What role can better quality of public finances play in supporting Europe's long-term economic growth prospects? This question was at the centre of the 2008 European Commission workshop on public finances. It was largely motivated by the pressures put on European economies and their budgets from...

In recent years, reallocation has become increasingly important as a means to finance new needs in the spheres of internal and external security, integration of immigrants, education, health and pensions, especially in countries where economic growth has been weak. At a time when public...