Economic growth in the euro area [What Think Tanks are thinking]

Written by Marcin Cesluk-Grajewski

The European Commission upgraded its growth forecast for the euro area on 5 February, saying that cheaper oil, a weaker euro and more expansionary policy of the European Central Bank should stimulate economic expansion. Presenting its winter forecast , the Commission said it expected the euro area’s gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by 1.3 per cent and 1.9 per cent in 2015 and 2016 respectively, up from its previous forecasts of 1.1 per cent and 1.7 percent. In the whole European Union, growth is expected at 1.7 per cent and 2.1 per cent in this and next year respectively.

Researchers and analysts in outside think tanks paint many different pictures when they assess the economic situation and prospects for future of the euro area. Their various diagnoses of the currency area’s economic sluggishness include overregulation, insufficient investment in innovation, ageing populations, excessive austerity, inadequate action by the European Central Bank, flaws in the euro area’s governance and fiscal irresponsibility of certain governments.

This ‘At a glance’ note offers links to a selection of commentaries, studies and reports by some of the major international think tanks and research institutes that analyse prospects for growth in Europe and related issues.

Commentaries

The euro zone’s German problem
Centre for European Reform (CER), October 20, 2014

How far can investments in R&D fuel economic growth in Europe?
Friends of Europe, October 3, 2014

The Transatlantic growth gap
Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), August 5, 2014

Three Scenarios for Europe
Brookings Institution, November 4, 2014

An investment new deal for Europe
Brookings Institution, September 7, 2014

How to pull the euro zone out of the mire
Centre for European Reform (CER), September 26, 2014

The euro zone is no place for poor countries
Centre for European Reform (CER), June 27, 2014

Analyses

Escaping a stagnation trap: policy option for the euro area and Japan
OECD, January, 2015

Economic survey for the euro area
OECD, April, 2014

Rebuilding Europe’s common future: combining growth and reform in the euro area
Peterson Institute for International Economics, December, 2014

Is Europe’s economic stagnation inevitable or policy driven?
Centre for European Reform, December 23, 2014

Investment as the key to recovery in the euro area?
Centre for European Policy Studies, November 18, 2014

The growth challenge for Europe and the European Monetary Union
European Policy Centre, October 1, 2014

Europe’s social problem and its implications for economic growth
Bruegel, April 1, 2014

Europe’s growth problem (and what to do about it)
Bruegel, April 12, 2014

Related publications

Austerity and poverty in the European Union
Bruegel, September 15, 2014

EU to DO 2015-2019: memos to the new EU leadership
Bruegel, September 4, 2014