Publications

Europe is pursuing an industrial policy to boost competitiveness with the U.S., rightly inspired by the Letta and Draghi reports. However, the Industrial Accelerator Act is criticized for not going far enough in cutting red tape and deepening EU integration.

Global Value Chains transition from hyper-efficiency to resilience in the face of geopolitical shocks and higher tariffs. Total decoupling from China is unrealistic due to its control of key inputs; connector countries like Mexico emerge that benefit from this reorganization.

The ECB and most central banks in developed economies have taken up the baton by setting an inflation target of 2%. This is an unenviable task: the only genuinely and uncontested effective tool at their disposal is interest rate control, which loses effectiveness the further inflation is from the set target.

The expansion of global trade has slowed in recent years, following a long period of exuberance. How will trade flows evolve over the next decade, taking into account recent trends such as the pandemic and climate change, as well as other factors?

COVID-19 dealt a heavy blow that moved us firmly into the digital age. Thus, in 2021 it will be crucial to shape and strengthen the agreements and institutions to thrive in such a landscape. And there are various obstacles to overcome in that regard.

The rules-based approach to the governance of the trade of goods and services and investment flows is facing increasing challenges against the background of rivalry between the United States, China and Europe. The Asian country now being considered a strategic competitor and a systemic rival.

The US’ decision, just hours after the G7 summit, not to support its closing joint communiqué reaffirming the need for regulated, open multilateral global trade, may have come as a surprise to many, but it was not really surprising.