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Economic Polarisation in Europe: Causes and Options for Action

Author

Listed:
  • Claudius Gräbner
  • Philipp Heimberger

    (The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw)

  • Jakob Kapeller
Abstract
This study discusses the challenges that economic policy-makers in Europe have to cope with, in order to ensure an economically prosperous and institutionally stable community of Member States of the European Union (EU). At the analytical level, we not only document a process of multi-dimensional polarisation of EU countries, but also link the existing economic divergences with a central long-term problem, namely structural polarisation differences in the institutional and legal embedding (e.g. in the areas of tax and corporate law, the labour market or the financial sector) and in technological capabilities are a major driver of divergence in living standards between some Member States. This polarisation, which started even before the financial crisis but has intensified over the last ten years, is due largely to the global and the European ‘race for the best location’. Without coordinated and cooperative intervention by economic policy-makers, a further drifting-apart of economic development paths seems unavoidable. The large differences in the production structures of the EU countries and the resulting highly unequal distribution of technological capabilities are self-reinforcing in nature, and will further intensify polarisation. The present study provides proposals for a coherent European overall strategy that not only addresses existing problems and renders possible the often-promised upward convergence between EU countries, but also provides a potential basis for dealing with key future challenges (such as digitisation, ageing society, climate change or global trade) on the basis of common European objectives. The focus is on safeguarding and expanding European values and institutions, in order to deepen European integration at key points; and thus also to contribute, in the medium to long run, to a transformation of the global economic order from the European side. A central argument is that coordinated measures in various policy areas – especially in wage, monetary, fiscal and industrial policy – are of central importance in creating a long-term successful economic basis for the common European economic and monetary area. Disclaimer The study was first published by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in German language (‚Wirtschaftliche Polarisierung in Europa Ursachen und Handlungsoptionen‘ by Jakob Kapeller, Claudius Gräbner, Philipp Heimberger, ISBN 978-3-96250-376-5, Bonn, 2019). The German version of this study was financed by the FES under the project "Für ein Besseres Morgen".

Suggested Citation

  • Claudius Gräbner & Philipp Heimberger & Jakob Kapeller, 2019. "Economic Polarisation in Europe: Causes and Options for Action," wiiw Research Reports 440, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw.
    • Handle: RePEc:wii:rpaper:rr:440
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Gabriele Ruiu, 2023. "Exploring polarisation in economic hardship among Italian macro-regions," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 787-817, February.
    3. Roşu, Maria-Magdalena & Fiscutean, Andrada & Paun, Mihaela, 2024. "The press and government, influencers of citizens’ political opinions: A quasi-experiment on Brexit," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 46(2), pages 272-288.
    4. Gräbner, Claudius & Hafele, Jakob, 2020. "The emergence of core-periphery structures in the European Union: A complexity perspective," ZOE Discussion Papers 6, ZOE. institute for future-fit economies, Bonn.
    5. Lucio Gobbi & Stefano Lucarelli, 2021. "ECB quantitative easing, euro depreciation and supply chains: Industry-level estimates for Germany, Italy and Greece. New prospects for a Minskyan big bank?," PSL Quarterly Review, Economia civile, vol. 74(296), pages 25-50.
    6. Gräbner-Radkowitsch, Claudius & Hager, Theresa, 2021. "(Mis)measuring competitiveness: the quantification of a malleable concept in the European Semester," ZOE Discussion Papers 8, ZOE. institute for future-fit economies, Bonn.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Europe; European integration; economic openness; competitiveness;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B5 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches
    • F6 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization
    • F45 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Macroeconomic Issues of Monetary Unions

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