Trade & economics
Europe has suffered from weak economic growth in recent years. Consumption is stagnant, public budgets strained and exports face increasing headwinds under the dual pressure of a US turn towards protectionism and competition from the unrelenting rise of Chinese exports. How can Europe revive economic growth and secure a stable environment for trade? What role can EU-UK relations play?
Surviving Trump 2.0: What does the US election mean for Europe's economy?
03 October 2024
While EU leaders fret about a second Trump presidency, they should not be complacent about Kamala Harris’s prospects. Neither president would fundamentally change the economic dilemmas facing Europe.
Draghi's plan to rescue the European economy: Will EU leaders do whatever it takes?
17 September 2024
Mario Draghi offers EU leaders a convincing roadmap out of economic stagnation. But the road to implementation is going to be politically difficult.
Should the UK pursue dynamic alignment with the EU?
04 July 2024
The EU’s neighbours follow various models of dynamic alignment with its rules. Which model, if any, could suit the UK?
EU-UK relations: Towards a post-election agenda
01 July 2024
Britain’s next government needs a coherent strategy towards the EU, ranging from trade and regulation to energy, foreign policy and defence.
Why cities must drive growth in the EU's single market
20 June 2024
By integrating European services markets and investing in cities with high potential, the EU can raise its anemic growth rate and spread economic activity beyond successful metropolises.
Delivering the goods: An EU trade agenda for the next UK government
28 May 2024
The Labour Party’s red lines will restrict its ambitions for changing the EU-UK relationship, but if it forms a government it should push Brussels for concessions, particularly on trade in goods.
Europe and the superpowers: Responding to economic nationalism
26 February 2024
Superpower competition poses a significant challenge for Europe's trade-intensive economy. The EU must evolve its toolkit and economic model to respond.
Delors, Schäuble and Europe's misdiagnosed competitiveness problem
30 January 2024
European Commission President Jacques Delors and German finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble left their mark on the European project. Their thinking can still help Europe out of its current geo-economic predicament.
Why Europe should not worry about US out-performance
13 December 2023
The US has had stronger growth than Europe recently – but its out-performance is easily explainable. Instead of worrying about the US, Europe should focus on itself and avoid repeating past mistakes.
Europe should boost the Bretton Woods institutions
01 December 2023
The EU should reinforce the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to stave off a destabilising financing crunch for many emerging and developing economies.
Has the IMF’s lending become too expensive for its own good? The case for a lending rate cap
29 September 2023
The IMF risks losing relevance as multilateral provider of bailouts to countries in debt distress.
Germany needs a new growth model
30 June 2023
Berlin should fundamentally reset its growth strategy, rather than clinging to a failing model of industrial export corporatism.
Living next door to an elephant: Lessons for the UK from EFTA
29 April 2024
After Brexit, the UK finds itself next door to a regional trade hegemon. Britain can draw useful lessons from the experience of the EFTA countries.
Five proposals for enforceable EU fiscal rules
17 April 2023
As the EU reforms its fiscal rules it risks repeating past mistakes. The EU should couple Commission discretion with stronger enforcement mechanisms to get member-states to follow debt reduction plans.
Weighed down by gravity: UK trade policy after Brexit
11 March 2024
The post-Brexit vision of a UK finally free to do trade deals around the world is giving way to reality: free trade agreements deliver marginal benefits and little influence, particularly for the UK’s service-oriented economy.
Ditchley conference report: Macroeconomics in a time of pandemic and war
24 February 2023
In November, the CER held its annual economics conference on the macroeconomic consequences of the pandemic and Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Hungary, Poland and the EU: It's the money, stupid?
08 February 2023
After years playing by the legal book, the EU is now using its purse strings to curb democratic backsliding in Poland and Hungary. This is a good tactic, but not a sustainable strategy in the long-term.
Europe's central bankers should cherish their disagreements
20 December 2022
Promoting an open debate instead of forging consensus behind closed doors could make the European Central Bank’s decision-making culture more effective.
The European Stability Mechanism is not ready for the next crisis
29 November 2022
Eurozone finance ministers just appointed a new head of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM). They should seize the opportunity to turn the ESM into a more useful institution.