Detecting hidden state aid with machine learning
State aid regulation is crucial to ensuring competitiveness in the EU Single Market, but enforcement remains challenging. Non-compliance by member states and foreign subsidies are
The emergence of a North–South divide in the age-profile of Europeans’ life satisfaction
The traditional U-shape in wellbeing, with people’s life satisfaction lowest in their late 40s or early 50s, appeared to have been replaced around 2013-15 by
Network and language analysis of economic history
Economic history is increasingly able to provide us with evidence and inform pressing questions at the intersection of research and real-world decision-making. This column uses
The pricing of profit shifting
Profit shifting by multinational enterprises increases after-tax earnings but can expose firms to regulatory and reputational risks. This column uses data on variations in profit
Subnational debt in turbulent times: Navigating fiscal risks and market inefficiencies
Subnational governments are crucial actors in delivering public services and addressing structural challenges but are often overlooked in fiscal policy debates. This column analyses the
Artificial intelligence and workers’ wellbeing: Lessons from Germany’s early experience
Artificial intelligence may reduce the need for physically demanding tasks, but it could also erode job satisfaction, intensify cognitive load, and amplify anxiety. This column
Wars, taxation, and representation
In the grand sweep of history over the last millennium, political divergence between Europe and contemporaneous world civilisations preceded economic divergence. This column describes how
Fighting the Mafia boosts bank lending and local growth
The EU is determined to clamp down on organised crime’s infiltration of legitimate businesses and banking. This column shows that dismantling Mafia connections leads to
The costs and benefits of a shorter workweek
Policy proposals like the four-day workweek have gained momentum in the aftermath of the Covid recession, raising the question of how many hours people would
Uneven vulnerabilities: A global index of climate risk for countries
Climate risk is at ‘code red’ level for the entire of humanity, prompting investors and policymakers to focus not only on the risks but also
