This Country Focus shows that some simple reserve adequacy measures (particularly based on external debt indices) – although suffering from a number of drawbacks – seem to be sound indicators of the largest vulnerabilities within the CEE8 region. Nevertheless, the analysis of...

This Country Focus analyses a not frequently studied dimension of the large and persistent regional economic divide in Italy this divide: the performance of exports and their composition. The regional divide in Italy is large also as regards export capability. Besides being much less open than...

This series provides concise analysis of a topical economic issue concerning one or more Member States set within the broader economic and policy debate. Written by the staff of the Directorate General for Economic and Financial Affairs, the views expressed represent exclusively the positions of...

This Country Focus studies the development of private consumption in France during the decade before the crisis. Are French consumers greater spendthrifts than their European fellows? In this paper, we estimate a consumption function to show that strong growth of private consumption in France...

Italy continues to record low employment rates, in particular among youth, older people and women. With an overall unemployment rate that has been reduced to below the EU average over the past decade, the employment gap vis-à-vis most other EU countries reflects low participation. After a brief...

Polish banks benefit from operating in a country showing economic resilience, which did not enter into recession in 2009. Overall, the Polish banking system has weathered the crisis well so far. Capitalization in the system is at a healthy 13.1% level and the rate of earnings retention was close...

Given the consolidation needs and the provisions of the new fiscal rule, budgetary planning in Germany has become more demanding. Fiscal projections are already difficult since the link between total tax revenue and economic activity is observed to be unstable. This Country Focus identifies...

Finland is the forerunner in adjusting to the ageing of population. Population ageing will have repercussions on the labour market, economic growth potential and public finances. The main features of the Finnish strategy to counter the effects of population ageing have been extensive and...

Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to the Baltic countries were driven by different factors. Initially the process of privatisation and low labour costs attracted investment into public utilities and manufacturing. Later, taking advantage of the Baltic geographical location, further FDI...