrast, the risks of a one-size monetary policy that fits none are evident enough. The ECB’s tendency towards tight monetary …Read More

Simon Tilford, (2018), “Italy’s budget challenge to the EU”, esharp.eu, Νοέμβριος What does the political stand-off between Italy and the European Commission over the country’s proposed 2019 budget deficit tell us about the chances of the euro ever challenging the dominance of the US dollar? After all, for many euro advocates, ending the dollar’s ‘exorbitant privilege’ was one of the original objectives of the single currency. And is especially relevant now, given …Read More

John Springford, (2018), “Brexit deal done – now for the hard part”, Centre for European Reform, 15 Νοεμβρίου Theresa May’s Brexit deal offers some crumbs to Tory hardliners, the DUP and soft Brexiteers. But if the deal passes through parliament, a UK-EU customs union is likely. In the knowledge that no deal was not an option, Theresa May has agreed a withdrawal deal that is on the EU’s terms, but gives …Read More