Brexit and the risks of economic nationalism
In talking about their future relationship with the UK, EU leaders may want to mind their language.
Economy
Social Europe is an award-winning digital media publisher driven by the core values of freedom, sustainability, and equality. These principles guide our exploration of society’s most pressing challenges. This archive page curates Social Europe articles focused on economic issues, offering a rich resource for innovative thinking and informed debate.
‘Fridays for Keynesianism’
Keynes recognised the key role of the financial system in modern capitalist economies and Peter Bofinger argues the 2008 crisis must bring the demise of neoclassical economics—which still doesn’t.
Freeports: Johnson should look elsewhere for growth enhancements
Freeports may epitomise the Brexiters’ ‘global Britain’ but the UK economy performs too poorly for these to be more than luxury entrepôts.
A just transition must help those struggling to heat their homes
In the latest contribution to our series on ‘just transition’, Monique Goyens argues that it must address the people finding it hard to pay their energy bills.
Limited liability is causing unlimited harm
The purpose of limited-liability protection was to encourage investment in corporations, yet it has evolved into a source of systemic market failure.
Europe needs a strong macroeconomic policy core—but not a Six (or Two) Pack
In light of the eurozone and, now, climate crises, EU macroeconomic policy co-ordination needs a reboot.
Moving beyond coal: policy lessons from across Europe
A new report has identified good and bad practices which can inform national efforts at ‘just transition’.
Beyond ‘green growth’
A serious discussion of ‘just transition’ must break with a social model based on individual utility maximisation—before it breaks the biosphere.
A just transition with climate and social ambition
The deputy prime minister of Spain responsible for the ecological transition describes the experience there of making ‘just transition’ a reality.
Wind-power slump blows Germany off course on climate targets
Germany has forged a reputation with its Energiewende flip over to renewables. But as construction of wind turbines stagnates, can it hit its ambitious climate targets?
The European Green Deal: will the ends, will the means?
The European Green Deal needs sustained political commitment, especially on ‘just transition’, if it is to realise its ambition.
Another year of living dangerously
Twenty twenty will be another year of living dangerously if short-term policies continue to be pursued at the expense of long-term vision.
Time is ripe for a new ECB strategy
It’s not so much that what the European Central Bank is doing is wrong as that it is not framing public understanding. The next ECB strategy, writes Peter Bofinger, should do so.
The right macroeconomic policies for a Europe saving too much
German hawks are not just wrong about monetary and fiscal policies and risk-sharing in an ailing European economy—their demands are inconsistent.
Financial capitalism is here to stay, but in what form?
It is wrong to treat financial capitalism as the dysfunctional child of neoliberalism and so misdirect a progressive policy focus.
Sustainability is social, environmental and economic
The principle of ‘sustainability first’ should become the golden thread unifying all EU actions.
Bread, roses and broadband too?
Publicly-owned fibre networks don’t just mean free WiFi. From energy grids to smart transport, they will be the backbone of a new, green socialist economy.