There is evidence that a budget consolidation strategy can work with only a small and shortlived negative impact on growth. However, many countries are currently trying to consolidate at the same time as firms and consumers are deleveraging. We develop ten guidelines for consolidation during...

Compared with the issues of economic and monetary policy the EEC Treaty says little about a common cyclical policy, and no great advances have been made towards such a policy since the Treaty of Rome was drafted. Which impediments are holding up progress in this direction?

With disparities in national unemployment rates reaching record levels, the debate on fiscal stabilisers in Europe has gained new momentum. Can a European unemployment insurance scheme help to absorb asymmetric shocks and bring about the desired level of macroeconomic stabilisation? What should...