Macroeconomics & the euro

Learning to live with debt

Christian Odendahl, Adam Tooze
18 May 2021
When the old consensus on public debt was formed in the 1980s, the world economy was very different from today’s. It’s time for a new approach.

The US proposals on digital services taxes and minimum tax rates: How the EU should respond

15 April 2021
OECD members are negotiating a global digital services tax and a global minimum corporate tax. EU member-states should support recent US proposals to conclude the talks.

Why Europe should spend big like Biden

Christian Odendahl, John Springford
29 March 2021
The scale of Biden’s spending plans means the US economy will recover much faster than Europe’s. Yet in many ways it is the European economy that is in greater need of stimulus.

How Greece can recover from Covid

Christian Odendahl, Yiannis Mouzakis
09 February 2021
The pandemic is adding to Greece’s economic problems. But the EU recovery fund, if spent well, offers Greece a chance to turn a corner.

Ditchley conference report: COVID-19, the global economy and the return of power politics

John Springford, Christian Odendahl, Sam Lowe, Sophia Besch, Katherine Pye
22 January 2021
At the CER's Ditchley economics conference, participants discussed the global role of the EU in the aftermath of the pandemic, with faltering trade and investment and growing strategic competition between the US and China.

The recovery fund faces a tricky passage

Christian Odendahl, John Springford
29 May 2020
The Commission's proposed recovery fund is macroeconomically meaningful. The 'frugals' should focus less on negotiating away the transfers to harder-hit countries, and more on how the money is spent.

Three ways COVID-19 will cause economic divergence in Europe

Christian Odendahl, John Springford
21 May 2020
Europe's economies will diverge further as a result of COVID-19, as the economic impact will be larger in Southern Europe. Fiscal transfers would help to restart the EU's 'convergence machine'.
A proposal for a coronabond: The Pandemic Solidarity Instrument

A proposal for a coronabond: The Pandemic Solidarity Instrument

Christian Odendahl, Sebastian Grund, Lucas Guttenberg
06 April 2020
The economic hit is so severe, and the demands on fiscal policy so high, that the EU needs to share the burden between stronger and weaker countries.

Can France and Germany steer Europe to success? Annual report 2019

06 February 2020
The CER's annual report features an essay on the state Franco-German friendship. It also describes some of the CER’s achievements in 2019, including the increasingly prominent role played by our Brussels and Berlin offices.

Conference report: Five challenges for Europe

John Springford, Christian Odendahl, Sam Lowe
16 December 2019
A new CER report summarises its 2019 Ditchley Park conference, which brought together 50 leading economists to discuss 'Five challenges for Europe'.

Germany should not run the ECB

Christian Odendahl
23 May 2019
If Jens Weidmann became president of the European Central Bank (ECB), it would be more difficult to fight the next recession and prevent future crises. 

How to combat Europe's economic slowdown

Christian Odendahl
25 January 2019
Europe is experiencing an economic slowdown at an exceptionally bad time, but has the tools to fight it and should use them soon.

Conference report: The politics of slow growth in Europe

John Springford, Christian Odendahl, Nick Winning
19 December 2018
A new CER report summarises its 2018 Ditchley Park conference, which brought together 50 leading economists to discuss 'The politics of slow growth in Europe'.

Can the euro rival the dollar?

Christian Odendahl, Adam Tooze
04 December 2018
The international role of the US dollar is deeply entrenched. To change that, Europe – and Germany in particular – would need to rethink some core economic policies.

The accidental prime minister: What Spain's new government means for the EU

26 July 2018
Spain’s new government might not last long. But it could act as a catalyst for progress on the thorny issues of migration, eurozone reform and Catalonia.

Is Macron becoming isolated in Europe?

13 June 2018
Macron thinks the EU is not viable without radical reform. His priority is to reshape the eurozone, but Germany is blocking his bolder ideas. He risks isolation in Europe, which could weaken him at home.

On Brexit, TTIP and the City of London

Sam Lowe
30 May 2018
The EU was keen to include financial services in TTIP, the proposed trade agreement with the US. Is its reluctance to do so with the UK mere hypocrisy?