OECD, (2013), “Interim Economic Assessment”, 3 September. A moderate recovery is underway in the major advanced economies, according to the OECD’s latest Interim Economic Assessment. Growth is proceeding at encouraging rates in North America, Japan and the UK. The euro area as a whole is out of recession, although output remains weak in a number of countries.
The impact of the economic crisis on EU labour markets: A comparative perspective
Tridico, P., (2013), “The impact of the economic crisis on EU labour markets: A comparative perspective”, International Labour Review, Vol. 152, N.2, pp. 175-190. Using a “crisis management index” to rank the combined GDP and labour market performances of the EU’s 27 Member States, the author considers why some countries performed better than others in managing the economic crisis over the period 2007–11. Based on empirical correlations and regression analysis, …Read More
Heterogeneous transmission mechanism: monetary policy and financial fragility in the Eurozone
Ciccarelli, M., Maddaloni, Ang., Peydró, J-L., (2013), “Heterogeneous transmission mechanism: monetary policy and financial fragility in the Eurozone”, Economic Policy, Vol. 28, Issue 75, pp. 459-512. The eurozone economic activity and banking sector have shown substantial fragility over the last years with remarkable country heterogeneity. Using detailed data on lending conditions and standards, we analyse – along several key dimensions of heterogeneity – how financial fragility has affected the transmission …Read More
Eurozone recession ends — but it’s too soon to celebrate
De Grauwe, P., (2013), “Eurozone recession ends — but it’s too soon to celebrate”, edition.cnn.com, 18 August. Spring is in the air. That’s the feeling in Brussels and Berlin. The latest economic numbers issued by the European Commission seem to indicate that the eurozone has slowly crawledout of the recession.
Role of Apprenticeships in Combating Youth Unemployment in Europe and the United States
Aivazova, N., (2013), “Role of Apprenticeships in Combating Youth Unemployment in Europe and the United States”, Peterson Institute for International Economics Policy Brief, N. 13-20. Many of the world’s advanced economies continue to struggle with sluggish growth and high unemployment, especially among younger workers. One reason for high unemployment in countries such as Greece, Portugal, and Spain is a mismatch between the skills demanded by employers and those available among the population. …Read More
Ireland gets the new Trio Presidency off to a propitious start
Piedrafita, S., (2013), “Ireland gets the new Trio Presidency off to a propitious start”, CEPS Commentary, 28 August. The Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU (January-June 2013) faced numerous challenges, not the least of which was to negotiate the financial framework for the period 2014-2020 and the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy with the European Parliament, together with the pressure to advance the banking agenda. Moreover, the …Read More
Saving Europe’s Real Hegemon
Sinn, Hans-Werner, (2013), “Saving Europe’s Real Hegemon”, www.project-syndicate.org, 28 Αugust. Last June, the European Commission announced its about-face on bank restructuring. The money for recapitalizing distressed banks would now come primarily from creditors, not European taxpayers, with a pecking order to specify which lenders would be repaid first. All of this is welcome, at least in principle. In practice, however, the scheme leaves much to be desired.
The Post-Crisis Global Economy in Three Words
Pisani-Ferry, J., (2013), “The Post-Crisis Global Economy in Three Words”, www.project-syndicate.org, 28 August. Five years have passed since the collapse of the American investment bank Lehman Brothers triggered financial mayhem and marked the onset of the Great Recession. Though the dust may not have fully settled, three catchwords sum up what we have learned so far – and what remains to be done.
Social Protection Rights of Economically Dependent Self-employed Workers
Eichhorst, W., Kahanec, M., Kendzia, M., Wehner, C., et al. (2013), “Social Protection Rights of Economically Dependent Self-employed Workers”, IZA Research Report, N. 54. The study analyses the role of economically dependent self-employed workers in the labour market by taking institutional factors into account, such as labour law and social protection rights. In addition to setting out the reasons for the increase of dependent self-employed workers, the authors provide case studies across …Read More
Benchmarking Working Europe 2013
ETUI, (2013), “Benchmarking Working Europe 2013”. Widening economic and social gaps among EU member states, as well as among different groups and categories of citizens within society, are not only placing in jeopardy the future of Social Europe but threatening to undermine also the whole project of European integration. The post-2008 recession and debt crisis, helped along by EU leaders’ obstinate clinging to the failing remedies of fiscal austerity, have …Read More