Welfare policy

Young and under pressure

Since the beginning of the global financial crisis, social conditions have deteriorated in many European countries. The youth in particular have been

Interactive map: Europe’s social polarisation and the generational struggle

According to the latest Eurobarometer survey on the social impact of the crisis, 80% of respondents believe that poverty has increased in th

Which economic and financial governance tools to overcome low growth – A European Unemployment Insurance? – A European Investment Plan?

Prepared for the interparliamentary conference organized by the Italian Presidency of the European Council in Rome.

Is Europe saving away its future?

The Crisis affected public spending. Research and innovation is one area often highlighted as needing protection. This column does not find strong evi

Do it yourself European Unemployment Insurance

To illustrate our recent Policy Brief, this blog post proposes to give the reader the opportunity to take the main decisions on the design of a Europe

Benefits and drawbacks of European Unemployment Insurance

European Unemployment Insurance is one option for stabilising country specific economic cycles thanks to risk sharing, but it would not substanti

Towards a European unemployment insurance?

The Italian Presidency of the EU has asked Bruegel to give a presentation to European Labour and Social Ministers at the informal EPSCO meeting in Mil

Addressing social problems should be at the heart of Europe’s economic strategy

Europe has overcome the most acute financial crisis. But failure to address more forcefully the growing social problems will undermine debt sustainabi

Minimum wage and pension reform in Germany: A headwind for growth?

Key components of the coalition agreement between Merkel’s CDU and the Social Democrats are the adoption of a nationwide minimum wage and the introduc

Europe's social problem and its implications for economic growth

The European Union faces major social problems. More than six million jobs were lost from 2008-13 and poverty has increased. Fiscal consolidation has

Education to employment: The Growing Skills and Jobs Gap in Europe

Youth unemployment: It’s growth, stupid!

European leaders are rightly concerned about the record level of youth unemployment in the EU. Unfortunately simply targeting measures at young people

Blogs review: Tackling youth unemployment

What’s at stake: The latest unemployment figures for the 15 to 24 years old age group have made big waves in the media and made European policyma

Where does the youth exodus come from?

Intra-EU migration increased before the crisis, especially into booming countries like Ireland and Spain. What happened during the crisis?

Blogs review: the youth unemployment crisis

What’s at stake: The global youth unemployment rate, which was already high before the start of the Great Recession, has reached skyrocketing levels i