Economic crises and mortality

29 October, 2015

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Ruhm, Christopher J., (2015), “Economic crises and mortality”, Voxeu, 29 October. Conventional wisdom tells us that health deteriorates when the economy weakens and improves when it strengthens. Some research tentatively agrees, but there is a marked dearth of challenges and robust research. This column presents new evidence suggesting that the reductions in mortality occurring during typical economic downturns also occur in periods of crisis, adding useful caveats for different types of …Read More

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Selected Takeaways from the ECB’s Sintra Forum on “Inflation and Unemployment in Europe”

29 October, 2015

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Constâncio, Vítor, Hartmann, Philipp, Tristani, Oreste, (2015), “Selected Takeaways from the ECB’s Sintra Forum on “Inflation and Unemployment in Europe” “, Voxeu, 28 October. Today the European Central Bank publishes the proceedings of its 2015 Sintra Forum on Central Banking (ECB 2015). In this column the organisers highlight some of the main points from the discussions, including the candid debate between Forum participants that favour a faster pace of structural reforms and the …Read More

Library » EU » Economy » Politics » Policy Papers

The contribution of the wage structure to early retirement behaviour

29 October, 2015

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Frimmel, Wolfgang, Winter-Ebmer, Rudolf, (2015), “The contribution of the wage structure to early retirement behaviour”, Voxeu, 28 October. The literature on retirement age has tended to focus on the supply side of the labour market. Using Austrian data, this column examines how firms can influence workers’ retirement decisions through wage structure. Deferred compensations schemes characterised by steeper seniority-wage profiles are found to be associated with workers retiring earlier. Given that early labour …Read More

Library » EU » Economy » Society » Opinion Articles

Greece’s Long Road From ‘No’ to ‘Yes’

27 October, 2015

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Konstandaras, Nikos, (2015), “Greece’s Long Road From ‘No’ to ‘Yes’”, The New York Times, 26 October Greeks will commemorate the Oct. 28 national holiday in a very different country from what it was a year ago. The anniversary marks the day in 1940 when a Greek government rejected an ultimatum from Fascist Italy to allow its troops to enter the country. The “No” (“Ochi” in Greek) united a deeply divided country …Read More

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Could Europe’s next growth locomotive be Made in Italy?

27 October, 2015

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Terzi, Alessio, (2015), “Could Europe’s next growth locomotive be Made in Italy?”, Bruegel Institute, 27 October Important reforms put in place over the past months, combined with a conjunction of particularly supportive external factors, mean that Italy could indeed become the fastest growing large economy in the euro area in a not-too-distant future. Relevant Posts O’Neill, J. (2014) “A Crazy Idea About Italy“, Bloomberg View, 05 November. Mazzolini, G. & …Read More

Library » EU » Economy » Opinion Articles

Key Findings: Social Justice in the EU – Index Report 2015-Social Inclusion Monitor Europe

27 October, 2015

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Schraad-Tischler, Daniel, (2015), “Key Findings: Social Justice in the EU – Index Report 2015-Social Inclusion Monitor Europe”, Bertelsmann Stiftung, October The Bertelsmann Stiftung conducts an annual study of developments in opportunities for social participation in all 28 EU member states. Despite economic recovery, the gap between young and old is growing and the social divide between northern and southern Europe remains immense. Relevant Posts Schraad-Tischler, D. & Krol, C. (2014) “Social Justice …Read More

Library » EU » Economy » Society » Reports

The Great Financial Plumbing: From Northern Rock to Banking Union

27 October, 2015

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Lannoo, Karel, (2015), “The Great Financial Plumbing: From Northern Rock to Banking Union”, CEPS Paperbacks, 19 October The financial and economic crises have led to an enormous plumbing exercise, involving a fundamental re-design of the global and European regulatory and supervisory system. This book systematically assesses the big items on the G-20 and EU agendas and the effectiveness with which they have been implemented in the EU. Its publication coincides with …Read More

Library » EU » Economy » Books

Monetary Policy: Dispelling The Technocratic Illusion

27 October, 2015

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Islam, Yanatul, Saraceno, Francesco, (2015), “Monetary Policy: Dispelling The Technocratic Illusion”, Social Europe, 26 October The past few weeks have seen the Fed struggle to define a clear exit route from its forward guidance strategy. Ambiguous macroeconomic data have triggered different interpretations by prestigious board members, leaving markets with little clue as to future Fed moves. Relevant Posts Rieth, Malte, Fratzscher, Marcel, (2015), “Bank bailouts, monetary policy, and credit default risks in the Eurozone”, …Read More

Library » EU » Economy » Opinion Articles

Are Capital Inflows Expansionary or Contractionary? Theory, Policy Implications, and Some Evidence

26 October, 2015

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J. Blanchard, Olivier, David Ostry, Jonathan, R. Ghosh, Atish, Chamon, Marcos, (2015), ” Are Capital Inflows Expansionary or Contractionary? Theory, Policy Implications, and Some Evidence”, IMF Publications, Working Paper No. 15/226, 23 October The workhorse open-economy macro model suggests that capital inflows are contractionary because they appreciate the currency and reduce net exports. Emerging market policy makers however believe that inflows lead to credit booms and rising output, and the evidence appears to go their way. To reconcile …Read More

Library » EU » Economy » Scientific Articles

PostCapitalism: The Economy Of The Future?

26 October, 2015

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Mason, Paul, (2015), “PostCapitalism: The Economy Of The Future?”, Social Europe Journal, 26 October Over the past two centuries or so, capitalism has undergone continual change – economic cycles that lurch from boom to bust – and has always emerged transformed and strengthened. Surveying this turbulent history, journalist and Channel 4 economics news editor Paul Mason wonders whether this time capitalism itself has reached its limits and is changing into …Read More

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