This article examines the problem facing an advanced, final-destination country as it seeks cooperation from its less-well-off neighbors to impede unauthorized, third-country migrants from transiting their territories. With that aim, it transfers aid to the transit countries in support of their...

An important issue for the EMU countries is to what extent fiscal policy can be used to stabilise the domestic economy in the case of asymmetric macroeconomic shocks. The paper reviews possible reforms of national fiscal policy institutions in order to promote efficient fiscal stabilisation...

This paper studies the incentives to join a monetary union, and the incentives to reform within a monetary union and within the candidate countries, respectively. We present some "orders of magnitude" evidence on the size and balance of the incentive effects for joining and being joined, and on...

How should tasks be divided between the EU and its member states? And what institutional reforms are needed? This paper argues that the single market remains to be better enforced, and this might require further centralisation of tasks. On the other hand, EU meddling with redistribution should...

It is often claimed that tax and welfare reforms that aim at enhancing efficiency may come at the cost of cyclical stabilisation. Reducing the generosity of welfare systems and lowering taxes may boost efficiency and output, and improve market adjustment to shocks. But, by reducing the size of...

The paper aims at comparing the formal and informal labour markets in the Central and Eastern European new EU Member States and candidate countries of the European Union. First, the current situation of the labour market is described, focusing on the recent developments since the breaking up of...

The abolition of intra-EU duty free was critically discussed and accompanied by a vigorous and well-financed lobbying campaign by the duty free industry. The opponents of this resolution argued that such a tax-free sales sector created jobs and hardly reduced the value added and excise tax...

This paper reviews the controversy over Europe's Stability and Growth Pact and offers a proposal for its reform. It argues that Europe would be best served by focusing on the fundamental causes of unsustainable debts - public enterprises that are too big to fail, unfunded public pension schemes...

This paper discusses political and economic aspects of Turkish accession. Under present rules, Turkey would have the greatest number of council votes within twenty years, and receive the largest budget transfer. Free migration may increase the Turkish immigrant population in Germany from 2 to...