This article studies the contribution of real interest rate divergence to the dynamics of the relative price of non-tradables within Europe. Extending the traditional Balassa–Samueslon effect, it shows that the real interest rate fall in the Euro area (EA) periphery following the single...

From the introduction of the euro up to the 2008 global financial crisis, macroeconomic imbalances widened among Member States. This divergence took the form of strong differences in the dynamics of unit labour costs. This paper asks why this happened. Is it the result of distortionary public...