Italy continues to record low employment rates, in particular among youth, older people and women. With an overall unemployment rate that has been reduced to below the EU average over the past decade, the employment gap vis-à-vis most other EU countries reflects low participation. After a brief...

This Country Focus assesses the extent to which the recent tax-revenue increases in Cyprus is of a permanent nature or whether is of temporary nature, linked to short lived asset boom. Between 2002 and 2008 the Cypriot economy grew at an annual average rate of about 3½% in real terms,...

Expressed in terms of GDP, tax revenues have been steadily decreasing in Greece since 2000. This is happening in a context of demand-driven growth, positive cyclical conditions and revenue-enhancing discretionary policies. It would therefore appear that factors other than growth strength and...