This study provides a critical assessment of various fiscal policy instruments - including direct public job creation, active labour market and care policies, social protection measures and tax reforms - and their effectiveness in supporting the most vulnerable groups in the labour market....

The paper analyses initiatives undertaken to contain the impact of the sovereign debt crisis and improve economic governance in emu and examines further some fundamental questions about emu’s sustainability looking at emu’s performance for far and at its main strengths and weaknesses. A...

This paper looks at productivity growth rates in Malta and Cyprus and proposes policies as to how these island states countries might augment their productivity and competitiveness. We identify three possible growth strategies for the islands: an Innovation-Oriented Economy, a Controlled...

The year 2009 is a propitious time to evaluate systems of investor protection in financial markets as global bank losses exceed the 1 trillion mark and market losses equally exceed the 1 trillion mark. Prior to the Global Financial Crisis, the European Union enacted sweeping legislation to...

The paper discusses the differences among countries of the Eurozone which impede growth. The paper offers solutions aimed at encouraging economic convergence to a higher level of standard of living. Economic disparity throughout the region has increased due to the global financial crisis. A...

Fiscal policy constitutes a key tool for business cycle stabilisation next to monetary policy. In this context, having a well-suited macroeconomic model for analysing fiscal policy at a central bank is of primary importance. This paper documents the fiscal block of the ECB-BASE, which is a...

This paper presents the blueprint of a new ECB multi-country model. The version documented in the following pages is estimated on euro area data. As a prelude to the country models, this version is meant to enhance the understanding of the main model mechanisms, enlarge the suite of area wide...

This paper presents the blueprint of a new ECB multi-country model. The version documented in the following pages is estimated on euro area data. As a prelude to the country models, this version is meant to enhance the understanding of the main model mechanisms, enlarge the suite of area wide...

In the present paper an empirical analysis will point out that austerity measures due to high levels of government debt as a percentage of GDP have (among others) a positive impact on social unrest measured by the number of strikes. The empirical findings of the present paper support the view of...

In the present paper an empirical analysis will point out that government debt as a percentage of GDP has a negative impact (among others) on banking profitability. This impact will be even worse when this debt as a percentage of GDP exceeds a certain critical level. The sample covers during the...