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INTERECONOMICS – REVIEW OF EUROPEAN ECONOMIC POLICY
Newsletter – Volume 52,
January/February 2017

The first Intereconomics issue of 2017 covers a wide range of topics that vary from the effect of pension reform in Malta to the state of play in the booming sharing economy and the implications of this on future competition policy. This issue’s Forum features articles by the speakers at our recent conference on the subject of gender inequality in Europe and the damaging economic effects of this persistent phenomenon. Elsewhere in the journal, our Editorial analyses the coming year in European politics, as general elections dominated by the spectre of populism loom for the Netherlands, France, Germany and possibly Italy. Finally, our Letter from America looks at the issues faced by President Trump as he ushers in a new age of petty protectionism.

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Featured Topic

Inefficient Inequality: The Economic Costs of Gender Inequality in Europe

Much attention is given to the existence and measurement of gender inequality, but relatively little attention is given to the economic costs that result from this inequality. Following up on the November 2016 Intereconomics conference on this issue, the papers in this Forum make it clear that while the quest for gender equality is necessary as a matter of justice and fairness, the existence – and persistence – of inequality also has a significant negative effect on the economic performance of Europe.

Additional Highlights from the Current Issue

2017: The Year of European Populism?

After the shocks of Brexit and Trump in 2016, what should we expect for 2017? The upcoming elections in France, the Netherlands, Germany and possibly Italy all have the possibility to bring populists to power. In this issue's Editorial, Clemens Fuest writes that countering the simple, emotional and radical messages of populists will be a difficult task for mainstream politicians. They will have to remind their elecorates that nationalism and xenophobia in Europe have always done far more harm than good.

Trump's Confrontational Trade Policy

Early indications make clear that Trump's campaign rhetoric promoting trade protectionism will be turned into official policy. Caroline Freund writes that his confrontational approach to international trade will at best be intermediated by the WTO and at worst lead to retaliation and an unraveling of existing trade agreements. The gravest danger is that it leads to an unraveling of global economic cooperation.

 

From the Next Issue

Forum: Pros and Cons of a Universal Basic Income

featuring articles by Thomas Straubhaar, Heiner Flassbeck, Philippe van Parijs & more

How to Define a Systemically Important Financial Institution

by Volker Brühl

Brexit and Trade: Between Facts and Irrelevance

by Phedon Nicolaides and Thibault Roy
 

Quote of the Month

The low rewards to care work are rooted in gendered perceptions that regard caring skills as women's 'natural' talents, which are to be admired and treasured rather than valued and paid as material competencies.

from Diane Perrons's Forum article Gender and Inequality: Austerity and Alternatives
 

About Intereconomics – Review of European Economic Policy

Intereconomics is jointly produced by ZBW – Leibniz Information Centre for Economics and the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS). The journal appears bimonthly and features papers by economists that deal with economic and social policy issues and trends in Europe or affecting Europe. To submit a paper for publication, please visit the Submissions section of our website for relevant information.

Intereconomics is published by Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

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