Financing the EU budget: an assessment of five proposals for new resources
Four of five new European Union budget ‘own resources’ proposed by the European Commission should go ahead with changes; the fifth should be scrapped. The
Mobile seniors and local economic development
Despite population ageing worldwide, little is known about the economic effects of retiree immigration. Using data from France over 1968–2008, this column documents retiree migration
Central bank independence: An update
Central bank independence refers to the absence of political influence on monetary policymaking. It is widely accepted that independence acts as a commitment device to
Air service liberalisation and carbon dioxide emissions
Air transport is central to global connectivity, but regulatory restrictions impose high transport costs. This column studies how the signing of air service agreements reshapes
Improving competitiveness or meeting climate targets: The Draghi dilemma
Governments across Europe are increasingly acting to help industry remain competitive without compromising EU climate policy. This column uses the GREENR general equilibrium model and
Revisiting labour supply trends across countries
The long-standing gap in hours worked between Americans and workers in other advanced economies has narrowed significantly. This column examines the evolution of hours worked
Defence spending – no free lunch
The relationship between defence spending and growth has recently returned to the centre of policy discourse. This column argues that increased military expenditure should add
Fiscal institutions matter big time for foreign direct investment in developing economies
Foreign direct investment is a key driver of development, particularly for low-income countries. Nevertheless, low-income countries receive less than 1% of global FDI, and the
Cross-border payment technologies, innovations, and challenges: Lessons from domestic and cross-border payments
Cross-border payments are essential for global trade, remittances, and financial transactions, but remain inefficient compared to domestic payments. This column reviews developments in the wholesale,
An Olympic opportunity for social housing policy: Lessons from the Athens 2004 Olympic Village
Soaring rents, long waiting lists, and mounting political anger are forcing governments across Europe to address gaps in social housing provision. This column examines whether
