Weisbrot, M. (2015) “How Greece Could Change the Future of Europe“, Vice News, Opinion & Analysis, 28 January. The Syriza party’s big win in Greece’s legislative election last weekend is a turning point in the long political fight over Europe’s botched recovery from the financial crisis and world recession of 2008-2009. The occasion presents a milestone for the eurozone, which has been plagued by mass unemployment and economic stagnation, …Read More
An Unemployment-Oriented Investment Strategy for Europe
Escudero, V., Horne, R., Kühn, S., Milasi, S., López Mourelo, E., Pignatti, C. & Silvander, J. (2015) “An Unemployment-Oriented Investment Strategy for Europe“, International Labour Organization (ILO) Research Department, Studies on Growth with Equity, January. Key Policy Options and Considerations Against a backdrop of sluggish economic conditions and continued weak job creation, the Investment Plan proposed by the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker would provide a rapid economic stimulus …Read More
Bank resolution in Europe: The unfinished agenda of structural reform
Ringe, G. & Gordon, N. J. (2015) “Bank resolution in Europe: The unfinished agenda of structural reform“, VoxEU Organisation, 28 January. Bank resolution is a key pillar of the European Banking Union. This column argues that the current structure of large EU banks is not conducive to an effective and unbiased resolution procedure. The authors would require systemically important banks to reorganise into a ‘holding company’ structure, where the …Read More
Why Europe Will Cave to Greece
Crook, C. (2015) “Why Europe Will Cave to Greece“, Bloomberg View, 28 January. A prediction for you: Greece and the European Union will split the difference in their quarrel over debt relief. What’s uncertain is how their respective governments will justify the new deal, and how much damage they’ll inflict on each other before accepting the inevitable. EU governments, with Germany in the lead, are saying that debt writedowns …Read More
Syriza, Le Pen and the Power of Big Ideas
Bershidsky, L. (2015) “Syriza, Le Pen and the Power of Big Ideas“, BloombergView, 26 January. It may seem ironic that Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s extreme right Front National, rooted for the extreme left Syriza in yesterday’s Greek election and rejoiced at its landslide victory. Yet there’s nothing unusual about it: Syriza, Front National and other European anti-establishment parties are partners in a political revolution that appears to be about to …Read More
Are Recipients of Social Assistance ‘Benefit Dependent’? Concepts, Measurement and Results for Selected Countries
Immervoll, H., Jenkins, P. S. & Königs, S. (2015) “Are Recipients of Social Assistance ‘Benefit Dependent’? Concepts, Measurement and Results for Selected Countries“, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Discussion Paper No. 8786, January 2015. ABSTRACT Are Recipients of Social Assistance ‘Benefit Dependent’? Concepts, Measurement and Results for Selected Countries Means-tested Social Assistance (SA) benefits play an important role as social protection floors supporting households in financial difficulties. …Read More
Quantitative easing in euro zone requires shared risk
Gros, D. & Kopf, C. (2015) “Quantitative easing in euro zone requires shared risk“, Centre for European Policy Studies: Economic Policy, Researchers’ work published externally, 21 January. In their column published online by Reuters, Daniel Gros and Christian Kopf offer their assessment of the programme of sovereign bond purchases to be undertaken shortly by the European Central Bank in the euro area. They examine in particular the accounting technique …Read More
Tsipras And Syriza’s Win Reboots European Social Democracy
Gow, D. (2015) “Tsipras And Syriza’s Win Reboots European Social Democracy“, Social Europe Journal, 26 January. The “vicious circle of austerity is over,” said Alexis Tsipras, Syriza leader and Greece’s likely new premier, after his party won a stunning victory in yesterday’s general election. It would be replaced, he added, by “a politics of hope, solidarity and co-operation.” He and his senior colleagues say this is true for the …Read More
The return of the German question: why conflict between creditor and debtor states is now the defining feature of European politics
Kudnani, H. (2015) “The return of the German question: why conflict between creditor and debtor states is now the defining feature of European politics“, LSE EUROPP, 26 January. One of the key geopolitical issues in Europe prior to the Second World War was how the power of Germany could be effectively balanced by other European states. Hans Kundnani assesses the relevance of these historical debates to the current situation …Read More
The ECB’s bond-purchase dilemma – German opposition to government-bond purchases by the European Central Bank is solidifying ahead of the programme’s likely announcement
Wolff, Β. G., Fratzscher, M. & Hüther, M. (2015) “The ECB’s bond-purchase dilemma – German opposition to government-bond purchases by the European Central Bank is solidifying ahead of the programme’s likely announcement“, Bruegel Institute, 21 January. German opposition to government-bond purchases by the European Central Bank is solidifying ahead of the programme’s likely announcement on January 22. Elections in Greece that could bring a government that will seek to …Read More