Christian Odendahl

Christian Odendahl

Chief economist (Based in Berlin)
Areas of expertise 

Eurozone, ECB, Germany, fiscal and monetary policy, structural reforms, political economy of economic integration, international trade, financial regulation.

Shaping 21st century trade: TTIP, global standards and multilateralism

Shaping 21st century trade: TTIP, global standards and multilateralism

08 April 2016
If TTIP is open to other countries, a deal can reduce the cost of business while setting new global benchmarks and rules for trade.

Time for a regime change in Frankfurt

08 March 2016
To get eurozone inflation back to the 'close to 2 per cent' target, the ECB needs to be much bolder – and needs fiscal help.

European competitiveness, revisited

19 January 2016
European ‘competitiveness’ should be defined as productivity, and the policies to raise it are complex and counter-specific. Raising ‘competitiveness’ also requires more, not less democracy.

Has the euro been a failure?

11 January 2016
The euro has not been a positive economic and political force. But keeping the single currency together could still be less risky than dismantling it.
We don't need no federation: What a devolved eurozone should look like

We don't need no federation: What a devolved eurozone should look like

03 December 2015
At the heart of the eurozone's troubles lies a fundamental contradiction between the euro's integrationist economic pressures and the politics of democratic nation-states.
Merkel after Paris

Merkel after Paris

20 November 2015
Merkel's relatively open and liberal stance on refugees makes it easier for her to respond robustly to the attacks in France through security and foreign policy.
Lighten the load

Lighten the load

26 August 2015
Greece’s debt burden needs to be reduced, but maturity extensions on existing loans are not enough for Greece to return to the markets.
How to keep Greece in

How to keep Greece in

27 July 2015
Unless the eurozone invests economically and politically in the future of Greece, the country's future in the single currency remains in doubt.
The Greek bailout deal resolves nothing

The Greek bailout deal resolves nothing

13 July 2015
Even if the new bailout makes it through the Greek parliament in coming weeks, the programme's economic incoherence will make it fall apart.
5 presidents' report

The eurozone's 'five presidents' report': An assessment

22 June 2015
The long-awaited report rightly aims to complete a financial union in the eurozone, but over-emphasises structural reforms and underplays the need for stronger counter-cyclical policies.