This article addresses the relationship between the real economy and the financial sector, asking the question: to what extent does the crisis in the financial sector cast a shadow on economic activity? Various potential linkages are investigated, for example the impact of credit restrictions on...

In 2007, 5.6 million persons were employed in EU27 financial services. 65% of these worked in banks, 20% in the insurance industry and 15% for intermediaries. The sector represented 2.7% of total employment in Europe. Between 2000 and 2006, data from the Labour Force Survey shows a shift of...

The 2004 EU enlargement will most likely yield major benefits to the new member countries in the long run. The new members will be able to capture gains from trade in goods and services and will moreover benefit from a continued inflow of financial and real capital. Without doubt, these...

The present study looks at a range of questions related to the social and economic consequences of private equity/LBO activity raised by the European Parliament. Overall, we find private equity to be a well-functioning, established industry that fulfils a crucial role in our economy by providing...